Wellbeing of Women

2005 Grants

A multi-centre randomised controlled trial comparing intra-uterine vesico-amniotic shunting vs. not shunting in the treatment of congenital bladder outflow obstruction. Professor Mark Kilby, Dr David Somerset, Professor Khalid Khan, Birmingham Women's Hospital £99,526 over 3 years [National Birthday Trust Fund]

LAY TITLE: The role of minimally invasive procedures in unborn babies with congenital bladder obstruction

At the current time about 100 babies per year in the UK are diagnosed with congenital bladder outflow obstruction before birth, approximately half of these babies will die and there is no treatment that is known to help. With this trial it is hoped to be able to show whether bypassing the blockage with a connection between the bladder and the fluid surrounding the baby (vesico-amniotic shunt) before it is born can prevent kidney and bladder damage and improve the baby’s prognosis. In addition, it will assess as to whether this therapy will improve lung growth in these babies.

In the future, it would be possible to offer parents a treatment that will improve their baby’s prognosis, or alternatively we will be able to tell them that this complex and painful procedure offers no benefit and may even further harm their unborn baby.

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