Abdominal wall defects:prenatal diagnosis, newborn management, and long-term outcomes

Omphaloceleandgastroschisisrepresentthemostfrequentcongenitalabdominalwalldefectsa pediatricsurgeoniscalledtotreat.Therehasbeenanincreasedreportedincidenceinthepast10years mainlyduetothediffuseuseofprenatalultrasound.Theearlydetectionofthesemalformations,and relatedassociatedanomalies,allowsamultidisciplinarycounselingandplanningofdeliveryinacenter equippedwithhigh-riskpregnancyassistance,pediatricsurgery,andneonatology.Atpresenttimes, closureofdefects,eveninmultiplestages,isalwayspossibleaswellasmanagementofmostofcardiac-, urinary-,andgastrointestinal-associatedmalformations.Theprogress,hereindiscussed,inthecareof newborns withabdominalwalldefectsassuresmostofthemsurviveandreachadulthood.Someaspects of transitionofmedicalcarewillalsobeconsidered,includingfertilityandcosmesis