Vesico-amniotic Shunting
While a baby is growing in the womb, the tube leading from the baby’s bladder may become blocked. As a result the baby’s lungs or kidneys may not develop properly. The baby may have breathing problems at birth, or may
need kidney dialysis or a transplant. Some babies die in the womb, and some die soon after birth.
One way to treat the blockage is to insert a small tube (called a vesico–amniotic shunt) into the baby’s bladder.
The fetal medicine doctor will talk to you about the risks and benefits of this procedure. This procedure has been the subject of a randomised controlled trial into the effectiveness of the intervention, details can be viewed here.
The procedure is performed under direct ultrasound vision. The fetal medicine doctor will offer an antibiotic injection to reduce the infection risk, and inject local anaesthetic. After this, a needle is inserted through the woman’s abdomen into the womb, and into the bladder. A flexible, shaped tube is moved down the needle. This tube is positioned between the bladder and the amniotic fluid around the unborn baby. It allows any fluid in the bladder to drain away into the amniotic cavity. The shunt is removed as soon as the baby is born. This procedure is carried out using local anaesthetic.