Anencephalic Newborns

Abstract

The science and technology of organ transplantation have seen tremendous growth in recent years, particularly with regard to pediatric patients and smaller organs. Unfortunately, the current need for organs greatly exceeds the supply.¹ One innovative approach has involved the use of organs from infants born with the fatal congenital malformation known as anencephaly.Anencephaly results in the "partial or complete absence of the cranial vault as well as absence of overlying tissues and varying degrees of malformation and destruction of the exposed brain rudiments."² Although anencephalic infants have a slightly higher than normal incidence of anomalies in other organ systems, . . .