Fetal Imaging with Maternal Oxygen (FIMOx)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Maternal hyperoxygenation in diagnostic fetal imaging
IRAS ID
213115
Contact name
Reza Razavi
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 29 days
Research summary
The diagnosis of congenital defects before birth allows for the planned provision of potentially life-saving postnatal care, and time for effective counselling of prospective parents. Some conditions, such as specific forms of congenital heart disease, can be extremely difficult to diagnose accurately in fetal life, making accurate planning and appropriate counselling extremely difficult.
We are proposing using the fetal and maternal response to oxygen, delivered for a short period during an ultrasound or MRI scan, to help provide more detailed diagnostic information for mother and baby. Giving maternal oxygen is known to be safe, and has subtle but fully reservable effects on the placenta and the fetal circulation. If the placenta of the fetal circulation are not functioning normally, the response to oxygen will be different.
We hope to improve our understanding of these changes, so that oxygen may be used to help improve the accuracy of diagnosis before birth. This simple bedside test then has the potential to be used by specialists around the country.
REC name
London - South East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/0282
Date of REC Opinion
27 Mar 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion