Short-term fetoscopic tracheal balloon occlusion permits lung distension and improves pulmonary blood flow prior to delivery in a hydropic fetus with hydrothorax

Background: In fetuses with bilateral hydrothorax, thoraco-amniotic shunt insertion may be too difficult or dangerous because of an untoward fetal position in combination with an anteriorly situated placenta. Case: A human fetus presented with bilateral hydrothorax, marked cardiopulmonary compression, impaired lung and fetoplacental blood flows, skin edema and severe polyhydramnios at 29+5 weeks of gestation. Because of an untoward fetal position and an anteriorly situated placenta, thoraco-amniotic shunt insertion was deemed unnecessarily difficult and dangerous in this situation. Given the severity of lung com…