[Defects of the anterior abdominal wall--their prenatal management]

The rate of the congenital malformations: gastroschisis and omphalocele, the prenatal management and the clinical issue were analyzed in a retrospective study during a period from January 1990 till October 1994 in the State Maternity Hospital "Maĭchin dom". The aim of the study was to establish the accuracy of the prenatal sonographic diagnosis of the defects of abdominal wall, the gestational age they were found out, and the perinatal issue of the affected newborn infants. The rate of the abdominal walls defects was 1:1525. They were diagnosed prenatally in 52% of the cases. The fatality rate among the alive-born infants with these malformations was 77%. The frequency of the associated anomalies with defects of the abdominal wall was 71%, which exceeds the mean frequency in Europe and presents one of the most important factors determining the high fatality rate.