(Fetal alcoholism) 

Estimated prevalence: 1/1.000 live births in U.S.A. Most common teratogenic disorder: it is due to alcohol ingestion by the pregnant mother and caused by the combined effects of alcohol and acetaldehyde. The phenotype is highly variable.

Clinical presentation:

-        intrauterine and postnatal growth retardation (< P10)

-        craniofacial anomalies: maxillary hypoplasia, absence of philtrum, cleft lip and/or palate, low-set ears, short neck

-        ocular and central system anomalies (microcephaly, hyperactivity, epilepsy)

-        congenital heart disease: ASD, VSD

-        renal anomalies: hypoplasia, horseshoe kidney.

Anesthetic implications: 

risk of difficult intubation; echocardiography

References:

-        Finucane BT.
Difficult intubation associated with the foetal alcohol syndrome.
Can Anaesth Soc J 1980; 574-5.

-        Frost EAM.
Pitt-Hopkins syndrome, Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome, Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
Anesthesiologynews.com 54581, April 16, 2019. 6p

Updated: November 2022