Vesico-Amniotic Shunting in Fetal Posterior Urethral Valve Syndrome.

Hwang, Tae Ki; Ha, Min Sook; Lee, Sang Kyung; Lee, In Ha; Park, Yeon Jin; Ji, Ill Woon; Jeong, Eun Hwan; Kim, Hak Soon

Case Report

Korean Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 2004;47(12):2481-2484.
Published online December 1, 2004.

Vesico-Amniotic Shunting in Fetal Posterior Urethral Valve Syndrome.

Tae Ki Hwang, Min Sook Ha, Sang Kyung Lee, In Ha Lee, Yeon Jin Park, Ill Woon Ji, Eun Hwan Jeong, Hak Soon Kim

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju, Korea.

Abstract

Fetal posterior urethral valve syndrome results in potentially lethal complications including renal dysplasia, pulmonary hypoplasia. Antenatal fetal vesicocentesis and amniotic fluid infusion may be useful to improve neonatal pulmonary function, however rapid recurrence of urinary retention and oligohydramnios usually required repetitive invasive procedures. We successfully treated a posterior urethral valve syndrome with vesico-amniotic shunt. Under ultrasonographic guidence, we inserted a Double-Basket Catheter into fetal urinary bladder through lower abdominal wall at second trimester. Shunt remained in place until the fetus was delivered at 35th gestational week. The vesico-amniotic shunt can improve fetal outcome and avoid repeated vesicocentesis before delivery.

Key Words: Posterior urethral valve syndrome, Vesico-amniotic shunt