title: Gastroschisis: a 15-year, single-center experience.
abstract: 70 cases of gastroschisis (GS) were surgically treated at the Pediatric Surgical University Clinic, Münster, from 1984 through 1998. The defect occurred more frequently in males (44) than females (26). The average birth weight was 2,383 g and mean gestational age 36.8 weeks. 9 infants (12.9%) were delivered vaginally and the rest (87.1%) by cesarean section; 34 of the 61 (55.7%) cesarean sections were done solely for prenatal ultrasonic identification of the abdominal-wall defect. 10 infants (14.3%) underwent primary closure; in 19 (27.1%) primary closure of the skin was possible, however, a single solvent-dried dura (SDD) graft was required for fascial enlargement. The remaining 41 infants (58.6%) had extensive defects and required two grafts for optimal closure. 22 patients (31.4%) had associated anomalies, the most common being bowel atresias and undescended testis. 14 (20%) required secondary laparotomies because of bowel-associated complications and 1 (1.4%) for a urinary-bladder perforation. 11 patients (15.7%) had non-bowel-associated complications. The average postoperative tracheal intubation time was 3.9 days and the average hospital stay was 75.6 days. The overall mortality was 2.8%. No major complications associated with SDD implants were encountered; only 4 patients (5.7%) had minor complications such as local inflamation and infection and were managed conservatively. The present data support the employment of SDD implants as acceptable biomaterial for the repair of large GS defects.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Surgical Clinic, Westfälische Wilhelms University, Albert-Schweitzer-Strasse 33, 48129 Münster, Germany. saxena@post.com
authors.forename: Amulya K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Saxena
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hülskamp
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schleef
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schaarschmidt
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Harms
authors.forename: Günter H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Willital
mesh_terms: D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple; D001724:Birth Weight; D002585:Cesarean Section; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D020139:Gastroschisis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D013536:Suture Techniques; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal