Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Does Enlarged Ventricle In Unborn Child?
Question: Hi, my unborn child had a scan at 19weeks showing one enlarged ventricle of 11mm. Today, one week later I am told that the ventricle has grown by 2mm to 13mm. Is this still very serious? Many thanks.
Brief Answer:
It can be a cause of concern.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing to us.
Ventriculomegaly (enlarged ventricle) is dilatation of the lateral ventricle of the brain. If it is more than 15 mm in diameter, then it is called severe ventriculomegaly.
It is due to so many causes like infection, outflow obstruction of brain fluid.
It can occur alone or sometimes it can be associated with other fetal malformation like agenesis of corpus Callosum, spina bifida and heart defect.
Fetus with isolated ventriculomegaly or associated with fetal anomalies may sometimes have an increased risk of chromosomal anomaly like down syndrome. In these cases the prognosis is adverse.
In my opinion as your wife, age is more than 35 yrs. So she should screen for chromosomal anomalies (most likely down syndrome).
She should go for third level ultrasonography (if available), amniocentesis, a triple marker test to rule out the association of other structural and chromosomal anomalies.
As other brain anomalies can be detected only after childbirth with the help of MRI so you should prepare yourself accordingly.
Hope I have answered your query If you have further questions I will be happy to help you.
Wish you a good luck for your future.
Regards
Dr.Richa
It can be a cause of concern.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing to us.
Ventriculomegaly (enlarged ventricle) is dilatation of the lateral ventricle of the brain. If it is more than 15 mm in diameter, then it is called severe ventriculomegaly.
It is due to so many causes like infection, outflow obstruction of brain fluid.
It can occur alone or sometimes it can be associated with other fetal malformation like agenesis of corpus Callosum, spina bifida and heart defect.
Fetus with isolated ventriculomegaly or associated with fetal anomalies may sometimes have an increased risk of chromosomal anomaly like down syndrome. In these cases the prognosis is adverse.
In my opinion as your wife, age is more than 35 yrs. So she should screen for chromosomal anomalies (most likely down syndrome).
She should go for third level ultrasonography (if available), amniocentesis, a triple marker test to rule out the association of other structural and chromosomal anomalies.
As other brain anomalies can be detected only after childbirth with the help of MRI so you should prepare yourself accordingly.
Hope I have answered your query If you have further questions I will be happy to help you.
Wish you a good luck for your future.
Regards
Dr.Richa
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Dear Dr XXXXXXX
Thank you for your time.
It is terrible news because the baby has no corpus colostrum as we discovered by scan earlier today so it is severely damaged. We are taking a final decision Monday.
May I ask, what happens in order to terminate the pregnancy at 22weeks, can it be done under General anaesthetic and how soon is it done?
Thank you, XXXXXXX
Thank you for your time.
It is terrible news because the baby has no corpus colostrum as we discovered by scan earlier today so it is severely damaged. We are taking a final decision Monday.
May I ask, what happens in order to terminate the pregnancy at 22weeks, can it be done under General anaesthetic and how soon is it done?
Thank you, XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
You are thinking in a right direction.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I feel so sorry about you and your husband.
I can understand your situation and how difficult it is for you to take such a decision.
Termination of pregnancy in second trimester is done by a surgical procedure called dilatation and evacuation, which is safer compared to medical abortion.
Termination of pregnancy even in second trimester as in your case is safe.
It should be performed by an expert gynaecologist as an OPD (day care) procedure.
It can be performed with either local or general anaesthesia as per patient compliance (decided by treating doctor).
It is usually a 30-45 mins procedure and patient can go home same day.
Wish you good luck, God bless you!
Feel free to discuss more.
If you want to close the discussion please accept my answer.
Regards
Dr.Richa
You are thinking in a right direction.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I feel so sorry about you and your husband.
I can understand your situation and how difficult it is for you to take such a decision.
Termination of pregnancy in second trimester is done by a surgical procedure called dilatation and evacuation, which is safer compared to medical abortion.
Termination of pregnancy even in second trimester as in your case is safe.
It should be performed by an expert gynaecologist as an OPD (day care) procedure.
It can be performed with either local or general anaesthesia as per patient compliance (decided by treating doctor).
It is usually a 30-45 mins procedure and patient can go home same day.
Wish you good luck, God bless you!
Feel free to discuss more.
If you want to close the discussion please accept my answer.
Regards
Dr.Richa
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
Hi Dr XXXXXXX
Thanks for your response.
In addition, would it be ok to find out how soon on request a medical termination can be performed? Is it likely I would need to wait longer?
Many thanks, XXXXXXX
Thanks for your response.
In addition, would it be ok to find out how soon on request a medical termination can be performed? Is it likely I would need to wait longer?
Many thanks, XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
No wait time required
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Sorry for the delayed response due to time difference.
Medical termination of pregnancy in case of foetal anomalies should be performed as early as possible.
On request procedure can be done on the same day and there is no waiting time required.
Only requirement is that a person should be medically/surgically fit for anaesthesia at the time of procedure.
Feel free to discuss more.
Good luck.
Regards
Dr. Richa
No wait time required
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Sorry for the delayed response due to time difference.
Medical termination of pregnancy in case of foetal anomalies should be performed as early as possible.
On request procedure can be done on the same day and there is no waiting time required.
Only requirement is that a person should be medically/surgically fit for anaesthesia at the time of procedure.
Feel free to discuss more.
Good luck.
Regards
Dr. Richa
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Hello,
My husband and I may yet go ahead with the birth of our son.
We have been told there is fifty per cent chance of a normal baby and another fifty per cent chance from normal to severe that he shall be disabled.
Can I ask what sorts of difficulties he might incur?
Many thanks, XXXXXXX
My husband and I may yet go ahead with the birth of our son.
We have been told there is fifty per cent chance of a normal baby and another fifty per cent chance from normal to severe that he shall be disabled.
Can I ask what sorts of difficulties he might incur?
Many thanks, XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
See the discription.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Nice to hear from you all again.
I sincerely appreciate your endeavor.
What type of difficulty he will be confronting in his future is depending on two important things: one there is complete agenesis of corpus callosum or not and another factor is that there is an association of other genetic disease or not with it.
You know very well that corpous callosum formed in the initial months of gestation, it will not formed in later months of gestation and as such there is no treatment available for this medical problem.
Your son may develop problem with physical, cognitive, motor development, social conduct and communication problem.
He might be having difficulty in vision, hearing, spoken communication, toilet training, sitting, walking, swallowing and other motor development abnormalities.
He might be having mental retardation, seizure disorder and hydrocephalus.
May be he is facing trouble in social adjustment.
There are hence many other problems associated with this medical condition.
Hope it is of some use to you.
My best wishes are always with you.
Please feel free to discuss and add more.
If want to close the discussion kindly accept my answer and grade it.
Regards
Dr.Richa
See the discription.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Nice to hear from you all again.
I sincerely appreciate your endeavor.
What type of difficulty he will be confronting in his future is depending on two important things: one there is complete agenesis of corpus callosum or not and another factor is that there is an association of other genetic disease or not with it.
You know very well that corpous callosum formed in the initial months of gestation, it will not formed in later months of gestation and as such there is no treatment available for this medical problem.
Your son may develop problem with physical, cognitive, motor development, social conduct and communication problem.
He might be having difficulty in vision, hearing, spoken communication, toilet training, sitting, walking, swallowing and other motor development abnormalities.
He might be having mental retardation, seizure disorder and hydrocephalus.
May be he is facing trouble in social adjustment.
There are hence many other problems associated with this medical condition.
Hope it is of some use to you.
My best wishes are always with you.
Please feel free to discuss and add more.
If want to close the discussion kindly accept my answer and grade it.
Regards
Dr.Richa
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
