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Postnatal Outcome of Fetuses With the Prenatal Diagnosis of Gastroschisis
Author(s) -
Durfee Sara M.,
Downard Cynthia D.,
Benson Carol B.,
Wilson Jay M.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of ultrasound in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.574
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1550-9613
pISSN - 0278-4297
DOI - 10.7863/jum.2002.21.3.269
Subject(s) - gastroschisis , medicine , prenatal diagnosis , fetus , obstetrics , pregnancy , genetics , biology
Objectives To assess the postnatal outcome and complications that arise in infants with the prenatal diagnosis of gastroschisis. Methods Prenatal sonograms with the diagnosis of gastroschisis were identified. Maternal age, indication for sonography, gestational age at diagnosis, other sonographic abnormalities, and postnatal outcome were recorded. Results Twenty‐six fetuses at 16 to 36 weeks" gestational age had gastroschisis diagnosed on sonography. In 5 cases, other fetal anomalies were identified, including hydronephrosis and asymmetric hydrocephalus. In 9 of 21 cases followed by serial prenatal sonography, bowel dilatation developed, prompting delivery in 2. Two of the 26 study fetuses were electively terminated. The remaining 24 were born live and had immediate repair of the gastroschisis after birth. Nineteen infants (79%) had postnatal complications, some with multisystem complications, including 3 deaths, 10 with gastrointestinal complications, 6 with infectious complications, and 6 with anomalies involving other systems (genitourinary, cardiac, central nervous system, and respiratory). Only 5 infants (21%) had completely uncomplicated postsurgical courses. Hospital stays for survivors ranged from 10 to 98 days (mean, 38 days; median, 33 days). Conclusions Although reported survival rates are good for gastroschisis, the postoperative hospital stay is often lengthy, and complications are very common, especially those related to the gastrointestinal tract. Other anomalies are uncommon but not rare.