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Fetal pleural effusions with spontaneous resolution: a case report
Piyamas Saksiriwuttho1, Thawalwong Ratanasiri, Ratana Komwilaisak
1Division of Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand. piyamassaksiriwuttho@yahoo.com
A 42-year-old pregnant woman was referred with massive fetal bilateral pleural effusions. Observation with serial ultrasound was made. The documented spontaneous resolution of fetal pleural effusion was recorded. Neonatal examination revealed a completely healthy infant with normal respiration. Fetal pleural effusion can cause fetal lung compression, abnormal neonatal respiration and finally, neonatal mortality. Regular ultrasounds are one of the supportive options due to spontaneous resolution that can occur in 9 to 22% of the cases.
A 42-year-old pregnant woman was referred with massive fetal bilateral pleural effusions. Observation with serial ultrasound was made. The documented spontaneous resolution of fetal pleural effusion was recorded. Neonatal examination revealed a completely healthy infant with normal respiration. Fetal pleural effusion can cause fetal lung compression, abnormal neonatal respiration and finally, neonatal mortality. Regular ultrasounds are one of the supportive options due to spontaneous resolution that can occur in 9 to 22% of the cases.
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