Massive Amniotic Fluid Aspiration in a Case of Sudden Neonatal Death With Severe Hypoplasia of the Retrotrapezoid/Parafacial Respiratory Group

Frontiers in Pediatrics

article

Anna M. Lavezzi¹  Antonella Poloniato²  Rosanna Rovelli²  Laura Lorioli²  Gabriela Alejandra Iasi³  Teresa Pusiol⁴  Graziano Barera²  Stefano Ferrero¹ 

[1] Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, Lino Rossi Research Center for the Study and Prevention of Unexpected Perinatal Death and SIDS, University of Milan;Neonatal Unit, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele;Pathology Unit, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele;Institute of Pathology, Hospital of Rovereto;Division of Pathology, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico

关键词: newborn;    sudden neonatal death;    amniotic fluid inhalation;    brainstem;    retrotrapezoid/parafacial respiratory group;    hypoplasia;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fped.2019.00116

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

We report a case of a baby, who, after pregnancy complicated by maternal Addison's disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis and natural delivery, unexpectedly presented a cardiorespiratory collapse and died 1 hour after birth without responding to prolonged neonatal resuscitation maneuvers. The cause of death was reliably established by carrying out a forensic postmortem examination. More specifically, the histological examination of the lungs showed the presence of abundant endoalveolar and endobronchial cornea scales caused by absorption of amniotic fluid. The neuropathological examination of the brainstem highlighted severe hypodevelopment of the retrotrapezoid/parafacial respiratory group, which is a complex of neurons located in the caudal pons that is involved in respiratory rhythm coordination, especially expiration, in conditions of enhanced respiratory drive, as well as in chemoreception. This neuropathological finding shed new light on the mechanisms underlying the massive amniotic fluid aspiration which led to this early death.

【 授权许可】

CC BY