Successful Outcome after Prenatal Treatment of a Cardiac Diverticulum with Massive Pericardial Effusion

Abstract

Congenital ventricular cardiac diverticula are rare. They may occur prenatally in association with a pericardial effusion which, if large enough, can compromise fetal circulatory and lung development. Parental counseling is difficult because some cases resolve in the second trimester and others progress to worsening hydrops and intrauterine death. We present a case associated with a massive pericardial effusion that had a good outcome after successful pericardiocentesis relatively late in gestation considering the time of critical pulmonary development. We also review similar cases presented in the literature and discuss management options.

Fetal Diagnosis of a Cardiac Diverticulum and Pericardial Effusion

“…An echocardiogram at the time did not reveal any residual pericardial effusion, while the apex at the left ventricle appeared quite normal. That would support the previous reports sum-I read with interest the report by AbiNader et al [1] on the prenatal treatment of a cardiac diverticulum with a massive pericardial effusion.…”

“…The young woman in her late teens was referred from a country centre at 19 weeks' gestation because of the effusion. At the time, I considered the possibility of blunt trauma to the fetal heart as the moth-marized by Abi-Nader et al [1] where the diverticulum resolved spontaneously.…”

Congenital Left Ventricular Outpouchings: A Systematic Review of 839 Cases and Introduction of a Novel Classification after Two Centuries

“…However, the relative size of the LVD was significantly decreased in their case . The protrusion even may disappear after birth . Chiang et al.…”

Prenatal Diagnosis of Cardiac Diverticulum with Pericardial Effusion in the First Trimester of Pregnancy with Resolution after Early Pericardiocentesis

“…Two types of diverticula are known: apical and nonapical [ 2 , 3 ]; their characteristics are shown in Table 1 . Apical diverticulum of the left ventriculum may be of three different types: apical isolated diverticula, which are not associated with other malformations; multiple diverticula, which are located on the diaphragmatic or anterior surface of the ventriculum; and large apical diverticula, which are associated with midline thoracoabdominal malformations or with the Pentalogy of Cantrell [ 4 ].…”