Gastroschisis is a disorderwhat makesbabies are born with intestines or other digestive organs outside the body. This condition can be detected during pregnancy, but can alsoonly known when the baby is born.
Gastroschisis occurs due to imperfect formation of the baby's stomach wall when in the womb. As a result, a hole is formed near the navel that can be passed by the organs in the stomach. In most cases, the organ that comes out is the intestine. However, it is possible that other digestive organs can also come out.
This condition is almost the same as omphalocele. The difference is, in an omphalocele, the hole is located right in the middle of the navel, and the organs that come out of the abdomen are covered with a membrane.
ReasonGastroschisis
It is not known exactly what causes the imperfect formation of the baby's abdominal wall. However, in some cases it is known that gastroschisis occurs due to changes in genes or chromosomes, as well as disturbances in blood flow to the baby's digestive tract.
Gastroschisis risk factors
Although the exact cause is not known, there are several factors that can increase the risk of pregnant women experiencing this condition, namely:
- Under 20 years of age when pregnant
- Experiencing nutritional deficiencies during pregnancy
- Have a smoking habit during pregnancy
- Excessive alcohol consumption during pregnancy
- Taking aspirin, ibuprofen, or paracetamol
- Taking a decongestant, such as pseudoephedrine or phenylpropanolamine
Symptoms of Gastroschisis
Symptoms of gastroschisis are very easy to recognize, both during pregnancy or when the baby is born, namely the discharge of the small intestine from the stomach without being covered by a membrane layer. The intestines come out of an opening which is usually located on the right side of the navel.
Generally, the organ that comes out of the stomach is the small intestine. However, other organs, such as the large intestine, stomach, liver, or gallbladder, can also protrude from the stomach wall.
Because it is outside the body without any protection, the intestines can become irritated. This can cause interference with food absorption if the intestine that comes out is damaged.
When to go to the doctor
Gastroschisis can be seen immediately when the child is born, so it will immediately get medical attention.
If your child has the above symptoms and was not born in a hospital, immediately take him to the nearest doctor for initial help and a referral to a hospital with facilities neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
For those of you who are pregnant, check the content regularly with your obstetrician, especially if you are at risk for this condition. Routine examination with ultrasound can detect if the fetus has congenital abnormalities, including gastroschisis.
If the fetus is known to have gastroschisis, the doctor will monitor the condition of the fetus more often and plan more mature treatment during delivery. This is intended so that the condition of the fetus does not get worse.
Gastroschisis diagnosis
The diagnosis of gastroschisis can be made while the baby is still in the womb or after the baby is born. In newborns, gastroschisis can be diagnosed only by physical examination. Investigations may be needed to detect the possibility of other health problems.
Meanwhile, in babies who are still in the womb, gastroschisis can be diagnosed using ultrasound during the second or third trimester of pregnancy. In addition to ultrasound pregnancy, gastroschisis can also be diagnosed through examination of levels of alpha-fetoprotein on blood.
If the fetus is known to have gastroschisis, the doctor will also perform: fetal echocardiogram, namely ultrasound specifically to check the condition of the heart to detect abnormalities in the fetal heart.
Treatment Gastroschisis
If gastroschisis is detected while the baby is still in the womb, special monitoring must be carried out on pregnant women, so that the baby can be born healthy. The doctor will plan a safe delivery process and prepare for handling gastroschisis after the baby is born.
In newborns, the most common procedure performed by doctors to treat gastroschisis is surgery. If the size of the hole is small and only a small part of the organ comes out of the abdomen, the operation will be performed as soon as the baby is born. The doctor will insert the intestine into the stomach and then close the hole with stitches.
Meanwhile, if the size of the hole is large and most of the organs come out of the abdomen, the operation is usually performed more than once. The organs that come out of the stomach will be coated with a special material and gradually put back into the stomach.
After all the organs are successfully inserted into the abdomen, the doctor will close the hole with stitches.
Some other actions that doctors can take to treat gastroschisis are:
- Monitor body temperature, because organs outside the stomach make a lot of body heat come out
- Provide nutrition through infusion
- Give antibiotics to prevent infection
If a baby with gastroschisis is not delivered in a hospital, the baby should be taken to the nearest doctor immediately. The initial treatment to be carried out is:
- Wrap the intestines with clean clear plastic
- Installing infusion
- warm baby
- Refer the baby to a hospital with NICU facilities
Gastroschisis complications
Some complications that can occur in infants with gastroschisis before and after birth are:
- Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC)
- Irritation or inflammation of the intestines that makes the intestines unable to work properly
- Respiratory disorders
- Intestinal atresia, which is a condition when the intestines do not develop in the womb
Prevention of Gastroschisis
Given that the cause of gastroschisis is not known for certain, the best steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of this condition are:
- Check with the gynecologist on a regular basis
- Taking vitamins or supplements prescribed by a doctor, such as folic acid
- Do not smoke during pregnancy
- Do not consume alcoholic beverages during pregnancy
- Implementing a healthy lifestyle, such as eating a balanced diet and maintaining an ideal body weight
- Do not carelessly take drugs without consulting a doctor first
