title: The long term physical consequences of gastroschisis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the progress, physical and metabolic outcomes of gastroschisis survivors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty children born with gastroschisis were assessed with a health questionnaire, physical assessment, bone density and nutritional blood parameters at a median age of 9years (range 5-17).
  
  
  RESULTS
  After initial abdominal closure, 27/50 (54%) required additional surgical interventions. Ten (20%) children had complex gastroschisis (CG). Abdominal pain was common: weekly in 41%; and requiring hospitalization in 30%. The weight, length and head circumference z-scores improved by a median 0.88 (p=0.001), 0.56 (p=0.006) and 0.74 (p=0.018) of a standard deviation (SD) respectively from birth; 24% were overweight or obese at follow up. However, those with CG had significantly lower median weight z-scores (-0.43 v 0.49, p=0.0004) and body mass index (BMI) (-0.48 v 0.42, p=0.001) at follow up compared to children with simple gastroschisis. Cholesterol levels were elevated in 24% of children. Bone mineral density was reassuring. There were 15 instances of low blood vitamin and mineral levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although gastroschisis survival levels are high, many children have significant ongoing morbidity. Children with simple gastroschisis showed significant catch up growth and a quarter had become overweight.
authors.affiliation: King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Centre for Newborn Research and Education, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Emma L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: Centre for Newborn Research and Education, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. Electronic address: corrado.minutillo@health.wa.gov.au.
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Minutillo
authors.affiliation: School of Women's and Infants' Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Susannah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.affiliation: King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Teresa M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Warner
authors.affiliation: Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Madhur
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ravikumara
authors.affiliation: Women and Infants Research Foundation, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Nathan
authors.affiliation: School of Women's and Infants' Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Jan E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Dickinson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D015519:Bone Density; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D020139:Gastroschisis / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: Abdominal wall defect; Gastroschisis; Growth; Long term outcome; Metabolic syndrome; Surgical complications