The Analysis of the Fetal Abdominal Wall and Gastrointestinal Tract Abnormalities in a Single Tertiary Center

Gokhan Bolluk; Suleyman Cemil Oglak; Merih Cetinkaya; Isil Turan Bakirci; Oyhan Demirali; Mehmet Cok; Handan  Turhan Karakus; Yasin Onur; Emine Zeynep Yilmaz

doi:10.21613/GORM.2023.1530

Authors

Gokhan Bolluk Department of Perinatology, Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3506-6806
Suleyman Cemil Oglak University of Health Sciences, Diyarbakır Gazi Yaşargil Training and Research Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7634-3008
Merih Cetinkaya Department of Neonatology, Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7344-8637
Isil Turan Bakirci Department of Perinatology, Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1666-0452
Oyhan Demirali Department of Pediatric Surgeon, Health Sciences University, Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6648-0478
Mehmet Cok Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2555-1656
Handan Turhan Karakus Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey https://orcid.org/0009-0004-0652-3993
Yasin Onur Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1376-0714
Emine Zeynep Yilmaz Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bahçelievler Memorial Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3537-8340

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21613/GORM.2023.1530

Keywords:

Abdominal wall defects, Gastrointestinal tract abnormalities, Prenatal ultrasound

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the fetuses with gastrointestinal anomalies and anterior abdominal wall defects detected in the prenatal period in our clinic and to analyze their perinatal outcomes.

STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective study analyzed the data of 67 cases evaluated by the perinatology department of the Basaksehir Cam and Sakura City Hospital between January 2021 and May 2023 with a diagnosis of fetal anterior abdominal wall and gastrointestinal tract abnormalities.

RESULTS: A total of 67 cases were included in our study with a mean maternal age of 26.4 ± 3.1 years and a median gestational week of first assessment at our center of 22 weeks (12-39 weeks). The most common anterior abdominal wall malformations were omphalocele (n=29, 43.3%) and gastroschisis (6 cases, 9.0%), and the most common fetal gastrointestinal tract anomalies were duodenal atresia (n=10, 14.9%), dilated bowel (n=5, 7.4%), and intestinal atresia (n=4, 5.9%). While genetic testing was carried out in 18 cases (27%), chromosomal abnormality was found in 6 (9.0%) cases. Termination of pregnancy was performed in 6 cases (9.0%). Postnatally, surgery was performed in 49 cases (73.1%) with a diagnosis of postpartum omphalocele, duodenal atresia, gastroschisis, intestinal and anal atresia. An uneventful surgical course was recorded for 47 cases that underwent surgery.

CONCLUSION: The most common abdominal wall defects are omphalocele and gastroschisis, and the most frequent gastrointestinal anomalies are small bowel abnormalities (duodenal atresia, dilated bowel, intestinal atresia) in our study cohort. These abnormalities might be an isolated anomaly or part of a syndrome or associated with chromosomal abnormalities. The prognosis for infants with gastrointestinal malformation depends on the presence of associated anomalies or karyotype anomalies.