ABSTRACT
Over the past three decades, the outcome for infants with gastroschisis has dramatically improved. The survival rate is now greater than 90 percent.
1 Gastroschisis is an anterior abdominal wall defect that occurs in utero, through which there is herniation of intraabdominal viscera into the amniotic sac. It is thought to result from a defect at the site of involution of the second (right) umbilical vein. This anomaly is accompanied by non-rotation of the bowel and an increased incidence of intestinal abnormalities, including atresia, perforation, and infarction, resulting from midgut volvulus or vascular thrombosis. The incidence of gastroschisis is approximately 1 in 4000-6000 live births.
