title: Successful treatment of primary fetal hydrothorax by long-time drainage from week 23. Case report and review of the literature.
abstract: We report on a case of unilateral primary fetal hydrothorax leading to nonimmunological fetal hydrops (NIHF). The NIHF was treated successfully by inserting two consecutive intrauterine catheters at 23 weeks gestation. The first catheter was dislocated through the uterine wall to the maternal peritoneal cavity. At 36 weeks gestation, the mother had a spontaneous onset of labor after premature rupture of membranes and a normal vaginal delivery of a healthy infant with good perinatal outcome. Shunting of PFHT has rarely been described up to now. This case report supports observations of previous authors that early shunting of pleural effusions may prevent progression of NIHF as well as postnatal pulmonary hypoplasia. Unexpected perinatal complications of fetus, mother or both should not be neglected.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Klinikum Steglitz, Free University of Berlin, FRG.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Arabin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Novak
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Entezami
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Weitzel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002404:Catheterization; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006876:Hydrothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014599:Uterus