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Sirenomelia What are the other Names for this condition? (also known as / synonyms) • Mermaid

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Sirenomelia

What are the other Names for this condition? (also known as / synonyms)

• Mermaid Syndrome
• Sirenomelia Sequence
• Midline Disorder
• Sirenomelus

What is it? (Definition/Background information) • Sirenomelia is a birth defect that causes the legs to fuse together. This medical condition of malformation varies from person to person and occurs 1 in every 70,000 to 100,000 births. Fetus usually dies in the womb, during birth or usually right after birth.

Who gets it? (Age and Sex Distribution)

• Developing fetus of both genders

What are the Risk Factors? (Predisposing factors)

• A normal fetus has two arteries and one vein. However, fetus with Sirenomelia only has one umbilical artery and one vein, which …show more content…

During pregnancy:
• If diagnose early in the pregnancy and depending on the severity of the syndrome, the doctor might advice the patient to terminate the pregnancy After birth:
• Surgical separation of the lower extremity if patient’s health is in good shape
• If necessary for survival, patient’s lower extremity will have to be amputated
• Doctors will have to create an external waste pouch due to the absent of genital organs
Kidney transplant if original kidneys fail or was not present
• Surgeries to reconstruct certain parts of the body, like the urinary tract and gastrointestinal outlet tracts, for proper body functions

How can it be Prevented?

Since doctors do not know the exact cause, they’re unable to determine the environmental prevention and the genetic factors. No one knows if this condition is hereditary or not. Sirenomelia is such a rare condition that there is no known prevention. However, proper prenatal care and visits to the doctor should ensure a healthy pregnancy.

What is the Prognosis (outcomes/ resolutions)?

If Sirenomelia is diagnosed early in the pregnancy, doctor might advice the patient to terminate the pregnancy. Those that make it through birth survive for a couple hours or days. This is such a rare condition that not a lot of people know about nor have heard of it.

Additional and Relevant Useful Information:

As of today, three survivors have lived pass the first month after being born.
• Shiloh Jade Pepin had no bladder,

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