Ectopia cordis with fetal hydrops and severe oligohydramnios: A case report

Ectopia cordis is a rare congenital anomaly where the heart is partially or completely extruded from the thorax. It can occur with other associated defects, especially as part of the Pentalogy of Cantrell (a collection of 5 congenital midline birth anomalies; involving the sternum, heart, pericardium, diaphragm, and abdominal wall). Mostly, the prognosis for infants with ectopia cordis is poordue to the complexity of management, inadequate expertise, and delayed diagnoses.We examine a rare presentation of ectopia cordis in a 34-year-old woman at 36 weeks gestation, complicated by fetal hydrops and severe oligohydramnios. Taking into account the poor prognosis, conservative management was chosen. The patient went into labor at 38 weeks and 4 days, and the outcome was a live male infant who passed away 5 minutes after delivery. We explore the clinical intricacy and significance of timely antenatal screening and multidisciplinary management in high-risk pregnancies.