Gastroschisis
Gastroschisis is a birth defect in which a hole in the abdominal wall near the navel allows the baby's intestines to protrude outside the baby's body. The hole may be small or large, and sometimes other organs, such as the stomach and liver, may also be found outside the child's body.
Gastroschisis occurs early in pregnancy. The opening is usually located on the right side of the navel. Because the bowel is not covered by a protective pouch and is exposed to amniotic fluid, it can become irritated, causing it to shorten, twist, or swell.
Causes and risk factors
The exact causes of gastroschisis are often unknown. Gastroschisis is likely caused by a combination of genes and other factors, such as things the mother comes into contact with in her environment, what the mother eats or drinks, or certain medications used during pregnancy.
Experts recently reported important findings about some of the factors that influence the risk of having a baby with gastroschisis:
- Younger age: Teenage mothers may be more likely to have a child with gastroschisis than older mothers.
- Alcohol and tobacco: Women who drank alcohol or smoked before or during early pregnancy are more likely to have a baby with gastroschisis.
- Genitourinary infections: Women who reported a genitourinary infection within three months before or three months after pregnancy had an increased risk of having a child with gastroschisis compared with women who reported a genitourinary infection during the second or second third trimester of pregnancy.
Diagnosis
Gastroschisis can be diagnosed during pregnancy or after the baby is born. During pregnancy, screening tests (prenatal tests) are done to check for birth defects and other conditions. Gastroschisis can cause an abnormal result on a blood or serum screening test, or it can be seen on an ultrasound.
Treatment
Gastroschisis appears immediately at birth. Shortly after the baby is born, surgery will be required to place the abdominal organs inside the baby's body and correct the defect. Even after recovery, infants with gastroschisis may have problems breastfeeding and feeding, digesting food, and absorbing nutrients.
If the gastroschisis defect is small (only part of the intestine is outside the abdomen), it is usually treated with surgery shortly after birth to place the organs back into the abdomen and close the opening. If the gastroschisis defect is large (many organs outside the abdomen), recovery can be done slowly, in stages. Exposed organs can be covered with a special material and slowly returned to the uterus. Once all the organs have been placed back into the abdomen, the opening is closed.
Infants with gastroschisis often need other treatment, including intravenous nutrition, antibiotics to prevent infection, and special attention to temperature control.