Gastroschisis Surgical Treatment

Gastroschisis is a type of birth defect that affects one out of every 5,000 to 10,000 babies born throughout the world, according to the Gastroschisis Support Group. A newborn with gastroschisis has formed his intestines on the outside of his body due to a hole in his abdomen to the left or right of the umbilical cord.

Function

• Surgery is generally the only treatment for gastroschisis. The aim of this surgery is to reinsert the intestines back into the abdomen and repair the hernia.

Types

• If an infant has enough room inside of the abdomen for the intestines to be inserted, surgery is normally done fairly soon after birth. Approximately 15 percent of infants with gastroschisis do not have enough space in the abdomen to accommodate the intestines, meaning that surgery must be delayed until the child has time to grow, according to Seattle Children's Hospital.

Considerations

• For the babies who need time to grow, doctors normally perform a procedure to assist the healing process that involves packing the organs in a mesh-like tube for protection and then pulling upwards on the hole in the stomach. This encourages the tissue to grow outward and make adequate room for the intestines.

Recovery

• After surgery for gastroschisis, an infant's intestines typically require one to seven months in order to function properly, reports Seattle Children's Hospital. During the recovery process, babies are fed through a feeding tube and remain in neonatal intensive care at a hospital.

Prognosis

• Approximately 10 to 20 percent of infants born with gastroschisis do not survive even with surgery, cautions the University of California at San Francisco, while others must have parts of their bowel removed later in life, which affects how well they are able to absorb important nutrients. Some babies recover well and go on to lead healthy lives after recovering from their surgery.