Gastroschisis: 45 Cases Experience in Ratchaburi Hospital

Abstract

          Fourty-five neonates with gastroschisis were treated in the Pediatric Surgical Unit at Ratchaburi hospital, between August 1987 and March 1995; Thirty-nine patients underwent primary fascial closure. Six patients required staged prosthetic pouch with final closure. There were 22 boys and 23  girls. The average birth weight was 2244 g. Associated anomalies were present in 5 patients. Thirty-eight neonates were dilivered vaginally and seven neonates via cesarean section. The average time of postoperative intubation was 2 days, the average time to enteral feeding was 13 days, and the average hospital stay was 29 days. The overall mortality rate was 11 percent. In my experience primary fascial closure is the treatment of choice whenever possible to avoid additional operations.