GASTROSCHISIS - A RADIOLOGICAL AND CLINICAL REVIEW

A retrospective clinico-radiological review was undertaken of 66 conse cutive cases of gastroschisis managed at our institution between Augus t 1982 and February 1993. The condition's morbidity and mortality were reviewed, as were its radiological features and their impact upon man agement. All patients underwent surgery in the first 24 h of life, and the overall survival rate was 92 %. The finding of bowel atresia at o peration was associated with a particularly poor outcome, with only tw o out of eve infants surviving. A minority of infants developed seriou s complications including necrotizing enterocolitis, short-bowel syndr ome, persistent small-bowel dysfunction and cholestatic jaundice. Inve stigation by plain films, contrast studies and ultrasound examinations was necessary and helpful in these patients. Plain film radiography c ommonly revealed bowel-wall thickening and luminal dilatation, frequen tly accompanied by generalised abdominal distension, Small-bowel enema was considered to be superior to the conventional follow-through in d istinguishing mechanical from functional obstruction in infants with p ersistent bowel dilatation.