AMNIO-ALLANTOIC FLUID EXCHANGE FOR THE PREVENTION OF INTESTINAL DAMAGE IN GASTROSCHISIS - AN EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY ON CHICK-EMBRYOS

In gastroschisis, the protruding intestine is usually shortened, thick ened, and covered with a fibrous peel. Urine components, which are inc reased in the amniotic fluid with the onset of renal function, are res ponsible for these changes. In the chick embryo model of gastroschisis , the authors performed amnio-allantoic fluid exchange to reduce the e ffect of urinary products. There were three study groups: control, gas troschisis only, and gastroschisis plus exchange. There was a signific ant decrease in creatinine (P < .05) and a slight decrease in urea con centrations in the gastroschisis-plus-exchange group compared with the gastroschisis only group. Whereas macroscopic and microscopic studies showed severe fibrosis and bowel-wall thickening in the latter group, the bowel was normal or slightly oedematous in the former. On the bas is of this study, the authors suggest that antenatal amniotic fluid ex change might reduce the bowel damage in human foetuses. Copyright (C) 1995 by W.B. Saunders Company