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Gastroschisis

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• Symptoms
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Definition:

Gastroschisis is a birth defect in which an infant's intestines stick out of the body through a defect on one side of the umbilical cord.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Gastroschisis is a type of hernia. Hernia means "rupture.” Babies with this condition have a hole in the abdominal wall, usually on the right side of the umbilical cord. The child's intestines can be easily seen.

The condition is similar to an omphalocele in appearance. An omphalocele, however, is a birth defect in which the infant's intestine or other abdominal organs stick out of the umbilical cord (belly button area).

• Review Date: 8/16/2006
• Reviewed By: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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