Fetal Abdominal Wall Defects

The Stanford Medicine Children’s Health Fetal and Pregnancy Health Program provides comprehensive evaluation and management of fetal abdominal wall defects. Our program combines expertise from specialists in maternal-fetal medicine, pediatric radiology, neonatology, and pediatric surgery to provide holistic prenatal and postnatal management of fetal abdominal and metabolic conditions.

What are fetal abdominal wall defects?

Abdominal wall defects, including gastroschisis and omphalocele, occur during fetal development; in these, the skin and other protective tissue does not completely cover the abdomen. In gastroschisis, abdominal organs, including the intestines, are uncovered and protruding outside the baby’s body. In omphalocele, there is usually a thin sac covering the abdominal organs. Omphalocele may be accompanied by differences in other organ systems and genetic conditions, whereas gastroschisis is usually an isolated finding.

How do you diagnose fetal abdominal wall defects?

Your fetus’s abdominal wall defect will most likely be diagnosed during a prenatal ultrasound. When your doctor has a concern, you may be referred to our Fetal and Pregnancy Health Program for perinatal testing, prenatal counseling, and care management. Additional specialized prenatal imaging, such as fetal MRI, may be recommended.

What does having a fetal abdominal wall defect mean for my child?

Babies born with gastroschisis are typically healthy, besides having the condition. The expected outcome for fetal gastroschisis is overall favorable, although some children require surgery, and some may experience digestive problems during their lifetime. Outcomes for children born with omphalocele depend on the size of the omphalocele and whether or not there are other organ systems impacted or genetic disorders present. Diagnosing these issues before birth allows us to quickly put into action a treatment plan.

How does the Packard Children’s Hospital team typically treat fetal abdominal wall defects?

As part of our multidisciplinary team, pediatric surgery is centrally involved in the care of patients with gastroschisis and omphalocele, both prenatally and after delivery. During your prenatal meetings with maternal-fetal medicine and neonatology, you may learn more about innovative studies ongoing in our Fetal and Pregnancy Health Program, such as the GOOD Study for gastroschisis. Treatment after delivery depends on many factors. The initial approach is often nonsurgical. For some gastroschisis, the pediatric surgery team may be able to close the opening in a single step after delivery, while other cases need to be reduced over a few days with the help of a silo (a special pouch or bag covering the bowel outside of the body). For omphalocele, the size of the defect will in part determine the treatment approach.