Gastroschisis | Diagnosis & Treatments
How is gastroschisis diagnosed?
This condition is often diagnosed prenatally, by ultrasound. Pregnant women may be referred to a neonatal surgeon.
How is gastroschisis treated?
If your baby's lungs are mature, your doctor may want to deliver your baby at 36 weeks. Therefore, a Caesarean delivery may be necessary.
After delivery, your baby will receive intravenous (IV) fluids. The intestines will be placed in a clear surgical plastic bag and your baby will be brought to the neonatal intensive care unit. Surgery to repair the opening and return the intestines to their proper place will take place within 12 to 24 hours. If the opening is small, the repair can be done in one step. If the opening is larger, it may need to take place slowly over three to five days.
Most babies recover well. Recovery time in the hospital includes feeding your baby through IV. In some cases, a baby will develop a condition known as short bowel syndrome, which is characterized by diarrhea, very slow weight gain and deficiencies of important vitamins and minerals. In this instance, your baby may require a longer course of IV nutrition.
How we care for gastroschisis
At Boston Children's Hospital, we specialize in the treatment of children with gastroschisis in our Center for Advanced Intestinal Rehabilitation (CAIR), which includes a team of experts with decades of experience in caring for children with intestinal problems and their families. Our specialists include:
- Physicians trained in surgery, gastroenterology, and nutrition
- Registered dietitians
- Nurse practitioners
- Nurses
- Pharmacists
- Social workers
Gastroschisis | Research & Innovation
Our areas of innovation for gastroschisis
The team at Boston Children's actively participates in research focused on the treatment and understanding of gastroschisis and has made major contributions to the field. Two of our physicians developed the serial transverse enteroplasty procedure (STEP), a surgical technique developed that has been used on patients who have a related condition called short bowel syndrome.
