title: Absent ductus venosus in the fetus: review of the literature and first report of direct umbilical venous drainage to the coronary sinus.
abstract: The ductus venosus connects the portal and umbilical veins with the inferior vena cava and acts as a sphincter to protect the fetus from placental overcirculation. Its absence usually causes hydrops fetalis and is associated with high mortality rate, chromosomal anomalies and congenital malformations. In this condition, the umbilical vein almost always drains directly into right-sided structures such as inferior vena cava or right atrium. We reviewed the literature and describe the first case of a fetus with absent ductus venosus and direct connection of the umbilical vein to the coronary sinus.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Cardiology Unit, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Zeev
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Perles
authors.forename: Amiram
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nir
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nadjari
authors.forename: Zivanit
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ergaz
authors.forename: Annick
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raas-Rothschild
authors.forename: Azaria J J T
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Rein
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015160:Hydrops Fetalis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010920:Placenta / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000098:blood supply; D011247:Pregnancy; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging