Peer-reviewed article
Prenatal radiofrequency ablation for bronchopulmonary sequestration: a case report of successful fetal intervention and longitudinal outcomes.
Hui Xi, Huilin Su, Zheming Jiang, GuiJun Li, Yingchun Luo et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This is a medical case report describing a surgical intervention (radiofrequency ablation) performed on a single fetus with a rare congenital lung malformation. The procedure was technically successful and the child had normal development at six months after birth. The document is a clinical case study focused on a specific medical treatment rather than an assessment of child well-being or an intervention with broader applicability to child health and development.
Key points
- A single fetus with bronchopulmonary sequestration was treated prenatally with ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation at 22 weeks of gestation
- The procedure achieved complete vascular occlusion without complications
- Serial ultrasounds showed progressive shrinkage of the lesion
- The child had normal respiratory function and age-appropriate development at six-month follow-up
- The authors conclude RFA is a safe and effective minimally invasive prenatal therapy for this condition
Limitations
This is a single case report with no comparison group or broader population data, so it cannot establish the effectiveness or safety of the intervention across different contexts or populations. Long-term outcomes beyond six months are not described.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Bronchopulmonary sequestration (BPS), a rare congenital pulmonary malformation, is characterized by nonfunctional pulmonary parenchyma with aberrant systemic arterial supply (typically from the aorta or its major branches) and absence of communication with the tracheobronchial tree. Large BPS lesions pose significant fetal risks, including hydrops fetalis, mediastinal shift, and polyhydramnios, necessitating timely prenatal intervention to prevent fetal demise. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of successful ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the feeding artery in a fetus diagnosed with BPS at 22 weeks of gestation. Under ultrasound guidance, a 17-gauge RFA needle was percutaneously inserted into the aberrant feeding artery, achieving complete vascular occlusion without procedural complications. Serial prenatal ultrasounds demonstrated progressive lesion involution. The pregnancy was complicated by cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD), prompting cesarean delivery at 38 weeks. Neonatal computed tomography (CT) confirmed shrinkage of the residual sequestration tissue. Six-month postnatal follow-up revealed normal respiratory function, age-appropriate growth, and developmental milestones. CONCLUSION: RFA represents a safe and effective minimally invasive prenatal therapy for BPS. Candidate selection requires comprehensive evaluation of fetal hydrops, lesion size, gestational age, and parental preferences. Amniotic fluid sampling during the procedure is advisable for genetic/ancillary testing. This case highlights the utility of RFA in optimizing fetal outcomes while avoiding open neonatal period surgery. Long-term neonatal follow-up supports the durability of vascular occlusion and functional recovery.