Understanding Gastroschisis: Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment
- Article reading time: 5 minutes
Gastroschisis is a rare condition in which a baby is born with a hole in the abdomen, usually to one side of the navel. This hole allows the baby’s intestines and sometimes other organs like the stomach and liver to develop outside the body. While this condition can be frightening for parents, most babies with gastroschisis recover well after surgical repair.
Causes of Gastroschisis
The exact cause of gastroschisis is unknown, but it is believed to result from a combination of factors, including:
– Changes in the baby’s genes or chromosomes
– Reduced blood flow to the baby’s digestive system
– Young maternal age during pregnancy, especially in teenage mothers
– Use of certain drugs or narcotics during pregnancy
– Alcohol consumption during pregnancy
– Smoking, especially in early pregnancy
– Genitourinary infections such as urinary tract infections around the time of conception
– Low maternal body mass index (BMI) during pregnancy
Diagnosis of gastroschisis
Gastroschisis is usually diagnosed during routine prenatal screening tests between the 18th and 20th weeks of pregnancy. These tests may include:
– Maternal blood screening (quadruple test) to measure alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels
– Ultrasound to observe the fetus’s organs outside the abdomen
– Fetal echocardiography to check for heart problems
– MRI to obtain detailed images of the baby’s anatomy
How gastroschisis affects pregnancy and the baby
If your baby is diagnosed with gastroschisis, you will need closer monitoring during pregnancy. Your healthcare team may include specialists such as a maternal-fetal medicine doctor, neonatologist, pediatrician, pediatric gastroenterologist, and pediatric surgeon. Additional tests like frequent ultrasounds, fetal movement counts, and non-stress tests may be recommended to closely monitor your baby’s growth and health.
Babies with gastroschisis may face challenges such as:
– Twisting and swelling of the intestines
– Low birth weight
– Feeding and digestion difficulties
– Problems absorbing nutrients
– Increased risk of stillbirth (rare)
Treatment of gastroschisis
Treatment of gastroschisis involves surgical repair shortly after birth. The type of surgery depends on the severity of the condition and the extent of organ involvement. The two main surgical options are:
– Primary repair: In milder cases, the organs are returned to the abdomen, and the opening is closed immediately after birth.
– Staged repair: For more complex cases, the exposed organs are gradually returned to the abdomen over several days using a plastic silo bag, followed by surgical closure of the abdominal wall.
After surgery, your baby may need support with breathing and feeding while the digestive system recovers. A prolonged stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) may be necessary.
Prevention of gastroschisis
Although not all cases of gastroschisis can be prevented, you can take steps to reduce the risk:
– Avoid smoking, alcohol consumption, and opioid painkillers during pregnancy.
– Maintain a balanced and nutritious diet.
– Attend regular prenatal checkups.
If your baby is diagnosed with gastroschisis, remember that with proper medical care and surgical treatment, most babies go on to live healthy lives. To ensure the best possible outcome for your little one, work closely with your healthcare team.
Article Categories
Children's health
Diseases and problems
Healthy nutrition and wellness
Women's health
Men's health
Treatment and prevention
Cancer
Mental health
Your general practitioner will now see you.
Instant health responses are provided by the general practitioner, because your health matters now.