Health-care profesionals who may use the external fetoscope include a nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, and obstetrician.
There are two different types of fetoscopy: external and endoscopic.
The only potential complication with external fetoscopy is the possibility of missing an abnormal heart rate or rhythm.
There is no morbidity or mortality associated with external fetoscopy. In the case of endoscopic fetoscopy, the risk of fetal loss is estimated to be between 3% and 5%.
External fetoscopy does not require aftercare. The care following fetal endoscopic use will depend on the extent of the procedure and the type of anesthesia used.
Endoscopic fetoscopy requires a high level of skill and experience by fetal surgeons and is performed in a hospital setting.
An external fetoscope resembles a stethoscope , but with a headpiece. It is used externally on the mother's abdomen to auscultate (listen to) the fetal heart tones after about 18 weeks gestation.
used to listen to fetal heart tones for rate and rhythm. The earpieces and the headpiece allow auscultation (listening) via both air and bone conduction. External fetoscopy is inexpensive, noninvasive, and does not require electricity
As laparoscopic and microsurgical techniques have become more common and the instrumentation has become more advanced technologically, fetoscopy has improved for fetal diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
Endoscopic fetoscopy has the potential for causing infection in the fetus and/or mother; premature rupture of the amniotic membranes; premature labor; and fetal death.
Preparation for endoscopic fetoscopy will depend on the extent of the procedure, and whether it is performed transcervically or transabdominally. Obtaining a small fetal tissue sample is a smaller procedure by comparison to fetal surgery.
internal
They lay eggs and perform external fertilization.