I also looked up this syndrom, I am truly sorry about your loss here is what I found:
Prune Belly (Eagle-Barrett) Syndrome
From Mary Kugler,
Your Guide to Rare Diseases.
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Set of distinctive physical problems
What is it?
Prune Belly syndrome, also known as Eagle-Barrett or triad syndrome, is a distinctive set of physical problems that a child is born with. These problems are:
The abdominal muscles in the front are weak or missing
Parts of the urinary tract develop abnormally
In males (95% of cases), the testes stay up inside the abdomen and don't come down into the scrotum.
There may be other physical problems in the infant, such as spinal curvature, hip dislocations, clubfoot, respiratory or heart problems, and gastrointestinal problems.
What causes it?
The cause of the syndrome is unknown, but researchers believe that disruption of the growth of the fetus causes the problems to develop. It is thought that something blocks a part of the fetus' urinary tract, and this causes other parts of the tract to develop abnormally. Prune Belly syndrome occurs in 1 in 40,000 live births in the U.S.
How is it diagnosed?
Ultrasound during pregnancy can sometimes see the abnormal development of the bladder and urinary tract. While the fetus grows, fluid develops in its abdomen, which stretches larger and larger. The fluid is reabsorbed before birth, so when born the infant has a sagging or wrinkled abdomen (thus the "prune belly" name).
After birth, ultrasound and x-rays can determine what type of urinary tract abnormalities are present.
Unfortunately, Prune Belly syndrome can have severe effects on the infant. 20% of babies die before birth, and 30% die from kidney problems with the first two years of life. In the remaining 50% of infants there are varying degrees of urinary problems.
How is it treated?
There is no cure for the syndrome, but repairs to the urinary tract can be made. Some surgeons are attempting to correct problems on the fetus before it is born, but this has had mixed results. Children prone to urinary tract infections are given preventive antibiotics. Surgery can be done to bring a boy's testes down into his scrotum.
Sometimes despite the best treatment a child's kidneys will stop working (renal failure). The treatment for this is either dialysis or kidney transplantation.
Future research
Better surgical techniques, especially using laparoscopy, will make the necessary repair operations for a child with Prune Belly syndrome less difficult. As more is learned about the syndrome, treatments can be improved and more children helped to survive.
Information for this article was taken from:
- Prune Belly Syndrome Network. About Prune Belly.
There is also an organisation that you might like to consult:
For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100 ; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org
http://www.prunebelly.org/
and more site:
http://health.allrefer.com/health/prune-belly-syndrome-info.html
2007-01-11 00:48:33
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answer #1
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answered by Josephine 7
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I ascertain that they dont know what causes it. This is also called prune belly and is when the muscles around the stomach are not working properly so a child would be unable to eat. There is a wevsite with more information at: www.prunebelly.org. So sorry for your loss maybe they can tell you if it could happen again.
2007-01-11 00:37:32
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answer #3
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answered by elaeblue 7
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