Results of treatment of severe fetal hydrothorax with bilateral pleuroamniotic catheters.

Unusual antenatal treatment of a case of severe fetal hydrothorax with secondary polyhydramnios and preterm labor is presented and illustrated. Bilateral pleural drainage catheters were placed antenatally to decompress the fetal chest in an effort to prolong pregnancy because of immature pulmonary studies and poor prognosis. Catheter migration occurred and effective drainage ceased after three days, but with tocolysis and bilateral thoracentesis, delivery was delayed another 48 hours to allow steroid therapy. With ventilatory therapy and chest drainage the infant survived and is doing well at one year of age.