We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Absence of the ductus venosus: report of 10 new cases and review of the literature.
- Authors
Contratti, G.; Banzi, C.; Ghi, T.; Perolo, A.; Pilu, G.; Visentin, A.
- Abstract
ABSTRACTObjectiveTo assess the clinical significance of the absence of the ductus venosus. DesignA retrospective study with a review of the literature. MethodsThe archives of our ultrasound laboratory and the English literature were searched for cases with a prenatal diagnosis of absence of the fetal ductus venosus. ResultsBetween 1985 and 2000, 10 fetuses were diagnosed in our center as having absence of the ductus venosus. The review of the literature revealed 23 cases. Three main patterns of abnormal venous circulation were documented: (1) umbilical vein bypassing the liver and connecting directly to the right atrium (46%); (2) umbilical vein bypassing the liver and connecting to the inferior vena cava mostly through one of the iliac veins (25%); (3) umbilical vein connecting to the portal circulation without giving rise to the ductus venosus (21%). Major anomalies, including chromosomal aberrations, were found in 8/33 (24%) cases. Hydrops developed in 11/33 (33%) cases. Twenty fetuses with isolated absence of the ductus venosus were delivered, and 5 (20%) died. The portal vein was found to be absent in half of the infants examined after birth. ConclusionsOur results and the review of literature suggest that absence of the ductus venosus is associated with a high incidence of fetal anomalies and adverse outcomes, including associated malformations, chromosomal aberrations, in utero heart failure and absence of the portal vein. Heart failure and absence of the portal vein seem particularly frequent when absence of the ductus venosus is associated with a connection of the umbilical vein to either the inferior vena cava or the right atrium.
- Subjects
DUCTUS arteriosus; FETAL monitoring; PORTAL vein
- Publication
Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2001, Vol 18, Issue 6, p605
- ISSN
0960-7692
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1046/j.0960-7692.2001.00599.x