Open AccessVesicoamniotic shunting using a double‐basket catheter appears effective in treating fetal bladder outlet obstruction
Author(s) -
Won HyeSung,
Kim SunKwon,
Shim JaeYoon,
Lee Pil Ryang,
Kim Ahm
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.1080/00016340500449923
Subject(s) - medicine , surgery , shunting , fetus , bladder outlet obstruction , catheter , urinary system , stenosis , gestational age , pregnancy , prostate , cancer , biology , genetics
Background. To estimate the effect of vesicoamniotic shunting using a double‐basket catheter on treating fetal bladder outlet obstruction. Methods. A retrospective study involving 8 prenatally diagnosed bladder outlet obstruction cases that underwent vesicoamniotic shunt placement using a double‐basket catheter from 1998 to 2004. Patients were followed‐up for prenatal and neonatal outcome analyses. Results. Vesicoamniotic shunting was performed in 8 fetuses aged between 13.7 and 25.4 weeks' gestation (mean±SD, 19.7±3.5 weeks). Final diagnoses included 5 posterior urethral valves, 1 cloacal anomaly, 1 urethral stenosis, and 1 unknown. There were no maternal complications associated with the procedures. One woman diagnosed as having a fetus with posterior urethral valves decided to terminate her pregnancy and one fetus died in uterus spontaneously. Six women delivered live babies, and one baby required postnatal ventilatory support. Postnatal follow‐up ranged from 3 to 60 months. Of the 6 newborns, 4 survived with normal renal function, 1 had renal insufficiency, and 1 died of renal failure at 3 months of age. Conclusions. Vesicoamniotic shunt placement using a double‐basket catheter may be effective in improving perinatal and neonatal outcomes through long‐term decompression of the fetal urinary tract in carefully selected cases.