title: Quality of life in patients with gastroschisis is comparable with the general population: A questionnaire survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate long-term quality of life and somatic growth of patients with gastroschisis and compare them with the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a questionnaire survey of the quality of life of our patients treated between 2004-2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A questionnaire was sent to our 56 patients with gastroschisis, 38 mothers of patients (68%) responded to the questionnaire. 33 of 38 mothers claim that the quality of life of their child is very good, 4 of them responded that it is good. 1 mother confessed that the quality of life was very poor. Anthropometric data show comparable results with the standard population except for patients of 1 year of age who still have lower weight (P<0.001) and body height in the 5th percentile and patients of 3 years of age who are also significantly thinner. 13% of patients in our study group have gastrointestinal problems. 9 patients (24%) attend follow-up at the neurological center (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder n=6, mental retardation n=1, dysarthria n=2), however, overall intellectual abilities are within normal range. 7 patients underwent surgery for umbilical (n=3) or inguinal hernia (n=4), 2 patients were operated on for undescended testicles, 3 patients were operated on for an adhesive ileus. 92% of mothers are very satisfied with the cosmetic result of the scar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study has shown that the majority of patients after operation of gastroschisis have a very good quality of life without limitation in comparison with the general population. The presented anthropometric data confirm that the development of patients with gastroschisis is favourable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Surgery, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Barbora
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Frybova
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Surgery, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Alena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kokesova
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zemkova
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mixa
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Radovan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vlk
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Surgery, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rygl
mesh_terms: D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D020139:Gastroschisis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: anthropometric data; gastroschisis; long term follow-up; quality of life