At the birth of the child, an unusually small placenta may be noted. Chromosome studies show trisomy 18, partial trisomy, or translocation . Treatment is supportive, but life-sustaining measures are not recommended. The abnormalities of trisomy 18 are generally not compatible with more than a few months of life. Fifty per-cent of the affected infants do not survive beyond 2 months.
Complications depend on the specific abnormalities that affect the infant.
Call your health care provider if you have had a child with Trisomy 18 and you plan to have another child. Surgical techniques used for cleft lip and palate repair provide excellent cosmetic results. Initial closure is accomplished in the first month. Syndactyly is seen commonly between the 2nd and 3rd toes, and is usually associated with a syndrome. It is associated with multiple physical abnormalities.