Median sternotomy as an exit procedure in a child with massive pericardial tumor

Fetuses can survive with complete airway obstruction caused by placental gas exchange until birth when full ventilatory function is required. The authors present a case in which prenatal scans suggested that adequate ventilation would not be achievable because of the presence of an intrathoracic tumor. An EXIT procedure (exutero intrapartum treatment) was therefore performed, which permitted sufficient lung expansion for adequate ventilation. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.