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Mermaid syndrome: virtually no hope for survival

Lutz, Nicolas ; Meyrat, Blaise ; Guignard, Jean-Pierre ; Hohlfeld, Judith

In: Pediatric Surgery International, 2004, vol. 20, no. 7, p. 559-561

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    Titre
    • Mermaid syndrome: virtually no hope for survival
    Auteur
    • Lutz, Nicolas. Department of Pediatric Surgery, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland
    • Meyrat, Blaise. Department of Pediatric Surgery, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland
    • Guignard, Jean-Pierre. Department of Pediatrics, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland
    • Hohlfeld, Judith. Department of Pediatric Surgery, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland
    Type de document
    • Postprint
    Langue
    • Anglais
    Publié dans
    • Pediatric Surgery International, 2004, vol. 20, no. 7, p. 559-561. Springer-Verlag
    Autre version électronique
    Identifiant OAI-PMH
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:311114
    Summary
    Abstract.: Sirenomelia, also called the mermaid syndrome is a severe malformation involving multiple organs and characterized by partially or completely developed lower extremities fused by the skin. The birth of a "mermaid” is very rare (1.2-4.2 cases for 100,000 births); most are stillborn, or die at or shortly after birth. The case of a living female neonate with dipodic simelia (fusion of well-developed legs) is presented. No prenatal diagnosis was made and the newborn had an uneventful neonatal course following Cesarean section delivery. The complex and striking malformation was obvious at birth and further evaluation revealed very poorly functioning kidneys, associated with abnormal anorectum, urogenital tract, and external genitalia, as well as a pelvic malformation. Supportive care was applied because of the poor prognosis and the child died at 7weeks of age, due to renal failure