Longitudinal growth and late morbidity of survivors of gastroschisis and omphalocele.

Of 22 survivors of gastroschisis and omphalocele, most had poor weight gain. Although one-third of gastroschisis babies were small-for-gestational age at birth, no other predisposing factors for poor growth could be demonstrated. No child had intrinsic gastrointestinal or metabolic sequelae at 3 years of age, as demonstrated by radiographic studies, fecal fat excretion, or serum chemistry screen. One-third of those tested had IQs less than 90; five had abnormal electroencephalograms; one had impaired hearing. Intellectual impairment was related to length of hospitalization due to a variety of nongastrointestinal factors. Neither growth nor intellectual development was related to the type of lesion present, even when IQ is corrected for prematurity. Impairment of growth and intellectual outcome may be related to prematurity, small-for-gestation birth weight, and nongastrointestinal neonatal complications.