Pleuroamniotic shunting for decompression of fetal pleural effusions.
Pleuroamniotic shunting was performed at 22-35 weeks' gestation in 11 fetuses with pleural effusions. Eight of the infants, born two to 16 weeks after shunting, had no evidence of pulmonary hypoplasia. Three died in the neonatal period; one because of pseudomonas septicemia, one because of pulmonary hypoplasia caused by an associated diaphragmatic hernia, and the third because of a major cardiac defect. Pleural effusions and their prenatal decompression offer an experimental human model for the study of the effect of intrathoracic compression on pulmonary development.
Blott
M
M
Harris Birthright Research Centre for Fetal Medicine, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
Nicolaides
K H
KH
Greenough
A
A
D002404:Catheterization; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D065630:Hernias, Diaphragmatic, Congenital; D006801:Humans; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy