A diagnosis of gastroschisis is made when an ultrasound evaluation reveals free-floating loops of bowel in the amniotic fluid. The bowel herniates through a small anterior abdominal wall defect, which is usually located to the right of the umbilicus.
Most cases involve the small intestine and a portion of the large intestine.
As a consequence of the herniation, the unprotected bowel may not function well after delivery. Gastroschisis is seen in approximately 1 in 5,000 live births and occurs more often in babies born to younger mothers. Prenatal detection of gastroschisis allows parents to discuss and plan delivery and postnatal management options with an obstetrician and a pediatric surgeon ahead of time. In most cases, gastroschisis can be successfully repaired and the long-term outlook is excellent. BACK TO TOP Evaluation Families coming for evaluation to the Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment with a diagnosis of a ventral wall defect undergo a detailed level II ultrasound evaluation to assess overall fetal development and rule out other structural malformations.