Mermaid syndrome: A case report in Somalia

INTRODUCTION: and Importance: Sirenomelia, which called sirenomelia sequences, is a very rare congenital malformation. It is characterized by complete or incomplete fused lower extremities, renal agenesis, oligohydramnios, absent urinary tract and external genitalia, single umbilical arteries, imperforate anus, etc. We are reporting a case of mermaid syndrome, a twin pregnancy in which one was healthy and the other was identified to have characteristic features of sirenomelia at the time of examination. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of a preterm baby who was born at 34 weeks of gestational age by cesarean section for twin pregnancy due to oligohydramnios with fetal distress. He had abdominal distension, an imperforated anus, no pelvic bone, and a fused leg with two femur bones and two tibial bones that shared one skin and two separate feet. There was none of the two kidneys, ureter, or bladder. He had been diagnosed with an atrial septal defect. CLINICAL DISCUSION: Sirenomelia is virtually always a fatal congenital abnormality that affects the fetal body's caudal region. Although fusion of the lower limbs is its most obvious feature. The reported percentage of elective termination of pregnancy for the fetal anomaly is about 49.5%.The anomaly is postulated to be due to a combination of genetic predisposition and an environmental trigger factor, while the precise etiology is undetermined and believed to be multifactorial. In surviving sirenomelia cases, treatment can be provided with amultidisciplinary approach. CONCLUSION: Mermaid Syndrome is a lethal congenital anomaly with a poor prognosis. Ultrasonography can be used to diagnose sirenomelia. Oligo-hydramnios and fused lower limbs are crucial features that aid in the diagnosis during the first trimester of pregnancy, with possible termination of the pregnancy being suggested as an option if detected early.