Abdominal Wall Defect Repairs in Newborn Children

Having a baby can be an exciting time for expectant parents, but also a time of extreme anxiety. For some parents, the arrival of the new infant gives way to the realization that their new bundle of joy is suffering from a birth defect known as gastroschisis.

To repair gastroschisis in the newborn, a surgical procedure commonly referred to as the abdominal wall defect repair, or gastroschisis repair is commonly performed. While we do not clearly understand why the infant, during pregnancy, develops complication in the development and formation of the abdominal wall muscles, we do not know that this surgical procedure can restore functioning.

When the abdominal wall muscles fail to develop correctly, your infant's internal organs begin to expel or protrude. Often, this protruding effect will develop into the area aside the navel, thus resulting in the need for abdominal wall defect repair soon after birth as the complications associated with gastroschsis can be life threatening.

Abdominal wall defect repair surgery is performed on your infant, in the hours and days after birth. Using a general anesthesia, the pediatric surgeon will open the infant's abdominal area, align the organs correctly and then re-close the abdominal wall, sometimes using reinforcement, or a silo, to aide in the process. For new parents, this procedure, especially when a silo is used as part of the abdominal wall defect repair, is frightening for parents to witness in their new baby.

After surgery, the infant will require neonatal intensive care and may be in the NICU for several weeks until healing is progressed to a degree in which the infant is able to feed orally, all abdominal pressure is released and the bowel and other organs are functioning normally. Because this surgery involves a total invasive approach to the infant's abdominal wall and organs, it is not uncommon for the newborn to experience complications such as temporary bowel complications, Short bowel syndrome and even long term complications with gastrointestinal function and digestive processes.