Fetal hydrothorax: management and outcome – case report

Abstract

The most common demonstrable causes of the fetal hydrothorax with present non-immune hydrops are cardiac anomalies, followed by chromosomal disorders, congenital malformations and alpha-thalassemia. Our case was a patient 39 years old, G–2, refused to obtain invasive prenatal test (amniocentesis) in second trimester, presenting in 34th week of gestation with fetal hydrops, combined with other structural anomalies (bubble-double sign and hydrothorax). In order to obtain successful lung expansion at birth, we performed thoracocentesis guided by ultrasound, followed by induced labor. The patient delivered vaginally (live male infant 3300g, Apgar score 7/8). Postnatal kariotype revealed Trisomy 21– Down syndrome. The intrauterine treatment given in this case may have been successful in reducing the neonatal complications.