[Congenital malformations of the digestive system. Maternity Clinical Hospital at the University of Chile. 1991-2001]

There were 26,617 births attended at the University of Chile Clinical Hospital, of which 0.63% were stillborn. A frequency of malformations of 7.2 per born alive and of 22.1 per stillborn was detected in this population.

To report the frequency of digestive system congenital malformations in this population.

Analysis of data from the births that occurred at the University of Chile Hospital, that was gathered using codified form for the Latin American Collaborative Study for Congenital Malformations.

Ninety seven digestive congenital malformations were detected, with a rate of 26.4 per 10,000 born alive and 12.2 per 10,000 stillborn. Diaphragmatic hernia was the most frequent malformation found, followed by imperforated anus, onphalocele and esophageal atresia. There was a secular increase in the frequency of these malformations.

The frequency of digestive system malformations is higher than in the rest of hospitals participating in the Latin American Collaborative Study for Congenital Malformations.