Abstract

Congenital anomalies affect approximately 2-4% of all births worldwide. Little is known about what congenital anomalies are the cause of death in Ireland. Therefore, we analysed the Perinatal deaths reported to the National Perinatal Epidemiological Centre during 2011-2018 to identify what congenital anomalies was responsible for perinatal deaths. 939 cases diagnosed with a congenital anomaly were identified. Nearly half of these was chromosomal and 36% had more than one anomaly. Additional information was available for 777 of these cases, which allowed us to identify that only 42% of these congenital anomalies could be classified as a fatal fetal anomaly in accordance with the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018. Despite all of them resulting in a perinatal death. This highlights the complexity of how these cases present; the congenital anomaly may not be fatal but when combined with other multiorgan system anomalies it is. As these cases are complex, knowledge is required to inform clinical practice and appropriate counselling of parents who receive a diagnosis of a congenital anomaly.