NONIMMUNE HYDROPS-FETALIS AND BILATERAL PULMONARY HYPOPLASIA IN A NEWBORN-INFANT WITH EXTRALOBAR PULMONARY SEQUESTRATION

Extralobar pulmonary sequestration was found in a newborn premature in fant that presented with non-immune hydrops fetalis, massive bilateral hydrothorax and polyhydramnios in utero. The baby died of severe resp iratory insufficiency 15 h after birth. Postmortem examination reveale d distended lymphatic vessels in the sequestered lung tissue probably due to impeded lymph drainage. We suggest that not extralobar pulmonar y sequestration itself but a subsequent massive unilateral hydrothorax due to severe obstruction of lymph drainage was the cause of the non- immune hydrops fetalis, pulmonary hypoplasia and polyhydramnios. If th ese symptoms are diagnosed before delivery, a search for extralobar pu lmonary sequestration is indicated.