Pulmonary hypoplasia associated with oligohydramnios: report of five cases

From January 1986 to December 1988, 5 cases of oligohydramnios with pulmonary hypoplasia were experienced. Clinically, all of the newborn infants had unique faces and evidence of respiratory distress with tachypnea, cyanosis, intercostal retractions, nasal flaring and grunting respiration presented within minutes after birth. Usually, they had no response to respiratory therapy. Most of them showed small lung volume by chest roentgenogram and were prone to develop pneumothorax. All 5 cases did not survive more than a few hours. Autopsy findings disclosed pulmonary hypoplasia. Four of them had urinary tract malformation, and the other one had the history of prolonged leakage of amniotic fluid.