Prenatal Diagnosis of a Fetal Right Ventricular Diverticulum: A Case Report

Abstract

Cardiac diverticulum is a rare anomaly. These are transmural localized protrusions, within the free wall of the ventricles. Diverticulum may be associated with pericardial effusion and complications such as pulmonary hypoplasia or hydrops fetalis. Pericardial effusion is the most frequently associated finding. Pericardial effusion should be considered as an indirect sign of the presence of cardiac diverticula. Delivery should be planned at a tertiary care center well equipped to deal with cardiac anomalies. Generally, the prognosis of the isolated cardiac diverticulum is excellent. We present a case of a prenatal diagnosis of right ventricular diverticulum at 20 weeks and 4 days of gestation associated with pericardial effusion. Spontaneous resolution of diverticulum and pericardial effusion was noted in the third trimester scan at around 35 weeks and 5 days. The baby was delivered at 39 weeks and 3 days of gestation by cesarean section for an obstetric indication. The baby was well at 1 year and 2 months of age at the time of writing. Fetal cardiac diverticulum if not associated with rhythm disturbance, signs of cardiac failure or other cardiac or extracardiac abnormality carries an excellent prognosis.

Keywords

Cardiac diverticulum - Cardiac aneurysm - Pericardial effusion - Arrythmia - Fetal hydrops

Publication History

Received: 01 June 2019

Accepted: 30 September 2019

Article published online:
08 May 2023