Some unborn babies develop abnormal tissue, or a cyst, inside or outside a lung. The cyst connects to blood vessels but does not connect to the baby’s airway. This condition is known as bronchopulmonary sequestration.
Bronchopulmonary Sequestration Treatment: Why Choose Us?
Our ultrasound experts use the most advanced 3-D ultrasound technology to detect bronchopulmonary sequestration in unborn babies. At the Fetal Care Center, our ultrasound experts have an exclusive focus on obstetrical and gynecological ultrasounds, performing more than 5,000 tests every year. Because of this high volume, we excel at detecting problems early.
If your unborn baby has bronchopulmonary sequestration, high-risk pregnancy doctors at the Fetal Care Center and pediatric surgeons and neonatologists at St. Louis Children’s Hospital provide exceptional care during pregnancy and after childbirth.
About Bronchopulmonary Sequestration
Bronchopulmonary sequestration is very rare. This condition does not usually cause problems for an unborn baby while in the womb. After birth, your baby undergoes surgery to remove the mass. An untreated cyst may place your baby at risk for breathing problems and infection.
Causes of Bronchopulmonary Sequestration
There is no known cause of bronchopulmonary sequestration. However, you may want to meet with our genetic counselors to understand your future risk of having another child with this condition.
Diagnosing Bronchopulmonary Sequestration
To diagnose bronchopulmonary sequestration, our specialists use ultrasound images to look for an abnormal growth in or near your baby’s lung. A maternal-fetal medicine specialist is always present during your ultrasound to explain your unborn baby’s condition and treatment options. Learn more about high-risk pregnancy tests.
Treating Bronchopulmonary Sequestration
Maternal-fetal medicine specialists at the Fetal Care Center monitor your unborn baby with regular ultrasounds to see if the mass is growing.
We recommend that you deliver at a hospital equipped to care for a high-risk pregnancy, such as the Women & Infants Center. After delivery, your baby may receive advanced medical care in our Level IV newborn intensive care unit (NICU). Our focus is on keeping mom and baby together, which is why our NICU is connected to labor and delivery.
Most of the time, bronchopulmonary sequestration does not cause problems for babies after birth. Surgery to remove the cyst typically happens in early childhood. This surgery is safe and does not adversely affect your child’s development or lung function.
During pregnancy, you will meet with pediatric lung specialists from the pulmonary medicine program at St. Louis Children’s Hospital to learn more about this surgery.
Contact Us
To make an appointment with a Washington University fetal care specialist at the Women & Infants Center, call 855.925.0631.