Gastroschisis: neonatal features and somatic development.

Thirty-nine newborns were treated for gastroschisis at the Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Central Hospital from 1964 to 1980. Sixteen infants died during the first hospital admission. Of the 23 survivors, 11 were two years or older, and these 11 children were subjected to a follow-up examination. The incidence of the lesion increased markedly during the period of observation. Dysmaturity (birth weight at or below the 10th percentile of normal intrauterine growth) accompanied gastroschisis in 17 cases, and a low birth weight (below 2,500 g) in 23 cases. The mortality of gastroschisis was clearly and constantly decreasing, being 54% for the first decade, 23% for the last 5 years, and 41% for the total series. The age of the mothers at parturition, 20.9 years, was significantly (p less than 0.001) lower than the Finnish average. The extensive clinical and laboratory analysis of the 11 oldest children with completed reconstruction of the abdominal wall indicated good physical condition and, specifically, normal absorptive function of the intestine.