Potter Syndrome

Potter syndrome is a congenital developmental defect characterized by the absence of kidneys in a child. This occurs due to a decrease in the amount of amniotic fluid (oligoamnion) and compression of the fetus in the womb.

The main signs of Potter syndrome:

1. Absence or underdevelopment of kidneys. This occurs due to disruption of the blood supply to the developing kidneys in the early stages of pregnancy.

2. Poorly developed lungs. Due to the small amount of amniotic fluid, the fetal lungs are compressed and cannot develop normally.

3. Characteristic appearance. Children often have a wrinkled, flattened face and deformities of the limbs.

4. Low body weight, growth retardation.

5. High neonatal mortality. Most children with Potter syndrome die in the first days or weeks of life due to kidney failure and breathing problems.

Potter syndrome is a rare but very severe congenital disorder. The reasons for its development are not entirely clear; it is presumably due to fetal circulatory disorders and chromosomal abnormalities. Diagnosis is based on ultrasound and analysis of amniotic fluid during pregnancy. There is usually no cure for Potter syndrome, so the main goal is to help the child and family.

Potter syndrome is a congenital anomaly in which the fetus dies in the early stages of pregnancy due to improper formation of organs and systems. The wrinkled, ugly face is reminiscent of the heads of the characters in JK Rowling's novels. The term was coined by the father of the deceased child, Chicago Tribune correspondent Mike Potter.

Doctors confirm that previously the disease was incurable, but with the development of medical technologies, the syndrome was overcome. Initially, surgeons performed a caesarean section in the womb: the absence of membranes made it impossible for an independent birth of a child. But this technique leads to injuries in the mother and developmental defects in the baby. Urologist, expert of the Society of Vascular Surgeons Arnold Podvarny found an effective solution to the problem. Within 48 hours after birth, the baby is placed with special vascular stents in the inferior vena cava. The procedure saves newborns’ lives and prevents the development of severe complications of Potter syndrome.

Wrinkled faces with flat eyes and deformed fingers are the result