Overview
Gastroschisis is a congenital abdominal wall defect in which the intestines (and occasionally other abdominal organs) protrude through an opening in the abdominal wall, typically located to the right of the umbilical cord insertion. Unlike omphalocele, the herniated organs in gastroschisis are not covered by a protective membrane, leaving them directly exposed to amniotic fluid during fetal development. This exposure can lead to inflammation, thickening, and damage to the bowel. The condition is usually detected prenatally through routine ultrasound screening and is apparent at birth. The primary body system affected is the gastrointestinal tract. Key clinical features include evisceration of bowel loops through the abdominal wall defect, intestinal inflammation and matting due to amniotic fluid exposure, and potential complications such as intestinal atresia, volvulus, or necrotizing enterocolitis. Affected newborns are at risk for significant fluid loss, hypothermia, and infection. Feeding difficulties and prolonged intestinal dysmotility are common postoperative challenges. Treatment is surgical and is required shortly after birth. The two main approaches are primary closure, in which the herniated organs are returned to the abdominal cavity and the defect is closed in a single operation, and staged closure using a silo (a temporary protective covering) that gradually reduces the organs back into the abdomen over several days before definitive closure. Advances in neonatal intensive care and surgical techniques have significantly improved survival rates, which now exceed 90% in high-resource settings. Long-term outcomes are generally favorable, though some children may experience prolonged feeding difficulties or intestinal complications. The exact cause of gastroschisis remains unclear, but it is considered multifactorial, with young maternal age, low body mass index, smoking, and vasoactive substance exposure identified as risk factors.
Also known as:
Clinical phenotype terms— hover any for plain English:
Multifactorial
Caused by a mix of several genes and environmental factors
Neonatal
Begins at or shortly after birth (first 4 weeks)
FDA & Trial Timeline
6 eventsResearchSkills
Uppsala County Council, Sweden
Baylor College of Medicine — NA
Medical College of Wisconsin — NA
Data sourced from FDA regulatory filings and ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated periodically.
Treatments
No FDA-approved treatments are currently listed for Gastroschisis.
5 clinical trialsare actively recruiting — trials can provide access to cutting-edge therapies.
View clinical trials →Treatment Centers
8 centersBaylor College of Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🏥 NORDStanford Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Stanford Medicine
📍 Stanford, CA
🔬 UDNNIH Clinical Center Undiagnosed Diseases Program ↗
National Institutes of Health
📍 Bethesda, MD
🔬 UDNUCLA UDN Clinical Site ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
🔬 UDNBaylor College of Medicine UDN Clinical Site ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🔬 UDNHarvard/MGH UDN Clinical Site ↗
Massachusetts General Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
🏥 NORDMayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine ↗
Mayo Clinic
📍 Rochester, MN
👤 Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
🏥 NORDUCLA Rare Disease Day Program ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
Travel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to Gastroschisis.
Community
No community posts yet. Be the first to share your experience with Gastroschisis.
Start the conversation →Latest news about Gastroschisis
Disease timeline:
New recruiting trial: Gastroschisis Outcomes of Delivery (GOOD) Study
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Gastroschisis
New recruiting trial: Early Feeds in Gastroschisis
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Gastroschisis
New recruiting trial: Fetal Repair of Complex Gastroschisis: A Safety and Feasibility Trial
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Gastroschisis
Caregiver Resources
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Mental Health Support
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Family & Caregiver Grants
Financial assistance programs specifically for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Social Security Disability
Learn how rare disease patients may qualify for SSDI/SSI benefits.
Common questions about Gastroschisis
What is Gastroschisis?
Gastroschisis is a congenital abdominal wall defect in which the intestines (and occasionally other abdominal organs) protrude through an opening in the abdominal wall, typically located to the right of the umbilical cord insertion. Unlike omphalocele, the herniated organs in gastroschisis are not covered by a protective membrane, leaving them directly exposed to amniotic fluid during fetal development. This exposure can lead to inflammation, thickening, and damage to the bowel. The condition is usually detected prenatally through routine ultrasound screening and is apparent at birth. The pri
How is Gastroschisis inherited?
Gastroschisis follows a multifactorial inheritance pattern. Genetic counseling can help families understand recurrence risk and testing options.
At what age does Gastroschisis typically begin?
Typical onset of Gastroschisis is neonatal. Age of onset can vary across affected individuals.
Are there clinical trials for Gastroschisis?
Yes — 5 recruiting clinical trials are currently listed for Gastroschisis on UniteRare. See the clinical trials section on this page for phase, sponsor, and site details sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov.
Which specialists treat Gastroschisis?
25 specialists and care centers treating Gastroschisis are listed on UniteRare, sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov principal investigators, published research, and the NPPES NPI registry.