Research
Research is required during the perinatal surgery fellowship.
Baylor College of Medicine in partnership with Texas Children’s Fetal Center is constantly seeking new and better treatments to improve outcomes for mothers and babies in pregnancies involving fetal abnormalities. Through our strengths in research and our commitment to strong interdisciplinary collaboration, we continue to gain new insight into these rare and complex conditions, translating that knowledge into improved diagnoses and treatments that are changing the lives of families around the world.
We are known for developing innovative fetal interventions that offer new hope even in the most challenging cases while improving the safety of fetal surgery for mother and baby.
Ongoing Research Topics
- Complicated Twin Pregnancies
- Vein of Galen
- Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia
- Lung Lesions
- Congenital Heart Disease
- Gastroschisis
- Omphalocele
- Spina Bifida
- Sacrococcygeal Teratoma
- Lower Urinary Tract Obstruction (LUTO)
- Vascular Anomalies
- Maternal Psychosocial Health
Basic and Translational Research
- Fetal Center Biobank
- Device Innovation and Development
Fellow Research
Fetoscopic laser ablation of placental anastomoses in twin-twin transfusion syndrome using 'Solomon technique'. Ruano R, Rodo C, Peiro JL, Shamshirsaz AA, Haeri S, Nomura ML, Salustiano EM, de Andrade KK, Sangi-Haghpeykar H, Carreras E, Belfort MA. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2013.
Perinatal outcome after fetoscopic release of amniotic bands: a single-center experience and review of the literature. Javadian P, Shamshirsaz AA, Haeri S, Ruano R, Ramin SM, Cass D, Olutoye OO, Belfort MA. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2013
Fetal laryngoscopy to evaluate vocal folds in a fetus with congenital high airway obstruction syndrome (CHAOS). Ruano R, Cass DL, Rieger M, Javadian P, Shamshirsaz AA, Olutoye OO, Belfort MA. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2014
Perinatal outcomes based on the institute of medicine guidelines for weight gain in twin pregnancies. Shamshirsaz AA, Haeri S, Ravangard SF, Sangi-Haghpeykar H, Gandhi M, Ozhand A, Spiel M, Trout S, Sadowski A, Hussain N, Campbell WA, Shamshirsaz AA. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2014
Short-term neonatal outcomes in diamniotic twin pregnancies delivered after 32 weeks and indications of late preterm deliveries. Shamshirsaz AA, Ravangard SF, Ozhand A, Haeri S, Shamshirsaz AA, Hussain N, Spiel M, Ogunleye O, Billstrom R, Sadowski A, Turner G, Timms D, Egan JF, Campbell WA. Am J Perinatol. 2014
Fetal cardiac tamponade in a case of right-side congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Salmanian B, Shamshirsaz AA, Cass DL, Javadian P, Ruano R, Ayres NA, Mehollin-Ray A, Belfort MA. Obstet Gynecol. 2014
Prenatal diagnosis of CLOVES syndrome confirmed by detection of a mosaic PIK3CA mutation in cultured amniocytes. Emrick LT, Murphy L, Shamshirsaz AA, Ruano R, Cassady CI, Liu L, Chang F, Sutton VR, Li M, Van den Veyver IB. Am J Med Genet A. 2014
Does early second-trimester sonography predict adverse perinatal outcomes in monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies? Allaf MB, Campbell WA, Vintzileos AM, Haeri S, Javadian P, Shamshirsaz AA, Ogburn P, Figueroa R, Wax J, Markenson G, Chavez MR, Ravangard SF, Ruano R, Sangi-Haghpeykar H, Salmanian B, Meyer M, Johnson J, Ozhand A, Davis S, Borgida A, Belfort MA, Shamshirsaz AA. J Ultrasound Med. 2014
