Prenatal intraabdominal bowel dilation is associated with postnatal gastrointestinal complications in fetuses with gastroschisis.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine whether prenatal intraabdominal bowel dilation (IBD) is associated with increased postnatal complications in fetuses with gastroschisis.


METHODS
A retrospective review was performed on all maternal-fetus pairs with prenatally diagnosed gastroschisis that was treated at the University of California San Francisco from 2002-2008. Postnatal outcomes were compared between fetuses with and without IBD.


RESULTS
Forty-three of 61 maternal-fetal pairs met the criteria for inclusion. Sixteen fetuses (37%) had evidence of IBD. Fetuses with IBD were significantly more likely to have postnatal bowel complications (38% vs 7%; P = .037). The presence of multiple loops of IBD (n = 6) as opposed to a single loop (n = 10) was associated highly with bowel complications and increased time to full enteral feeding and length of hospital stay (100% vs 0% [P = .001]; 44 vs 23 days [P = .034]; 69 vs 27 days [P = .001], respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
IBD is associated with increased postnatal complications in infants with prenatally diagnosed gastroschisis; however, this association seems to be limited to those with multiple loops of dilated intraabdominal bowel.
Huh
Nancy G
NG
Department of Radiology, University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
Hirose
Shinjiro
S
Goldstein
Ruth B
RB
D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D020139:Gastroschisis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D007422:Intestines / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D055815:Young Adult