Patient's question:
Why is it that my wife is about to be four months pregnant and the ultrasound shows a fetus with abdominal wall defect and one missing leg? What caused this? Can the cause be investigated, and will it happen again if she gets pregnant in the future? What is the probability of misdiagnosis with an abdominal wall defect ultrasound?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, external pollution, and so on, all of which may contribute to it.