Differential Diagnosis of Abdominal Wall Defects - Omphalocele versus Gastroschisis
S. Ionescu, M. Mocanu, B. Andrei, B. Bunea, C. Carstoveanu, A. Gurita, R. Tabacaru, E. Licsandru,D. Stanescu, M. SellehGeneral reports, no. 1, 2014
A newborn with abdominal wall defect is one of the mostdramatic cases in neonatology, but also a challenge forpediatric surgeons. This article describes the fundamentalconcepts of two major abdominal wall defects - gastroschisisand omphalocele - including options and principles of prenataland postnatal care. Although these birth defects of theabdominal wall are always grouped together, they are twoseparate and distinct entities, with many differences in termsof pathology and associated anomalies; this explains thedifferent therapeutic approach and results. For a correctmanagement of the newborn with this anomaly, it is essentialto understand the similarities and differences betweengastroschisis and omphalocele. This article emphasises thesimilarities between these two parietal defects, highlightingthe differences as well.