Effectiveness of vesicoamniotic shunt in fetuses with congenital lower urinary tract obstruction: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Nassr AA, Shazly SAM, Abdelmagied AM, Araujo Júnior E, Tonni G, Kilby MD, Ruano R. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2017
Twin anemia polycythemia sequence: a single center experience and literature review. Moaddab A, Nassr AA, Espinoza J, Ruano R, Bateni ZH, Shamshirsaz AA, Mandy GT, Welty SE, Erfani H, Popek EJ, Belfort MA, Shamshirsaz AA. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2016
Are ultrasound renal aspects associated with urinary biochemistry in fetuses with lower urinary tract obstruction? Nassr AA, Koh CK, Shamshirsaz AA, Espinoza J, Sangi-Haghpeykar H, Sharhan D, Welty S, Angelo J, Roth D, Belfort MA, Braun M, Ruano R. Prenat Diagn. 2016
Spontaneous resolution of mirror syndrome following fetal interventions for fetal anemia as a consequence of twin to twin transfusion syndrome. Nassr AA, Shamshirsaz AA, Belfort MA, Espinoza J. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2017
Multidisciplinary team learning in the management of the morbidly adherent placenta: outcome improvements over time. Shamshirsaz AA, Fox KA, Erfani H, Clark SL, Salmanian B, Baker BW, Coburn M, Shamshirsaz AA, Bateni ZH, Espinoza J, Nassr AA, Popek EJ, Hui SK, Teruya J, Tung CS, Jones JA, Rac M, Dildy GA, Belfort MA. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2017
Ethical issues in fetal therapy. Moaddab A, Nassr AA, Belfort MA, Shamshirsaz AA. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2017
Prenatal management of fetal intrapericardial teratoma: a systematic review. Nassr AA, Shazly SA, Morris SA, Ayres N, Espinoza J, Erfani H, Olutoye OA, Sexson SK, Olutoye OO, Fraser CD Jr, Belfort MA, Shamshirsaz AA. Prenat Diagn. 2017
Fetal interventional procedures and surgeries: a practical approach. Nassr AA, Erfani H, Fisher JE, Ogunleye OK, Espinoza J, Belfort MA, Shamshirsaz AA. J Perinat Med. 2018
EXIT (ex utero Intrapartum Treatment) to Airway Procedure for Twin Fetuses With Oropharyngeal Teratomas: Lessons Learned. King A, Keswani SG, Belfort MA, Nassr AA, Shamshirsaz AA, Espinoza J, Bedwell JR, Mehta DK, Doughty CB, Leong-Kee SM, Lawrence JB, Sun RC, Lee TC. Front Surg. 2020
Fetal Lower Urinary Tract Obstruction Complicated by Bladder Perforation.
Espinoza AF, Sun RC, Krispin E, Nassr A, Shamshirsaz AA. Neoreviews. 2021
Perinatal risk factors of neurodevelopmental impairment after fetoscopic laser photocoagulation for twin-twin transfusion syndrome: systematic review and meta-analysis.
Hessami K, Nassr AA, Sananès N, Castillo J, Castillo HA, Sanz Cortes M, Espinoza J, Donepudi RV, Sun RC, Krispin E, Belfort MA, Shamshirsaz AA. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2021
Overtreatment of Transient Maternal Hyperthyroidism Resulting in Fetal Goiter.
Espinoza AF, Krispin E, Sun RC, Espinoza J, Nassr A, Shamshirsaz AA. Neoreviews. 2021
Outcomes of laparoscopy-assisted fetoscopic laser photocoagulation for twin-twin transfusion syndrome: An established alternative for inaccessible anterior placenta.
