Sirenomelia (mermaid syndrome): a rare congenital disorder

Abstract

Sirenomelia, also known as mermaid syndrome, is an extremely rare congenital disorder involving the lower spine and lower limbs. We present a case of a grand multiparous with poorly controlled gestational diabetes who delivered a live baby weighing 2.43 kg at 38 weeks’ gestation. The baby was noted to have significant respiratory distress, and resuscitation was promptly commenced. Severe congenital abnormalities indicative of sirenomelia were obvious and after availability of antenatal records which indicated an extremely poor prognosis, resuscitative efforts were aborted. The baby was handed over to the mother for comfort care and died 18 min postdelivery.