[phluff]

LBWC is sporadic, lethal abnormality characterized by severe body-wall defects with evisceration of the organs caused by the failure to form a body stalk. LBWC also known as Body Stalk Anomaly is characterized by severe scoliosis, severe pulmonary hypoplasia and giant omphalocele. The prognosis of the disease is poor and most obstetricians consider it fatal.

A 20 years old primigravida presented at 26wks gestation with anomaly scan report of fetus having abdominal wall defect with positional deformities and severe scoliosis. It was a first pregnancy of non-consanguineous marriage. The antenatal period was uneventful. A provisional diagnosis of LBWC was made. After explaining poor prognosis and family counseling, patient was posted for termination of pregnancy as a high-risk case.

The fetus weighed 500 gm including the placenta, which was adherent to the skin margin of the anterior body wall defect. The proposita had complex fetoplacental malformation pattern with multiple congenital anomalies. Also evident were associated exencephaly, cleft palate and bilateral anophthalmos. He survived for only few minutes after birth. The most obvious features included a huge abdominal wall defect that caused evisceration of liver, stomach and the intestines. Abdominal viscera were attached directly to the placenta and were covered by ruptured sac of amnion. A rather short and broad body stalk connected the fetus to the placenta. The umbilical vessels were one artery and a vein which was connecting the skin margin of the anterior body wall defect. Other abnormal features included low set misshapen and elongated ears, compressed nose, high arched palate and receded chin. Thorax was small and bell shaped with scoliosis of the spine. The lower limbs had developed unequally and were malpositioned. Left leg was more hypoplastic with flexion contracture at the knee joint. Our patient showed the placento-abdominal adhesion phenotype. Because of the fatal nature of the disease and unwillingness of parents further investigations were not performed in this case.

[collaredgirl65]

[Karma]

"He survived for only a few minutes after birth"!!?? I am amazed he was even born alive. Definitely a warranted case for abortion, poor little thing.

[kayo brizzle]

Sad is the fact it lived at all.

[Wench]

My cat would love to play with that.

[Wheelwash]

This is fucked. What happened to that shit I saw the other day about no more pics of dead babies and such?

[DiamondSmiles]

Sad. He looks inside out. I feel bad for the mother.

[DiamondSmiles]

What are a, "primigravida", 20 year old female and a, "non-consanguineous marriage"?

Got it!

[DiamondSmiles]

Found the answers, although one definition is a woman over 35 pregnant for the first time and the marriage is between two people with the same ancestors.

[SeaGrave]

Weird