[Prenatal sonographic diagnosis of abdominal wall defects and stenoses of the intestinal tract].

Today prenatal sonographic diagnosis of abdominal defects and stenoses of the intestine is possible without few exceptions during general screening in the 20th week of gestation. In a retrospective study, 56 malformations in this area were investigated, which had been diagnosed at the University Hospital Freiburg during 1973 and 1985. Besides the criteria of sonographic diagnosis the etiology, incidence, prognostic factors, the course of pregnancy and delivery and the postpartal management are described. The rate of direct sonographic diagnosis in this area has increased from 26% up to 91%. The worst prognosis was found in infants with diaphragmatic hernias and exomphalos, whereas infants with stenosis of duodenum and small intestine had the best prognosis.