Table 2

Postnatal characteristics of children in follow-up (n=61).

Simple gastroschisis (n=51)Complex gastroschisis* (n=10)p Value
Postnatal characteristics
 Eviscerated organs†
 - Intestines only21 (41%)3 (30%)0.73
 - + stomach25 (49%)5 (50%)1.00
 - + bladder6 (12%)2 (20%)0.61
 Multiple congenital anomalies‡7 (14%)2 (20%)0.63
 Primary closure, directly after birth35 (69%)4 (40%)0.15
 Procedures under general anaesthesia2 (1–3)7 (4–14)<0.001
 Duration of initial mechanical ventilation (days)§2 (1–6)24 (7–30)0.001
 Time to full enteral feeding (days)27 (20–47)165 (66–624)<0.001
 - Intestinal failure13 (25%)10 (100%)<0.001
 Length of initial hospital stay (days)42 (28–62)173 (81–426)<0.001
 Complications†30 (59%)10 (100%)0.01
 - Sepsis25 (49%)9 (90%)0.03
 - Parenteral nutrition-related cholestasis14 (27%)9 (90%)<0.001
 - Cardiopulmonary resuscitation5 (10%)1 (10%)1.00
 - Central venous line-thrombosis2 (4%)2 (20%)0.12
 - Miscellaneous13 (25%)5 (50%)0.14
  • Data presented as median (IQR) or n (%).

  • *Bowel atresia (n=3), intestinal atresia+necrosis (n=2), intestinal atresia+perforation (n=1), necrosis (n=1), necrosis+volvulus (n=1), perforation (n=2).

  • †Percentages do not necessarily add up to 100, as one patient can have multiple problems.

  • ‡Polydactyly (n=2); dysmorphic features (n=2: retrognathia and short philtrum, frontal bossing and hypertelorism); hydronephrosis and atrial septal defect, spontaneous closure (n=1); small ventricular septal defect (n=1); benign peripheral hydrocephalus (n=1); hypospadias (n=1); and retrognathia and urethral valves (n=1).

  • §Data unknown in n=1.

  • ¶Surgery-related (n=8); preterm birth-related (n=4); infectious, not catheter-related (n=6); neurological (n=4); catheter-related (n=2); drug-related (n=1).