Gastroschisis and Omphalocele An Eight-year Review

Until recently confusion has existed concerning the clinical features and surgical treatment of gastroschisis and omphalocele. Since 1971 75 infants with these abdominal wall defects have been treated at our institution. Significant differences (p equal to 0.001 in all instances) were noted between the two diseases. Gastroschisis occurred twice as often as omphalocele and is increasing in frequency. Prematurity was commonly seen with gastroschisis (65%). While the overall incidence of malformations associated with gastroschisis was low (23%), the vast majority of the additional malformations were jejunoileal or colonic atresias. The mortality rate was 12.7% among gastroschisis patients, with only one death attributable to prematurity. All other deaths were preventable, indicating that even lower mortality rates are feasible. Omphalocele was associated with a 23% incidence of premature birth but associated anomalies were present in 66% of the patients. Major cardiac (52%) and chromosomal defects (40%) predominated. In addition, 17% of omphalocele patients had either Cantrell's pentalogy or cloacal/bladder exstrophy. The mortality rate in omphalocele (34%) was nearly three times that of gastroschisis. Nine of ten patients who died from omphalocele died either from major cardiac or chromosomal disease. However, in patients without cardiac or chromosomal defects the survival rate was 94%.