Fetal bronchoscopy: its successful use in a case of extralobar pulmonary sequestration

Objective: To report the performance of fetal bronchoscopy in a case of pulmonary sequestration. Materials and Methods: A 24 year-old female, Gravida 2, Para 1, was referred at 27.5 weeks with a large fetal left lung mass with marked right mediastinal shift and no visible normal left lung. Differential diagnosis included possible bronchial atresia. Results: The patient underwent fetal laryngoscopy and fetal bronchoscopy at 31.5 weeks. The right lung and a portion of the left lung expanded during surgery as a result of bronchial lavage. Bronchial atresia or bronchogenic cyst were not found. Pregnancy continued uneventfully, with continuous growth of the right lung and a small amount of left lung. The patient delivered vaginally at term. The baby underwent thoracoscopic resection of a pulmonary sequestration at 10.5 months of age and did well. Conclusion: Fetal bronchoscopy is feasible. The procedure may prove useful in the differential diagnosis and in the potential treatment of different fetal lung lesion...