Potter's syndrome in babies, a rare condition due to lack of amniotic fluid

What is Potter's syndrome?

Potter's syndrome is a rare condition that refers to a physical abnormality caused by too little amniotic fluid (oligohydramnios) and congenital kidney failure that develops when the baby is growing in the womb.

The amniotic fluid itself is one of the supporters of the baby's growth and development while in the womb. Amniotic fluid appears 12 days after conception occurs. Then, at around 20 weeks of gestation, the amount of amniotic fluid will depend on how much urine (urine) the baby produces while in the womb. In normal development, the baby will swallow amniotic fluid which is then processed by the kidneys and excreted in the form of urine.

However, when the fetus's kidneys and urinary tract can't function properly, it can cause problems that make the baby produce less urine. As a result, the amount of amniotic fluid produced tends to decrease.

Reduced amniotic fluid means that the baby has no cushion in the womb. This causes the baby to put pressure on the uterine wall, causing a characteristic facial appearance and an unusual body shape. Well, this condition is called Potter's syndrome.

What happens when a baby has Potter's syndrome

Babies who have this syndrome have the characteristics of ears that are lower than normal babies, small chins and pulled back, folds of skin that cover the corners of the eyes (epicanthal folds), and a widened bridge of the nose.

This condition can also cause other limbs to be abnormal. In addition, lack of amniotic fluid during pregnancy can also hinder the development of the baby's lungs, so that the baby's lungs cannot function properly (pulmonary hypoplasia). This disorder can also cause the baby to have congenital heart defects.

Potter's syndrome diagnosis

Potter's syndrome is usually diagnosed during pregnancy via ultrasound (USG). Although in some cases, this condition is also only discovered after the baby is born.

Signs that can be recognized on an ultrasound include kidney abnormalities, the level of amniotic fluid in the uterus, lung abnormalities, and the characteristic features of Potter's syndrome on the baby's face. Meanwhile, in the case of Potter's syndrome, which is only discovered after the baby is born, the symptoms include a small amount of urine production or a respiratory distress that causes the baby to have difficulty breathing (respiratory distress).

If the doctor's diagnosis suspects the signs and symptoms of Potter's syndrome, the doctor will usually perform further tests. This is done to determine the cause or find out about its severity. Some of the further tests that the doctor will do usually include genetic tests, urine tests, X-rays, CT scans, and blood tests.

Treatment options that can be made related to this condition

Potter's syndrome treatment options actually depend on the cause of the condition. Some of the treatment options doctors usually recommend for babies born with Potter's syndrome include:

A baby with Potter's syndrome may need a breath aid. This may include resuscitation at birth and ventilation to help the baby breathe normally.
Some babies may also need a feeding tube to make sure they are getting adequate nutrition.
Urinary tract surgery to treat urinary tract obstruction.
If there are problems with the baby's kidneys, dialysis or dialysis may be recommended until other treatment is available, such as a kidney transplant.