Question 143

Question:

A premature baby becomes tachypneic and tachycardic immediately after birth. Loud grunting can be heard in an effort to breathe. Posterior chest exam reveals bilaterally decreased breath sounds and dullness to percussion. Contractures of the limbs and clubbing of hands and feet are also observed. The newborn’s condition is most likely caused by which of the following abnormalities?

Correct Answer: B.  Oligohydramnios

Oligohydramnios is a common cause of pulmonary hypoplasia, the reason for this newborn’s respiratory distress. Pulmonary maturation cannot occur since a normal amount of amniotic fluid is necessary for the growing embryo to breathe in for distension of the lungs. The diagnosis is further cemented by clubbing of the newborn’s hands and feet and contractures, both caused by the reduced amniotic fluid environment of oligohydramnios.