Epidemiology


Etiology

  • Fetal anomalies
    • Urethral obstruction (e.g., posterior urethral valves)
    • Bilateral renal agenesis
  • Maternal conditions
    • Placental insufficiency
    • Late or postterm pregnancies (> 42 weeks of gestation)
    • Premature rupture of membranes

Pathophysiology


Clinical features


Diagnostics

  • Amniotic fluid index (AFI): a semiquantitative tool used to assess amniotic fluid volume (normal range: 8–18 cm)
    • Oligohydramnios: ≤ 5

Complications

  • Intrauterine growth restriction
  • Birth complications (e.g., umbilical cord compression)
  • Potter sequence

    Epidemiology


    Etiology

    • Chronic placental insufficiency
    • ↓ Renal output (e.g., due to bilateral renal agenesis, ARPKD, obstruction of posterior urethral valves)
    • Chronic amniotic fluid leakage

    Pathophysiology

    oligohydramnios → intrauterine compression and decreased amniotic fluid ingestions → ↓ space for fetal development → internal and external deformations


    Clinical features

    • Pulmonary hypoplasia (cause of death due to severe neonatal respiratory insufficiency)
    • Craniofacial abnormalities (e.g., prominent epicanthal and infraorbital folds, flattened nose, receding chin, low set ears)
    • Wrinkling of the skin
    • Limb anomalies (e.g., bowed legs, clubbed feet)

    Mnemonic

    Potter babies cannot Pee.

    Mnemonic

    POTTER sequence associated with: Pulmonary hypoplasia Oligohydramnios (trigger) Twisted face Twisted skin Extremity defects Renal failure (in utero)


    Diagnostics


    Treatment


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