title: Rupture of fetal ductus arteriosus aneurysm.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ductus arteriosus aneurysm is a rare fetal disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 35-year-old primigravida had an uneventful antenatal course. Ultrasound examination at 30 weeks of gestation revealed hydramnios. The fetal ductus arteriosus became saccular and dilated with turbulent flow and diameter of 2.5 cm. It was located at the left upper thorax, just distal to the pulmonic valve and extended to the thoracic aorta. A ductus arteriosus aneurysm was diagnosed prenatally. Five days after diagnosis, preterm labor occurred, and dexamethasone and terbutaline were administered. Six hours after initiation of terbutaline, the fetal heart rate suddenly dropped to 90 beats per minute (bpm). A bedside ultrasound examination performed immediately showed profound bradycardia. The aneurysm became a heterogeneous hypoechoic mass with no pulsation, and the fetal heart rate suddenly disappeared.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ductus arteriosus aneurysm can be diagnosed prenatally, and terbutaline or dexamethasone may be associated with a risk for rupture.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand. ttongson@mail.cmu.ac.th
authors.forename: Theera
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tongsong
authors.forename: Pharuhas
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chanprapaph
authors.forename: Rekwan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sittiwangkul
authors.forename: Supatra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sirichotiyakul
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017542:Aneurysm, Ruptured / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001344:Autopsy; D004373:Ductus Arteriosus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal; D006801:Humans; D008423:Maternal Age; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D018570:Risk Assessment; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal