Perinatal management of trisomy 18: a survey of obstetricians in Australia, New Zealand and the UK.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

The objective of this study was to explore the attitudes of obstetricians in Australia, New Zealand and the UK towards prenatally diagnosed trisomy 18 (T18).

Method

Obstetricians were contacted by email and invited to participate in an anonymous electronic survey.

Results

Survey responses were obtained from 1018/3717 (27%) practicing obstetricians/gynaecologists. Most (60%) had managed a case of T18 in the last 2 years. Eighty-five per cent believed that T18 was a 'lethal malformation', although 38% expected at least half of liveborn infants to survive for more than 1 week. Twenty-one per cent indicated that a vegetative existence was the best developmental outcome for surviving children. In a case of antenatally diagnosed T18, 95% of obstetricians would pro

SUBMITTER: Wilkinson DJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3963474 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature