THORACOAMNIOTIC SHUNTING FOR TREATMENT OF FETAL BILATERAL HYDROTHORAXWITH HYDROPS

Isolated bilateral pleural effusion with mediastinal compression leadi ng to hydropic change of the fetus is unusual, and carries a high risk of perinatal death. This condition can be reversed in utero by perfor ming ultrasound-guided shunting surgery. We describe a hydropic fetus at 30 weeks' gestation with rapid recurrence of pleural effusion after thoracentesis. The pleural effusion and hydrops resolved within 1 wee k after ultrasound-guided thoracoamniotic shunt and the fetal lungs we re restored to their normal size. The fetus was born at 35 weeks' gest ation and had an uneventful postnatal course, The technique of restori ng cardiopulmonary: function in utero through intrathoracic decompress ion offers a valuable alternative to repetitive prenatal thoracentesis or preterm delivery of fetuses with hydrops caused by bilateral pleur al effusion.