Patient's question:
Why is it that my wife is about to be four months pregnant and the ultrasound shows a baby with abdominal wall defect and one missing leg? How was this caused? Can the cause be checked, and will this happen again if she gets pregnant in the future? What is the probability of misdiagnosis in an ultrasound for abdominal wall defect?Doctor's answer:
The causes of abdominal wall defect in fetuses are indeed related to problems during the differentiation process of the zygote, where congenital diseases may occur. If the defect is particularly small, it can be repaired after birth. However, if some organs have already protruded outside the abdomen, the prognosis may be poor. There are many factors that can lead to fetal malformations, such as the chromosomes of both parents, the quality of sperm and eggs, the influence of drugs, exposure to radiation, environmental pollution, and so on, all of which may contribute to it.