Skip to Main Content

  • • Gastroschisis: Associated with other abnormalities 10% of time, most often intestinal atresia, associated with preterm infants

    • Omphalocele: Associated with other abnormalities 50% of time, nearly always full-term infants

Epidemiology

  • • Gastroschisis: 1/3000-1/8000 births

    • Omphalocele 1/6000-1/10,000 births

Symptoms and Signs

  • • Gastroschisis nearly always located to right of umbilicus, inflamed bowel and foreshortened mesentery secondary to exposure to amniotic fluid

    • Umbilical cord part of sac in omphalocele along with peritoneum

Imaging Findings

  • • Abdominal wall defect often noted with prenatal US

  • • Associated congenital abnormalities, especially intestinal atresia with gastroschisis

Rule Out

  • • Intestinal atresia with gastroschisis

  • • History and physical exam

    • Chest film

    • Echocardiogram (for omphalocele)

    • Renal US (for omphalocele)

    • CBC

    • Metabolic panel

Surgery

  • • Primary repair possible in 60-70%

    • Silastic pouch or silo construction followed by gradual reefing and eventual closure

    • Giant omphaloceles: Nonoperative initial therapy, gradual epithelialization, and closure months to years later

Medications

  • • Total parenteral nutrition during resolution of ileus

Complications

  • • Abdominal compartment syndrome

    • Necrotizing enterocolitis (15% in gastroschisis)

    • Delayed ileus or intestinal dysmotility (especially in gastroschisis)

References

Lunzer H, Menardi G, Brezinka C: Long-term follow-up of children with prenatally diagnosed omphalocele and gastroschisis. J Matern Fetal Med 2001;10:385.  [PubMed: 11798448]
Molik KA et al: Gastroschisis: a plea for risk categorization. J Pediatr Surg 2001;36:51.  [PubMed: 11150437]
Sandler A, et al.: A Plastic sutureless abdominal wall closure in gastroschisis. J Pediatr Surg 2004;39:738.  [PubMed: 15137009]

Pop-up div Successfully Displayed

This div only appears when the trigger link is hovered over. Otherwise it is hidden from view.

  • Create a Free Profile