[Emergency thoraco amniotic shunting in cases with compressive pleural effusion with hydrops: A retrospective study of 60 cases].
OBJECTIVE
To study perinatal outcome following thoraco-amniotic shunting for fetal pleural effusions with hydrops.


METHODS
Retrospective study (1984-2004) to evaluate a policy of emergency thracoamniotic shunting in hydropic fetuses with suspected chylothorax, on the basis of the rationale that mediastinal compression could lead to acute fetal distress.


RESULTS
Shunting was performed immediately following diagnosis, and was successful in all 60 cases attempted. There were 7 pregnancy terminations, 10 in utero deaths, and 43 live births, of which 7 children died in the neonatal period and 36 survived (33 without sequels). Among the liveborn, 26 were delivered preterm (72%), of which 7 (19%) had preterm premature rupture of membranes and 4 (11%) had chorioamnionitis. Perinatal death (24/60, 40%) was related to underlying anomalies (7 cases), pulmonary hypoplasia (5 cases), chorioamnionitis (2 cases), or treatment failure for unknown reasons (10 cases). All 36 survivors had chylothorax, 33 of which were primary, and 3 were secondary to right congenital diaphragmatic hernia, pulmonary sequestration, or Noonan syndrome.


CONCLUSIONS
Following shunting, pleural effusion with hydrops has survival rate >50%, but still have a high rate of morbidity and mortality.
Picone
O
O
Maternité, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades (AP-HP) et Université Paris V, 149, rue de Sèvres, 75015 Paris.
Benachi
A
A
Mandelbrot
L
L
Ruano
R
R
Dumez
Y
Y
Dommergues
M
M
D000653:Amniotic Fluid; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D004322:Drainage; D004638:Emergency Treatment; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D015160:Hydrops Fetalis / Q000601:surgery*; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013909:Thorax