Women's Health

Maternity

Genetic Testing

Bladder Shunt

Rarely, ultrasound may reveal a fetus with evidence of lower urinary tract obstruction. This is usually seen in a male fetus, where the bladder and kidneys are enlarged and there is decreased amniotic fluid. When low amniotic fluid persists the fetal lungs may not develop properly. In severe cases the fetus may not be able to survive after birth because of breating problems.

After extensive evaluation and consultation a bladder shunt may be recommended. The shunt is a thin plastic tube which allows fluid to flow out of the blocked bladder and into the amniotic fluid. This both relieves the urinary tract obstruction and increase the amniotic fluid, allowing for more normal lung development.

Bladder shunting is an outpatient procedure that takes about an hour to complete, however much of this time is spent setting up equipment and performing ultrasound. The technique is similar to that of amniocentesis; once the mother's abdomen is cleaned with an antiseptic, a needle is inserted into the fetal bladder and and the shunt is placed. This is all done under ultrasound guidance.