How is Gastroschisis Treated?
Gastroschisis cannot be fixed before birth. Surgery is needed after the baby is born. A baby cannot survive with the intestines outside the body. Our team of experts in the Intestinal Rehabilitation Center can provide the surgical care your baby needs.
After your baby is born, doctors will examine the severity of the gastroschisis. The type of repair depends on how much of the bowel or other organs are outside the belly and how swollen or damaged they are.
Primary Repair
If the case is simple, doctors may place the intestines back inside the belly and close the hole on the day the baby is born. This is called a “primary repair”.
This type of repair is performed when there is a relatively small amount of bowel outside of the belly, and the bowel is not overly swollen or damaged.
Staged Repair
If there is a lot of intestine outside the body or it is very swollen, doctors may need to fix it slowly over several days. This is called a “staged repair”.
In this case:
- A special plastic pouch called a silo is placed over the intestines.
- Each day, the intestines are gently pushed back into the belly.
- Once everything is inside, the opening is closed.
Some babies may need a breathing machine for a short time after surgery.
Of the gastroschisis repairs performed by the surgeons we partner with at Cincinnati Children’s, about 50% are primary, and the other 50% are staged reductions.
About 10% of babies born with gastroschisis also have a part of the bowel that does not develop correctly. In these cases, some babies may experience:
- Bowel resection – a surgery on the bowel needed when part of the bowel is extremely damaged
- Colostomy – an opening called a “stoma” allows stool to pass out of the body and into a bag
- Short bowel syndrome – when a large portion of the intestine does not work normally
- Intestinal transplantation – when a new intestine is needed (rare)
Post-Surgery Follow-Up Care
Because the intestines were outside the body, they need time to heal. Babies with gastroschisis often have trouble feeding at first.
For the first few weeks:
- The baby will get nutrition through an IV.
- Medicine may be given for comfort.
- Antibiotics may be given to prevent infection.
Once your baby’s bowel is functioning—usually after about two to three weeks—breast milk or special formula will be introduced. This is usually done by offering small feeding amount by bottle.
Once your baby’s bowel is functioning—usually after about two to three weeks—breast milk or special formula will be introduced. This is usually done by offering small feeding amount by bottle.
After discharge you will have follow-up appointments with a neonatologist and/or pediatric surgeon to monitor your baby’s progress with feeding, growth and development, and bowel function.
