Surgical treatment of congenital defects in the abdominal wall.

A series of 28 patients is presented with the two conditions of omphalocoele and gastroschisis treated over a five-year period . Improved survival can be obtained by the use of staged procedures with a silastic prosthesis plus intravenous alimentation with later definitive operation. If peripheral veins are used, serious complications are almost totally avoided. This combined form of therapy is the treatment of choice in infants with massive defects in the abdominal wall.