A new regime in the management of gastroschisis

In this review of 24 patients with gastroschisis, we illustrate a regime of management with a low morbidity and no mortality. The essence of the technique relies on antenatal diagnosis, intrauterine transfer, and a planned cesarean section with immediate repair performed at 37 to 38 weeks' gestation. Although the operation may be technically easier at lower gestational ages, we believe the concomitant increase in complications such as respiratory distress syndrome outweigh the advantage of easier surgery. The results of this series compare favorably with other published results.