title: Short and long term outcomes associated with fetal cholelithiasis: a report of two cases with antenatal diagnosis and postnatal follow-up.
abstract: The aims of this study were to present and discuss ultrasound findings of prenatal fetal cholelithiasis in two cases with different etiology and evolution. Case 1: a pregnant woman from sub-Saharan Africa, suffering from Lyme disease, was treated with ceftriaxone sodium. Six weeks later, biliary sludge associated with polyhydramnios was detected in the fetus and the fetal growth percentile was 14. Emergency caesarean was performed at 36 weeks of gestation due to fetal distress. Biliary sludge persists in the two-and-a-half-year-old child. Case 2: the fetus of a Caucasian woman with normal pregnancy showed multiple cholelithiasis associated with polyhydramnios at 31 weeks of gestation. At 39 weeks and 4 days, cesarean section was performed due to lack of dilation. The biliary disease resolved spontaneously at seven months of age, with no associated abnormalities. In conclusion, prenatal diagnosis of cholelithiasis is straightforward, but prognosis cannot be defined yet. Serious complications do not arise in 70% of cases, but severe diseases may ensue in 20%. Persistence of cholelithiasis after one year of age results in cholelithiasis in childhood and beyond. Biliary sludge is associated with worse prognosis than cholelithiasis when it appears before 28 weeks of gestation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ultrasound and Fetal Medicine Unit, University Hospital of Canary Islands, Ctra. Ofra, s/n, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 38320 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5160-9583
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Troyano-Luque
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ultrasound and Fetal Medicine Unit, University Hospital of Canary Islands, Ctra. Ofra, s/n, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 38320 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Padilla-Pérez
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ultrasound and Fetal Medicine Unit, University Hospital of Canary Islands, Ctra. Ofra, s/n, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 38320 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Martínez-Wallin
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ultrasound and Fetal Medicine Unit, University Hospital of Canary Islands, Ctra. Ofra, s/n, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 38320 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain.
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alvarez de la Rosa
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ultrasound and Fetal Medicine Unit, University Hospital of Canary Islands, Ctra. Ofra, s/n, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 38320 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain ; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University Hospital Policlinico of Bari and University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore Andrea
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1522-8732
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Mastrolia
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ultrasound and Fetal Medicine Unit, University Hospital of Canary Islands, Ctra. Ofra, s/n, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 38320 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain.
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Trujillo
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Puerta de Hierro, Calle Manuel de Falla, 1 Majadahonda, 28222 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Tirso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pérez-Medina