A Case of Internalization of Thracoamniotic Shunt of Fatal Bilateral Chylothorax

Kim, Soo Pyung; Shin, Jong Chul; Kim, Sa Jin; Rho, Seung Hye; Lee, Gui Se Ra; Song, Seung Gyu; Lee, Yong Suk; Lee, Hae Gyu; Choi, Yoon Kyung

Abstract

Using 3D ultrasound, bilateral chylothorax was diagnosed antenatally in the second trimester. Apparently stable, bilateral pleural effusion progressed rapidly to severe hydrops with facial edema during observation, and then we decided bilateral pleural-amniotic shunt operation. Here we present a case where drainage of pleural effusion by a double reverse pig tail stent made by ourself was achieved, although placement of the thoracoamniotic shunt resulted in near complete drainage of bilateral pleural effusion with normalization of intrathoracic anatomic relationships, subsequent resolution of fetal hydrops, but the ultimate outcome was unsuccessful due to the internalization of one catheter and unknown sudden death. We think that ongoing research is required to further evaluation about complications associated with this procedure, specifically failure of function due to obstruction, migration of the catheter,