A Prospective Study on the Role of Karl Storz Curved and Straight Fetoscopes (11508AAK and 11506AAK) for Fetoscopic Intrauterine Procedures

September 24, 2024 updated by: Eyal Krispin, Boston Children's Hospital
In this research study, the investigators want to learn more about the role of new innovative surgical devices, the Karl Storz Curved and Straight Fetoscopes for in-utero surgery. A fetoscope is like a small telescope that can see inside of the uterus (womb) during minimally invasive surgery. The curved scope is used for patients with an anterior placenta (front of uterus), while the straight scope is used for patients with a posterior placenta (back of uterus). The scopes will be used to assist in procedures involving fetoscopic laser photocoagulation (FLP), which is a minimally invasive surgery that uses a small camera (fetoscope) to locate abnormal blood vessel connections in the placenta and seal them off using laser energy. These fetoscopes will be utilized in the diagnosis and management of various fetal conditions that can arise during pregnancy. Outcome data will be reported in a descriptive statistical analysis. The investigators will assess the surgical outcomes, short and long-term morbidity, complications, and gestational age of participants in order to evaluate the benefit of using these devices.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

The objective of this study is to evaluate the benefit of Karl Storz curved (11508AAK) and straight (11506AAK) fetoscopes for in-utero surgery. The investigators will assess the surgical outcomes, short and long-term morbidity, complications, and gestational age of participants who undergo intrauterine procedures with these devices. The scopes will be used to assist in intrauterine procedures across a variety of fetal conditions, such as TTTS (twin-twin transfusion syndrome), TAPS (twin anemia polycythemia sequence), sFGR (selective fetal growth restriction) or TRAP sequence (twin reversed arterial perfusion). Fetoscopic laser photocoagulation (FLP) can also be used during in-utero surgery to correct abnormal vessels in cases like chorioangioma or vasa previa. Other complex congenital anomalies may require fetal intervention or diagnostic fetoscopy using Storz scopes.

Improvements in the technique, experience and equipment have been associated with better maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes in fetal surgery. Smaller fetoscopes are associated with lower rates of premature delivery following FLP. New fetoscopes (11508AAK and 11506AAK) have the potential to improve visualization and the photocoagulation angle. Compared to alternative scopes, these Storz scopes provide a wider angle of view and are longer, enabling better reach to distant areas at the edge of the placenta, especially in cases of higher BMI, higher gestational age, and significant polyhydramnios.

This study is an un-blinded, non-randomized, single arm, feasibility study on a convenience cohort to demonstrate the role of a curved fetoscope device (11508AAK) or straight fetoscope device (11506AAK) among in-utero surgeries. Patients will be enrolled in a consecutive manner and all qualifying, patients who agreed to the use of the curved or straight fetoscopes will be enrolled in the study. Outcome data will be reported as a descriptive statistical analysis. The curved fetoscope (11508AAK) device will be used in monochorionic pregnancies with an anterior placenta requiring in-utero surgery, while the straight fetoscope (11506AAK) will be used in monochorionic pregnancies with a posterior placenta. This device is classified as a significant risk device because it is of substantial importance in diagnosing, curing, mitigating, or treating disease, or otherwise preventing impairment of human health and presents a potential for serious risk to the health, safety, or welfare of a subject.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

50

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Pregnant patient with a condition requiring in-utero surgery
  • Patient must be eligible for anesthesia
  • Patient and father of the fetus (if available) are able to provide signed informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Allergy or previous adverse reaction to any ancillary medication specified in this protocol that has no alternative
  • Preterm labor, preeclampsia, or uterine anomaly (e.g., large fibroid tumor) in the index pregnancy
  • Suspicion of major recognized congenital syndrome on ultrasound or MRI that is not compatible with postnatal life
  • Pre-pregnancy maternal BMI greater than 40
  • High risk for fetal hemophilia
  • Fetal aneuploidy or variants of known significance if an amniocentesis was performed
  • Contraindication to abdominal surgery or fetoscopic surgery