Krispin E, Nassr AA, Espinoza J, Donepudi R, Sun RC, Sanz-Cortes M, Mostafaei S, Belfort MA, Shamshirsaz AA. Prenat Diagn. 2021
Case Report: The Medical and Surgical Management of an Infant With Extreme Prematurity and Fetus-In-Fetu. Sun RC, Cheng LS, Shah RH, Lohmann P, Cortes-Santiago N, Ketwaroo PD, Keswani SG, King A, Lee TC. Front Surg. 2022
Fetal Lower Urinary Tract Obstruction Complicated by Bladder Perforation. Espinoza AF, Sun RC, Krispin E, Nassr A, Shamshirsaz AA. Neoreviews. 2021
Two-port, exteriorized uterus, fetoscopic meningomyelocele closure has fewer adverse neonatal outcomes than open hysterotomy closure. Espinoza J, Shamshirsaz AA, Sanz Cortes M, Pammi M, Nassr AA, Donepudi R, Whitehead WE, Castillo J, Johnson R, Meshinchi N, Sun R, Krispin E, Corroenne R, Lee TC, Keswani SG, King A, Belfort MA. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2021
Iatrogenic chorioamniotic separation and septostomy following fetoscopic laser photocoagulation for twin-twin transfusion syndrome. Krispin E, Mustafa HJ, Sun RC, Donepudi R, Espinoza J, Nassr AA, Belfort MA, Sanz Cortes M, Mostafaei S, Harman C, Turan O, Shamshirsaz AA. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2022
Overtreatment of Transient Maternal Hyperthyroidism Resulting in Fetal Goiter. Espinoza AF, Krispin E, Sun RC, Espinoza J, Nassr A, Shamshirsaz AA. Neoreviews. 2021
Dichorionic twin pregnancy complicated by duodenal atresia and umbilical cord ulceration with intrauterine fetal demise. Krispin E, Danner DJ, Donepudi R, Belfort MA, Fuller M, Gandhi M. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2022
Twin twin transfusion syndrome with and without selective fetal growth restriction: Predictors of donor demise. Donepudi R, Krispin E, Mustafa H, Espinoza J, Nassr AA, Belfort MA, Sanz Cortes M, Mostafaei S, Harman C, Turan O, Shamshirsaz AA. Prenat Diagn. 2021
Outcomes of laparoscopy-assisted fetoscopic laser photocoagulation for twin-twin transfusion syndrome: An established alternative for inaccessible anterior placenta. Krispin E, Nassr AA, Espinoza J, Donepudi R, Sun RC, Sanz-Cortes M, Mostafaei S, Belfort MA, Shamshirsaz AA. Prenat Diagn. 2021
Efficacy of long-term indomethacin therapy in prolonging pregnancy after fetoscopic laser surgery for twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome: a collaborative cohort study. Mustafa HJ, Krispin E, Tadbiri H, Espinoza J, Shamshirsaz AA, Nassr AA, Donepudi R, Belfort MA, Cortes MS, Pederson N, Harman C, Turan OM. BJOG. 2022
Surgical management of first-trimester heterotopic dichorionic diamniotic Cesarean scar pregnancy. Krispin E, Belfort MA, Shamshirsaz AA. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2022
Preplacental abruption following laser photocoagulation in monochorionic twin gestations complicated by twin-twin transfusion syndrome. Krispin E, Shamshirsaz AA, Sun RC, Nassr AA, Donepudi R, Espinoza J, Belfort MA, Castro EC, Sanz-Cortes M. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2022
Prenatal Diagnosis and Management of Thrombocytopenia-Absent Radius Syndrome. Espinoza AF, Krispin E, Cortes MS, Kirk S, Hui SK, Wagner KB, Despotovic J, Shamshirsaz AA. Neoreviews. 2022
Perinatal outcomes of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome associated with evidence of twin anemia polycythemia using different standardized definitions. Nassr AA, Gessner M, Mostafaei S, Hessami K, Espinoza J, Donepudi RV, Sanz Cortes M, Krispin E, Sun RC, Qaderi S, Turan OM, Mustafa HJ, Harman C, Belfort MA, Shamshirsaz AA. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2022
Impact of middle cerebral artery pulsatility index on donor survival in twin-twin transfusion syndrome. Krispin E, Shamshirsaz AA, Mustafa HJ, Sun RC, Espinoza J, Nassr AA, Sanz-Cortes M, Ugoji CH, Harman C, Turan O, Belfort MA, Donepudi R. Prenat Diagn. 2023
Systematic classification and comparison of maternal and obstetrical complications following 2 different methods of fetal surgery for the repair of open neural tube defects. Krispin E, Hessami K, Johnson RM, Krueger AM, Martinez YM, Jackson AL, Southworth AL, Whitehead W, Espinoza J, Nassr AA, Cortes MS, Donepudi R, Belfort MA. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2023