title: Successful outcome after prenatal treatment of a cardiac diverticulum with massive pericardial effusion.
abstract: Congenital ventricular cardiac diverticula are rare. They may occur prenatally in association with a pericardial effusion which, if large enough, can compromise fetal circulatory and lung development. Parental counseling is difficult because some cases resolve in the second trimester and others progress to worsening hydrops and intrauterine death. We present a case associated with a massive pericardial effusion that had a good outcome after successful pericardiocentesis relatively late in gestation considering the time of critical pulmonary development. We also review similar cases presented in the literature and discuss management options.
authors.affiliation: Fetal Medicine Unit, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson and Obstetric Hospital, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK. k.nader@ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Khalil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Abi-Nader
authors.forename: Anna L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: David
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yates
authors.forename: Pranav
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pandya
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004240:Diverticulum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D020519:Pericardiocentesis; D011247:Pregnancy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography