Prenatal diagnosis of gastroschisis. A Lagos prenatal diagnosis experience

Objectives: Gastroschisis is a congenital malformation charaterised by the herniation of intestinal contents through a full thickness paraumbilical abdominal wall defect. The diagnosis can be made as early as first trimester and fast often in the second trimester by fetal ultrasound, to retrospectively analyze cases of gastroschisis diagnosed in the centre in years. 1992 to 2015, the prenatal diagnosis is important because of rapid and appropriate treatment both during and after pregnancy.

Setting: Prenatal Diagnosis And Therapy Centre of a tertiary hospital in Lagos/Nigeria.

Material and methods: We analysed 29 cases of fetal gastroschisis diagnosed in Prenatal Diagnosis and Therapy Centre, College of Medicine, University Of Lagos, Lagos/Nigeria between 1992 and 2015.

Results: The age group less than 30 years were more involved in 11 and in 19 cases there were no complications observed during pregnancy.

Conclusion: Early diagnosis is necessary as it allows monitoring for potential complication of gastroschisis and for prompt decision of elective pretern delivery at referral centre with the possibility of preparing neonatal and pediatric surgical team.

Keywords: prenatal diagnosis, gastroschisis, congenital malformation