title: Omphalocele and gastroschisis in Taiwan.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to analyse the clinical differences between omphalocele and gastroschisis in Taiwan, with special reference to associated anomalies and outcomes. A retrospective review was conducted of 115 cases seen between January 1990 and June 2000 at two tertiary medical centres in Taiwan. Data included perinatal events and associated anomalies. Of 115 patients, 65 were classified as having gastroschisis and 50 as having omphalocele. Other anomalies were found in 24 omphalocele cases, compared with 23 gastroschisis cases. The range of anomalies associated with omphalocele varied more widely than in the gastroschisis cohort. Of patients with omphalocele and associated anomalies, six had chromosomal abnormalities compared with none of the patients with gastroschisis. In patients with gastroschisis and additional malformations, 17 had gastrointestinal anomalies, the most common of which was intestinal malrotation. A comparison of perinatal data revealed that infants with gastroschisis were more likely to be small for gestational age. Gastroschisis was associated with a younger overall maternal age than omphalocele and a lower birth weight. There was a male predominance among omphalocele patients, but this did not reach statistical significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gastroschisis was frequently associated with intestinal anomalies and transient dysfunction, and outcomes were related to postoperative complications. Infants with gastroschisis more frequently required prolonged parenteral nutrition supplement, resulting in longer hospital stay. Omphalocele was often accompanied by chromosomal disorders leading to early neonatal death, so we recommend that amniocentesis should be indicated if omphalocele is suspected on fetal ultrasonography.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chia-Chi
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Shuan-Pei
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chao-Huei
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ching-Shiang
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.forename: Hung-Chang
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Han-Yang
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Hsin-An
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: Chyon-Hsin
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hsu
mesh_terms: D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D020139:Gastroschisis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D005865:Gestational Age; D006554:Hernia, Umbilical / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007229:Infant Welfare; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures