Incidental Prenatal Discovery of Anencephaly via Portable Ultrasounds in a Remote Medical Care Setting

Anencephaly is a fatal neural tube defect often linked to folic acid deficiency and undetected in resource-limited settings. We report a case in rural Uganda where portable ultrasound revealed anencephaly with polyhydramnios in a patient who has been pregnant six times, with one term delivery, four preterm deliveries, and no abortions, and currently has one living child (G6P1401). Early detection of this anomaly enabled surgical planning and maternal counseling before stillbirth. This case highlights the impact of malnutrition and the importance of portable ultrasound use to improve prenatal care in underserved regions of the world.