Reflexiones sobre la conducta obstétrica en la embarazada con feto anencefálico

Pregnancy of an anencephalic fetus generates deep thoughtsabout its diagnosis, treatment and management of maternal risk, having in mind theirreversibility of the fetal situation. At the present moment, there are no guidelines for labor carein these cases, probably because in most developed countries in which abortion is legal, thesepregnancies are interrupted earlier. In Chile, where abortion is illegal we must deal with thesesituations at the end of the pregnancy period. Of 35,682 labors attended at our hospital, 14were anencephalic fetuses. In 50% of these a cesarean section was done and in one, ahysterectomy was required due to uterine inertia (Rev Med Chile 2008; 136: 789-92).(