Prenatal diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal anomalies.

The increased use of prenatal sonography has led to earlier and more frequent diagnosis of a wide range of gastrointestinal anomalies. Many of these anomalies are associated with other severe cardiac, renal, and genetic abnormalities that may impact on decisions regarding timing and site of delivery. The majority of these patients should be referred to a center that provides perinatal, neonatal, and pediatric surgical expertise. After a complete prenatal evaluation, a decision regarding the site of delivery and the need for subspecialty referral can be made. Prenatal diagnosis of the conditions discussed in this article does not influence the mode of delivery, but subsequent management of the newborn is improved by delivery in a tertiary care center.