Paper

Changes in Intestinal Waste Products during the Antenatal Management of Gastroschisis by Serial Amniotic Fluid Exchange and Infusion
Hee-Young Lee, Jae-Yoon Shim, Hye-Sung Won, Pil Ryang Lee, Ahm Kim

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea

Address of Corresponding Author

Fetal Diagn Ther 2008;24:448-451 (DOI: 10.1159/000176298)

  Key Words

• Gastroschisis
• Amniotic fluid exchange
• Amniotic fluid infusion
• Intestinal damage
• Amniotic fluid inflammation

  Abstract

Despite the good survival rate of fetuses with gastroschisis, the length and cost of hospitalization for surgically repaired gastroschisis are high. In gastroschisis, prolonged exposure of the intestine to amniotic fluid (AF) containing intestinal waste products results in intestinal damage, including intestinal wall thickening and fibrous peel formation. The deleterious effects of AF on gastroschisis can be prevented by lowering the concentration of intestinal waste products. We describe the treatment of a case of fetal gastroschisis by repeated AF exchange and infusion. Following repeated, successful transabdominal AF exchange and infusion, the concentrations of various intestinal waste products were decreased. AF exchange and infusion may prevent intestinal damage and improve postnatal outcome in gastroschisis by diluting the AF, probably by lowering the concentrations of intestinal waste products.

Copyright © 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Jae-Yoon Shim, MD
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center
388-1 Pungnap-dong Songpa-gu, Seoul 138-736 (Korea)
Tel. +82 2 3010 3747, Fax +82 2 3010 6944, E-Mail jyshim@amc.seoul.kr

  Article Information

Received: May 2, 2007
Accepted after revision: December 12, 2007
Published online: November 26, 2008
Number of Print Pages : 4
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 12