[Prenatal spontaneous closure of gastroschisis: a paradoxal evolution with poor outcome]

Usually considered as an isolated malformation carrying a rather good postnatal prognosis, gastroschisis may however occasionally bear an unfavourable outcome despite reassuring ultrasound follow-up. We report on the case of a fetus with gastroschisis diagnosed at 13 weeks of gestation followed by a progressive bowel absorption and closure of the abdominal defect at 24 weeks, associated with a 10 to 15mm intra-abdominal bowel tract dilatation. At birth, the infant did not show any recognizable ventral wall defect or scar. Surgical exploration was decided due to the presence of a high level bowel tract occlusion associated with a dilated proximal jejunum on standard abdominal X-ray radiograph. Long-segment atresia of the midintestine without any possible surgical option was observed. The infant died at day 5.