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Incidence of gastro‐intestinal anomalies and surgical outcome of fetuses diagnosed with echogenic bowel and bowel dilatation
Author(s) -
Laird Ashleigh,
Shekleton Paul,
Nataraja Ramesh M.,
Kimber Christopher,
Pacilli Maurizio
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
prenatal diagnosis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.956
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1097-0223
pISSN - 0197-3851
DOI - 10.1002/pd.5552
Subject(s) - medicine , polyhydramnios , incidence (geometry) , gastroenterology , retrospective cohort study , fetus , echogenicity , ascites , obstetrics , pregnancy , pathology , surgery , ultrasonography , biology , genetics , physics , optics
Abstract Background We aimed to evaluate the incidence of gastro‐intestinal (GI) anomalies and surgical outcome in fetuses diagnosed with either echogenic bowel (EB) or EB plus bowel dilatation (BD) but no associated chromosomal, DNA and/or additional structural defects. Methods A 10‐year (2008‐2018) retrospective review was performed on all fetuses diagnosed with EB and EB+BD (RES‐18‐0000‐072Q). Results are reported as number of cases (%) and mean ±SD. Fisher's exact test, Mann‐Whitney U test and logistic regression were used to identify differences between groups and predisposing factors for gastro‐intestinal anomalies. Results We identified 41 fetuses with EB and 14 fetuses with EB+BD. Post‐natal surgical intervention was required in no patient of the EB group and in 7/14 (50%) of the EB+BD group, p<0.001. The risk of having a GI anomaly was higher in the EB+BD group (RR 42.0 [2.5‐691.6]; p=0.009). Advanced maternal age (p=0.04), ascites (p=0.006) and polyhydramnios (p=0.007) were associated with a higher incidence of GI pathology. Conclusions In fetuses with no associated chromosomal, DNA and/or additional structural defects, the finding of EB+BD is associated with 50% incidence of GI anomalies at birth. Advanced maternal age, ascites and polyhydramnios are also associated with higher incidence of GI pathology at birth.