Fetal intravascular transfusion for hydropic disease due to rhesus isoimmunization.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the management of hydropic fetuses, due to rhesus isoimmunization, with fetal intrauterine intravascular transfusions.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of 18 rhesus-negative pregnant women presenting at our hospital with fetal hydrops during a 7-year period. All cases were managed with serial intrauterine intravascular transfusions with the goal of delivery by cesarean section beyond 33 weeks of gestation. All patients received prophylactic ampicillin and ritodrine for 4 days after the procedure.

RESULTS: There were 11 mildly and 7 severely hydropic fetuses. All fetuses with mild hydrops and 5 of the 7 with severe hydrops were delivered alive after 32 weeks of gestation in a good condition. Two fetuses both with severe hydrops died in utero, at 28 weeks of gestation. Intrauterine reversal of hydrops occurred in 90.9% of fetuses with mild hydrops and in 57.1% of severely hydropic fetuses.

CONCLUSIONS: The survival rate for the hydropic fetuses in our study was 88.9% and it was associated with the severity of fetal hydrops.