Left-sided gastroschisis: higher incidence of extraintestinal congenital anomalies

The purpose of this study was to present 3 cases of left-sided gastroschisis and review the literature concerning this rare condition.

Charts of 3 previously unreported patients with left-sided gastroschisis were reviewed. A literature review of all cases of left-sided gastroschisis was completed.

Sixteen patients with left-sided defects were identified, only 12 of whom had classic periumbilical defects. We present 3 additional patients. Eleven of 15 patients were female, with 1 patient's sex not reported. Forty percent had extraintestinal anomalies.

Left-sided gastroschisis is more common in females and associated with a higher incidence of extraintestinal anomalies compared with right-sided lesions. Although the etiology remains unknown, it may differ from that of right-sided gastroschisis.