Placental insufficiency is responsible for fetal loss in about 40% of all stillbirths and
long term neurological deficits. The mean interval from diagnosis of brain sparing of severe
IUGR fetuses to delivery has been recently identified by only seven days (Flood K et al, Am J
Obstetrics and Gynecology 2014).

The critical placental player in the active amino acids (AA) transport from the mother to the
fetus is the trophoblast, which is irreversibly changed in severe IUGR fetuses caused by
placental insufficiency. Thus, a logical partial solution of IUGR could be the direct supply
of AAs and glucose to the fetus, in order to improve the fetal growth, normalize the fetal
programming and to prolong the pregnancy.

The aim of this prospective pilot study is to further test the efficacy of the administration
of AAs and glucose supplementation with hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO), via a subcutaneously
implanted intraumbilical perinatal port system, as a treatment option for severe IUGR human
fetuses with brain sparing.