[Pulmonary hypoplasia of the newborn infant in a pregnancy complicated with ovular premature rupture and oligohydramnios].

Premature amnion rupture occurs in about 5%-7% of normal pregnancies. Early and prolonged decreased amount of amniotic fluid determines deformities and impairment of fetal lung development. We report a case of a 35 year old mother with severe oligohydramnios since 25 weeks gestation, secondary to premature rupture of membranes. A male baby was born a 31 weeks with unmanageable asphyxia dying eleven hours later. Pathologic findings revealed a Potter phenotype including severe lung hypoplasia. The fall in intrauterine volume affects, through diverse mechanisms lung growth and maturation. The duration and severity of oligohydramnios are important elements in predicting the risk of pulmonary hypoplasia and neonatal morbidity.