Thoracoscopic removal of retained thoracoamniotic shunt catheters in newborns

Fetal hydrothorax is associated with significant mortality. However, the development of fetal thoracoamniotic shunting has reduced the mortality rate. Fetal thoracoamniotic shunting can be characterized by significant complications, such as intrathoracic dislodgement of the catheter. The ideal management of dislodged catheters postnatally is not known. We report two newborns with a prenatal diagnosis of fetal hydrothorax who underwent thoracoamniotic shunting complicated by intrathoracic dislodgement of the catheters requiring thoracoscopic removal of the shunts in the neonatal period.