Health & Care Information What is Fetus Papyraceus?
The Fetus Papyraceusis described as a rare condition in which the fetus becomes mummified; that is, the fetus dies and is flattened between the uterine wall and the membranes of the other fetus. It mostly occurs with the twin or multiple gestations. The Fetus Papyraceus is also known as the vanishing twin syndrome. The Fetus Papyraceus was first recognized in 1945. It is a very rare condition that occurs once in 12,000 pregnancies.
Fetus papyraceus Definition:
The word “fetus” refers to the unborn offspring of the human, unborn human of more than eight weeks after conception. The word “Papyraceus” means relating to or resembling paper. The Fetus Papyraceus is a rare disorder that refers to the flattened and mummified fetus usually correlated to the twin or multiple gestations.
Fetus Papyraceus Symptoms:
Everyone experiences different symptoms during pregnancy. The symptoms that tend to fluctuate or disappear are not concerned—the Fetus Papyraceus more common in women over the age of 30 years. There aren’t any particular signs and symptoms of Fetus Papyraceus. The sign and symptoms may be the complications of the Fetus Papyraceus.When the Fetus Papyraceus occurs during the 1st trimester, the mother experiences symptoms like bleeding, pelvic pain, and cramps.
The implantation bleeding that is light spotting usually occurs during most healthy pregnancies. This usual implantation bleeding should not be confused with the bleeding due to Fetus Papyraceus, which occurs only in case of multiple gestations. If the vaginal bleeding is abnormal and continues for four weeks, then it might be due to the death of the fetus. The condition is also accompanied by abdominal pain and cramps.
The Morbidity rate is similar in the case of Fetus Papyraceus later in the first trimester, second trimester, and third trimester. The complications caused by Fetus Papyraceusin the mother include premature labour, infection due to dead fetus, severe postnatal hemorrhage, disseminated intravascular coagulation, obstructed and difficult labour due to Fetus Papyraceus that causes dystocia and leads to the cesarean delivery. Due to the Fetus Papyraceus, the surviving fetus is also exposed to the risks of cerebral palsy. The aplasia cutis and skin necrosis are also seen in the surviving fetus.
Fetus Papyraceus Causes:
The Fetus Papyraceus is the mummification of the fetus, which appears like parchment paper, often occurs in the womb with multiple gestations. The causes of Fetus Papyraceusare not clear. The Fetus Papyraceuscan occur because of varieties of conditions. The abnormalities that cause Fetus Papyraceusare present from the start of the pregnancy and are not due to the sudden or acute occurrence of any insult.
It is also not due to the lifestyle choice of the mother or what it does before or during pregnancy. Most of the time, the Fetus Papyraceuso ccurs due to chromosomal or genetic abnormality. When an embryo implants and develops in the uterus, the cells make multiple copies of DNA. If any such DNA or chromosome is switched or left out, it will hinder the growth of the fetus. Because the fetus will not develop the way it should, leading to miscarriage. In the case of multiple gestations, an independent DNA test was developed for each fetus.
So if one fetus dies due to any chromosomal abnormality, the other fetus continues to grow. The Fetus Papyraceus does not affect the growth and development of the surviving fetus. The other causes of Fetus Papyraceus are umbilical cord stricture and true knot, feto-fetal transfusion syndrome, placental insufficiency, and velamentous cord insertion.
Fetus Papyraceus Treatment:
The diagnosis of the Fetus Papyraceus seldom during pregnancy. In the case of twin pregnancies, if one twin vanishes, then it is speculated to be the Fetus Papyraceus or Twin vanishing syndrome. The Fetus Papyraceus is incidentally diagnosed during the are ultrasonography. Mostly the Fetus Papyraceusis found during childbirth. There is no special medical treatment for the Fetus Papyraceus.
In the case of the first trimester, both the mother and surviving twin does not require any medical treatment. But if the Fetus Papyraceus occurs in the second or third trimester, it can cause complications for both the mother and the surviving fetus—the pregnancies with the Fetus Papyraceus are high-risk pregnancies. If the Fetus Papyraceusis diagnosed, careful and close monitoring should be done of both the mother and the surviving fetus to avoid any complications.
Any underlying condition should be immediately treated to reduce the risks. The risk that is associated with the Fetus Papyraceus premature childbirth, dystocia, and placental abruption, which may lead to the death of the surviving fetus. There are no methods or measures to prevent Fetus Papyraceus.
