Gastroschisis: growth patterns and a proposed prenatal surveillance protocol

To assess intrauterine growth for fetuses with gastroschisis using retrospective serial ultrasound assessment from fetuses diagnosed prenatally with gastroschisis. The growth assessment could be available as a prospective tool to direct an antepartum fetal surveillance protocol.

This is a retrospective review of all cases of gastroschisis evaluated prenatally at a single institution between February 1996 and March 2002. Charts were reviewed for serial ultrasound assessment, gestational age at delivery, mode of delivery, and birth weight. Growth assessment was determined for abdominal circumference, biparietal diameter, head circumference, femur length, and estimated fetal weight (IRB No. 2002-1-2648).

Forty patients had delivered by March 2002. One hundred and two ultrasound reports were reviewed. Gastroschisis growth curves showed that the 50th percentile was shifted to the right when compared to normal growth curves for abdominal circumference, biparietal diameter, head circumference, and femur length. The average birth weight was 2,359 g. Compared with a standard population, 44% (16/36) were below the 5th percentile, 61% (22/36) were below the 10th percentile, and 95% (34/36) were below the 50th percentile for gestational age. The average gestational age at delivery was 36.3 weeks. Mothers were nulliparous in 78%, with a mean age of 21.3 years.

(1) Fetuses with gastroschisis show a symmetric intrauterine growth restriction pattern consistent with early development of growth delay; (2) the 50th percentile biometry measurements for the gastroschisis population are shifted to the right on normal fetal growth curves; (3) the birth weight is at or below the 10th percentile in 61% of the newborns with gastroschisis, and (4) an antepartum surveillance protocol is proposed based on growth patterns of fetuses with gastroschisis.