Fetal thoracoamniotic shunting for severe macrocystic congenital pulmonary airway malformation with the Somatex® intrauterine shunt: intrauterine course and postnatal outcome

TAS in macrocystic CPAM with the Somatex^® shunt has a high technical success rate leading to high neonatal survival rates even in cases associated with hydrops. The intrauterine course and neonatal outcome are comparable to TAS for fetal macrocystic CPAM using other types of shunts. Therefore, the choice of the shunt in macrocystic CPAM can be made freely at the discretion of the physician in charge, the availability of devices and economic factors. Due to the short length of 25 mm and its straight design, the outer end of the Somatex^® shunt is covered by skin at birth in up to 50% of cases, which may complicate its removal.