Unusual presentations of gastroschisis

Abstract

Gastroschisis is a defect of the ventral abdominal wall nearly always located to the right of the umbilicus. A relatively low incidence of associated anomalies exists with the most common being nonduodenal intestinal atresia occurring in 10 per cent of patients. Although multiple hypotheses have been proposed the pathogenesis of gastroschisis is unproven and controversial. Herein we describe four infants with rare presentations of gastroschisis: one infant with true left-sided gastroschisis and three infants with unusual patterns of intestinal atresia. At present there is a female preponderance of left-sided gastroschisis as reported in the world literature (five female:two male). These cases illustrate the anatomic spectrum of gastroschisis as well as support intrauterine spontaneous closure of the abdominal wall defect as an etiology for midgut atresia.