Advances in the management of gastroschisis

Twenty-eight cases of gastroschisis have been treated over a five-year period. Twenty-two silos were placed and 19 infants had uncomplicated silo closure. Enlargement of the abdominal wall defect to allow optimum reduction of the edematous bowel was essential to closure in less than a week. Rapid removal of the prosthesis and strict adherence to aseptic technique prevented septic complications. Inability to return the bowel to the abdominal cavity within five to six days mandated re-exploration to determine the cause for failure to reduce the silo. Accordingly, three infants were re-explored. Two patients had unrecognized intestinal lesions and a third infant, whose defect had not been enlarged, had infarction of the midgut. Six infants underwent primary closure; two with preinatal evisceration and four who had concomminant cutaneous enterostomies performed for intestinal atresia. Intestinal atresia or stenosis occurred in 25% of these infants. Postoperative management was facilitated by insertion of a gastrostomy tube, early peripheral venous nutrition and later insertion of a central venous catheter for nutrition. The one postoperative death (3.5% mortality rate) resulted from failure to follow the principles of silo management as outlined in this report.