Abstract
Fetal intra-abdominal umbilical vein (FIUV) varix is a rare malformation of the umbilical cord. This is a critical situation due to discrepancies in outcomes varying from normal to high rates of complications and fetal mortalities. We report the observation of a FIUVV vein diagnosed precociously at 22 weeks with a quiet increasing of the diameter by 31 weeks. The outcome was favourable and close monitoring after birthshowed no anomalies. Despite a good prognosis it seems that a close monitoring is essential in antenatal period.
Highlights
Fetal intra-abdominal umbilical vein varix (FIUVV) is rare
We report the observation of a FIUVV vein diagnosed precociously at 22 weeks and we propose to discuss the prognosis, complications and the modality of the antenatal monitoring of this situation
FIUVV is defined as an intra-abdominal umbilical vein diameter at least 1.5 times greater than the diameter of the intra-hepatic umbilical vein [5] or an intra-abdominal umbilical vein diameter exceeding 9 mm [6]
Summary
Fetal intra-abdominal umbilical vein varix (FIUVV) is rare. A recent review has identified the 167 cases of isolated FIUVV published in the literature [3] This entity remains rare and not well known from clinicians and management of such an entity is far from being clear and codified. A 21-year-old attended a routine antenatal ultrasound at 22 weeks of gestation for her first pregnancy. She had a screening of aneuploidy in the first trimester with serum markers and measurement of nuchal translucency which were normal. The child is healthy and is 2 years old This case has caused us difficulties to positive diagnosis of the anomaly, differential diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring modality in pregnancy and postnatal. We hesitated to suggest amniocentesis to the couple but we decided to keep the risk estimated in the first trimester and did not indicate the amniocentesis
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