The importance of serial biophysical assessment of fetal wellbeing in gastroschisis

Abstract

While half of the babies with gastroschisis were small for gestational age at birth, reliable antenatal prediction of birth weight is difficult. Gut dilatation may be an indicator of either antenatal or intrapartum fetal distress, but does not correlate with poor neonatal surgical outcome. We suggest close antenatal surveillance of fetal wellbeing in all cases of gastroschisis because, in addition to growth retardation, many show some evidence of fetal distress and 12.5% end in stillbirth, even when appropriately grown.