Omphalocele and gastroschisis analysis of a 6 year series of 23 cases.

Twenty-three cases of omphalocele or gastroschisis managed at the Pediatric Surgical Department Juntendo University Medical School, Tokyo, Japan during the period 1973-78 are analysed. There were 5 cases with hernia into the cord, 13 with omphalocele proper and 6 with gastroschisis. The overall mortality was 26%. Both omphalocele proper and hernia into the cord had high incidence of concomitant malformation. Survival could be closely correlated with severity of associated congenital anomalies. Patient with birth weight lower than 2000gm and/or with defect larger than 8 cm was also at great risk. T.P.N. and assisted respiration evolved the management of omphalocele and gastroschisis. Significant differences in associated anomalies, birth order and birth weight between hernia into the cord and gastroschisis tends to rebut that both are the results of same congenital accident.