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Karl Storz Curved or Straight Scope
A Karl Storz Curved (11508AAK) or Straight (11506AAK) Fetoscope will be used to provide visualization during in-utero (in the womb) diagnostic and interventional procedures. The curved scope will be used in patients with a placenta that sits at the front of their uterus. The straight scope will be used in patients with a placenta that sits at the back of their uterus.
The curved fetoscope (11508AAK) will be used to view target areas during in-utero procedures for patients with a placenta that sits at the front of the uterus. There are various fetal conditions that may require use of a fetoscope during minimally invasive surgery. These include the need to seal vessels in order to stop blood flow going in a specific direction during pregnancy, abnormal vessels that may need to be sealed, or to break down scar tissue, extra tissue attachments, or blockages.
The straight fetoscope (11506AAK) will be used to view target areas during in-utero procedures for patients with a placenta that sits at the back of the uterus. There are various fetal conditions that may require use of a fetoscope during minimally invasive surgery. These include the need to seal vessels in order to stop blood flow going in a specific direction during pregnancy, abnormal vessels that may need to be sealed, or to break down scar tissue, extra tissue attachments, or blockages.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Rate of completed fetoscopic procedures
Time Frame: 3 years from study start date
The rate of successfully completed intrauterine procedures (out of 50 total) using the Karl Storz Curved (11508AAK) or Straight (11506AAk) Fetoscope will be measured.
3 years from study start date
Fetal survival at birth
Time Frame: When the last (50th) study participant reaches birth. Likely to be a bit more than 3 years from study start date.
The number of fetuses who undergo an intrauterine fetoscopic procedure using these devices and survive at birth will be analyzed.
When the last (50th) study participant reaches birth. Likely to be a bit more than 3 years from study start date.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Successful visualization of all targeted vessels
Time Frame: 3 years from study start date
The rate of procedures with these fetoscopes in which there is successful visualization of the targeted vessels will be studied. This measure will be at the discretion of the performing surgeon.
3 years from study start date
Successful coagulation of all targeted vessels
Time Frame: 3 years from study start date
The rate of procedures with these fetoscopes in which there is successful coagulation of the targeted vessels will be studied. This measure will be at the discretion of the performing surgeon.
3 years from study start date
The rate of preterm labor
Time Frame: When the last (50th) study participant reaches birth. This is likely to be a bit longer than 3 years from study start date.
The rate of preterm labor following a procedure using these fetoscopes will be analyzed.
When the last (50th) study participant reaches birth. This is likely to be a bit longer than 3 years from study start date.
The rate of preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM)
Time Frame: When the last (50th) study participant reaches birth. This is likely to be a bit longer than 3 years from study start date.
The rate of PPROM following a procedure using these fetoscopes will be analyzed.
When the last (50th) study participant reaches birth. This is likely to be a bit longer than 3 years from study start date.
The rate of placental abruption
Time Frame: When the last (50th) study participant reaches birth. This is likely to be a bit longer than 3 years from study start date.
The rate of placental abruption following a procedure using these fetoscopes will be analyzed.
When the last (50th) study participant reaches birth. This is likely to be a bit longer than 3 years from study start date.
The rate of choriamniotic separation (CAS)
Time Frame: When the last (50th) study participant reaches birth. This is likely to be a bit longer than 3 years from study start date.
The rate of CAS following a procedure using these fetoscopes will be analyzed.
When the last (50th) study participant reaches birth. This is likely to be a bit longer than 3 years from study start date.
The rate of iatrogenic septostomy
Time Frame: When the last (50th) study participant reaches birth. This is likely to be a bit longer than 3 years from study start date.
The rate of iatrogenic septostomy following a procedure using these fetoscopes will be analyzed.
When the last (50th) study participant reaches birth. This is likely to be a bit longer than 3 years from study start date.
The rate of completed Solomonizations
Time Frame: 3 years from study start date
The rate of completed Solomonizations (if clinically elected to be performed) during a procedure using these fetoscopes will be analyzed.
3 years from study start date
The rate of any perioperative complications (within 24 hours post-procedure)
