Trisomy 18: A Difficult Decision for the Family

Abstract

Trisomy 18 (Edwards Syndrome) was first reported in 1960 by Edward et al. in a newborn with multiple abnormalities, and is a broad clinical presentation involving more than 130 different abnormalities. Most cases die during the embryonic or fetal life. Only 5% -10% of the live-born cases survive the first year of life. Prenatal diagnosis is possible. However, the prenatal detection compels parents to make a difficult decision. After the birth of the baby, it also places a material and moral burden on both the family and the national economy due to multiple congenital abnormalities and limited lifespan. On the other hand, pediatricians experience difficulties in making a decision on interventions, especially cardiac surgery and resuscitation, due to the comorbid abnormalities in the neonatal intensive care units, in which medical ethics arises for discussion. The current study presents a case diagnosed with trisomy 18 by chromosome analysis, who was found to have multiple abnormalities with ultrasonography (USG) during the prenatal period and born because the patient's mother, who was advised to have amniocentesis, decided to continue with the pregnancy.