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q19 - raji_321
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01-24-2008, 07:26 AM
Autopsy of a baby who died minutes after birth demonstrates intestines within the thoracic cavity. Which of the following most probably accounts for these findings?
A. Heterotopia B. Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis C. Large sliding hernia D. Maldevelopment of the lungs E. Partial absence of the diaphragm
01-24-2008, 07:32 AM
The correct answer is E. In some infants, there is a weakness or partial-to-total absence of the diaphragm (often on the left) which, if sufficiently large, can permit herniation of abdominal contents into the thorax. Small defects are usually surgically correctable, but large ones may cause rapidly lethal respiratory embarrassment in the newborn.
Heterotopia (choice A) is the presence of small amounts of normal tissue in abnormal sites. Congenital hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (choice B) can cause persistent vomiting in infancy, but does not cause herniation of intestines into the thorax. Death in infancy due to intestinal herniation into the thorax is not related to sliding hernia (choice C). Maldevelopment of the lungs (choice D) is a result rather than the cause of this baby's problems. |
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