Time Frame: 24 hours after the last (50th) procedure using these fetoscopes. This will be a bit more than 3 years from study start date.
The rate of any perioperative complications following a procedure using these fetoscopes will be analyzed.
24 hours after the last (50th) procedure using these fetoscopes. This will be a bit more than 3 years from study start date.
Fetal survival 48 hours post-procedure
Time Frame: 24 hours after the last (50th) procedure using these fetoscopes. This will be a bit more than 3 years from study start date.
The rate of fetal survival at 48 hours following a procedure using these fetoscopes will be analyzed.
24 hours after the last (50th) procedure using these fetoscopes. This will be a bit more than 3 years from study start date.
Rate of TAPS
Time Frame: When the last (50th) study participant reaches birth. This is likely to be a bit longer than 3 years from study start date.
In cases of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) and selective fetal growth restriction (sFGR), the rate in which twin-anemia-polycythemia (TAPS) was observed following a procedure using these fetoscopes.
When the last (50th) study participant reaches birth. This is likely to be a bit longer than 3 years from study start date.
Recurrence of TTTS
Time Frame: When the last (50th) study participant reaches birth. This is likely to be a bit longer than 3 years from study start date.
In cases of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), the rate in which TTTS recurred following a procedure using these fetoscopes.
When the last (50th) study participant reaches birth. This is likely to be a bit longer than 3 years from study start date.
Neonatal survival 30 days after birth
Time Frame: When the last (50th) study participant reaches 30 days post-birth. This is likely to be a bit longer than 3 years from study start date.
The rate of neonatal survival at 30 days of life following a procedure using these fetoscopes will be analyzed.
When the last (50th) study participant reaches 30 days post-birth. This is likely to be a bit longer than 3 years from study start date.
Short term need for ECMO
Time Frame: When the last (50th) study participant reaches 30 days post-birth. This is likely to be a bit longer than 3 years from study start date.
The rate of ECMO initiation during the first 30 days of life following a procedure using these fetoscopes will be analyzed.
When the last (50th) study participant reaches 30 days post-birth. This is likely to be a bit longer than 3 years from study start date.
Short term morbidity
Time Frame: When the last (50th) study participant reaches 30 days post-birth. This is likely to be a bit longer than 3 years from study start date.
The rate of short term morbidity during the first 30 days of life following a procedure using these fetoscopes will be analyzed. Short-term morbidity includes neurological problems, gastrointestinal problems, respiratory problems, infections, and other problems associated with prematurity including but not limited to: necrotizing enterocolitis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, respiratory distress syndrome, neonatal sepsis, and neonatal intensive care unit admission.
When the last (50th) study participant reaches 30 days post-birth. This is likely to be a bit longer than 3 years from study start date.
Gestational age at delivery
Time Frame: When the last (50th) study participant reaches birth. This is likely to be a bit longer than 3 years from study start date.
Gestational age at delivery will be analyzed for study participants who undergo a procedure using these fetoscopes.
When the last (50th) study participant reaches birth. This is likely to be a bit longer than 3 years from study start date.
Time from procedure to delivery
Time Frame: When the last (50th) study participant reaches birth. This is likely to be a bit longer than 3 years from study start date.
Number of days from procedure to delivery will be analyzed for study participants who undergo a procedure using these fetoscopes.
When the last (50th) study participant reaches birth. This is likely to be a bit longer than 3 years from study start date.
Length of procedure
Time Frame: 3 years from study start date
The length of time (in minutes) of the procedures using these fetoscopes will be analyzed.
3 years from study start date

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Eyal Krispin, MD, Fetal Surgeon

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

August 15, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

May 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 21, 2023

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 21, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

September 28, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

September 25, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 24, 2024

Last Verified

September 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

Yes

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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