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Neonate with a single umbilical vessel: a case report.
D Radford Shanklin1, Jie Zhang
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, 930 Madison Avenue, Suite 599, Memphis, TN 38163, USA. radfordcrawford@juno.com
The Journal of Reproductive Medicine
|August 19, 2007
Summary
A severely malformed infant with a single umbilical artery survived only 62 minutes, highlighting the placenta's role in fetal development despite severe congenital anomalies.
Area of Science:
- Perinatology
- Developmental Biology
- Medical Genetics
Background:
- The placenta sustains fetuses in utero, supporting vital respiratory, metabolic, and excretory functions.
- This support is crucial even when severe fetal malformations prevent postnatal survival.
Observation:
- A 1,075g infant, born at 30 weeks gestation with gastroschisis and a short umbilical cord (13.0 cm), survived for 62 minutes.
- Pathological examination revealed an 8.0-cm segment of the umbilical cord containing a single umbilical artery, primarily a vein with arterial pads.
Findings:
- The infant presented with severe malformations incompatible with sustained life.
- The umbilical cord exhibited a significant abnormality: a single umbilical artery.
Implications:
- This case underscores the critical role of placental function in maintaining fetal life, even with profound congenital defects.
- The findings emphasize the biological distinction between mere existence and sustained vitality in neonates with severe malformations.
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