Gastroschisis (gast-roh-SKEE-sis) is when a baby is born with the intestines sticking out through a hole in the belly wall near the umbilical cord. Sometimes other organs also stick out. It's a life-threatening condition that needs treatment right away.
During normal prenatal development: As the organs inside an unborn baby's belly form, the intestines push out through a hole in the belly wall. Later, they twist and move back inside the belly, and the hole closes.
When a baby has gastroschisis: The intestines stay outside of the belly, keeping the hole in the belly wall from closing. When the baby is born, the intestines are visible. Often, they're damaged from weeks of soaking in the amniotic fluid in the womb (uterus). The baby needs treatment right away.
A baby born with gastroschisis will lose heat and water very quickly from the intestines, causing:
Other organs may stick out along with the intestines, including the baby's:
Doctors don't know why gastroschisis happens. It is probably due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. During pregnancy, the intestines grow correctly at first, but then do not go back inside the belly as they usually do.
Gastroschisis is more likely when the mother:
Gastroschisis is more common now than it has been in previous decades, but doctors don't know why.
A pregnant woman doesn't have any symptoms during pregnancy when her baby has gastroschisis. But doctors might find gastroschisis before the baby is born when the mother has a:
If the mother did not have prenatal tests, the doctor will diagnose gastroschisis at birth because part of the intestine is outside the baby's body.
In most cases of gastroschisis, the care team includes:
When a baby is diagnosed with gastroschisis, the parents and care team make a plan with several steps:
A baby with gastroschisis is fed through an intravenous (IV) line because the intestine:
The care team puts the baby's lower half and the intestines in a special plastic bag to:
Often, the intestines don't fit in the belly because they're swollen. If so, the surgeon usually arranges the intestines in a bag called a silo to:
The care team gradually tightens the silo as the intestines return to normal size. Putting the intestines back into the belly with a silo usually takes about 3–4 days, but may take longer.
The intestines of a child with gastroschisis may not work well even after they're returned to the belly. So moving a baby from IV feeding to feeding by mouth can take a long time. It may be a month or longer before the intestines can absorb nutrients well enough to support the baby without help from the IV.
After the pediatric surgeon returns the intestines to the belly, the newborn:
A baby whose healthy small intestine is much shorter than usual can have a rare condition called short gut syndrome (or short bowel syndrome). This means the baby can't absorb enough nutrition from digested food to grow and thrive. This can happen if:
A baby with short gut syndrome needs extra nutritional support and other medical care.
Almost all babies born with gastroschisis survive if they receive prompt treatment.
The medical challenges of gastroschisis can be stressful for your child and you. But you're not alone. The care team will work together to help manage problems, and to support your family. You can also ask about support groups, or visit online sites such as:
Reviewed by: Loren Berman, MD
Date Reviewed: 14-01-2019
