FETAL TISSUE TYPING IN ANTICIPATION OF NEONATAL HEART-TRANSPLANTATION

Background: Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is among the most common m ajor congenital cardiac anomalies. Fetuses with this anomaly survive b ut require either reconstructive surgery or heart transplantation post natally. Case: A woman whose fetus was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome underwent funipuncture for fetal tissue typing. The fe tus then was listed for heart transplantation. Once an ABO-compatible donor heart was procured, the fetus was delivered and immediately unde rwent transplantation. Conclusion: In candidates for neonatal heart tr ansplantation, fetal tissue typing allows the search for an ABO-compat ible donor heart to begin earlier. This approach minimizes the morbidi ty associated with postnatal waiting and allows transplantation to tak e place while the neonate is less immunocompetent. (C) 1998 by The Ame rican College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.