Prenatal intraabdominal bowel dilation is associated with postnatal gastrointestinal complications in fetuses with gastroschisis

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether prenatal intraabdominal bowel dilation (IBD) is associated with increased postnatal complications in fetuses with gastroschisis. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review was performed on all maternal-fetus pairs with prenatally diagnosed gastroschisis that was treated at the University of California San Francisco from 2002-2008. Postnatal outcomes were compared between fetuses with and without IBD. RESULTS: Forty-three of 61 maternal-fetal pairs met the criteria for inclusion. Sixteen fetuses (37%) had evidence of IBD. Fetuses with IBD were significantly more likely to have postnatal bowel complications (38% vs 7%; P = .037). The presence of multiple loops of IBD (n = 6) as opposed to a single loop (n = 10) was associated highly with bowel complications and increased time to full enteral feeding and length of hospital stay (100% vs 0% [P = .001]; 44 vs 23 days [P = .034]; 69 vs 27 days [P = .001], respectively). CONCLUSION: IBD is associated with increased postnatal complications in infants with prenatally diagnosed gastroschisis; however, this association seems to be limited to those with multiple loops of dilated intraabdominal bowel.