First time placing a fetal bladder drainage shunt

At 18 weeks pregnant, during an ultrasound in Japan, pregnant woman NLA (29 years old) was found to have severe oligohydramnios, an enlarged bladder, and suspected lower urinary tract obstruction. This is an abnormality that can seriously affect kidney function and fetal development.

With the desire to access appropriate treatment, the pregnant woman returned to Vietnam and went to the Fetal Intervention Center, Hanoi Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital for continued monitoring.

Here, the examination results showed that the fetus had completely depleted amniotic fluid, bilateral renal pelvis dilation, and an enlarged bladder. Doctors suspected that the fetus had a blockage at the posterior urethral valve, preventing urine from escaping, causing hydronephrosis of the entire urinary system.

After performing amniocentesis to rule out chromosomal abnormalities and consulting with specialists, the team decided to perform a shunt technique to drain from the bladder to the amniotic cavity, to reduce pressure on the bladder and kidneys of the fetus.

Under ultrasound guidance, Dr. Phan Thi Huyen Thuong, Head of the Fetal Intervention Center; Dr. Do Tuan Dat, Head of the A4 Obstetrics Department and the implementation team used a guiding needle, passed through the mother's abdominal wall, amniotic sac, fetal abdominal wall, approached the bladder and placed a specialized drainage tube. The shunt will help drain urine out of the amniotic sac, support the improvement of the fetal development environment and protect kidney function.

The results after the intervention showed that the fetal bladder had clearly shrunk and urine began to drain well. Both mother and fetus were stable after the procedure and continued to be closely monitored.

This is the first time the bladder shunt technique has been performed at Hanoi Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital. The successful implementation marks another step forward in the ability to treat fetal abnormalities in the womb, opening up more opportunities for high-risk pregnancies.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/lan-dau-tien-dat-shunt-dan-luu-bang-quang-cho-thai-nhi-post872225.html