Gastroschisis Associated Intestinal Dysmotility: What Can We Do?

The cause of gastroschisis is not fully known, but risk factors like prenatal tobacco exposure, maternal infection and maternal drug use are often associated. When gastroschisis occurs with intestinal dysmotility, the enteric interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) implicate the dysmotility and may ultimately impact the growth of an infant. Furthermore, neonates experience growth weight failure when not taking any enteral feedings secondary to dysmotility. We had a case of an infant with gastroschisis and intestinal atresia who had a prolonged course of feeding intolerance and abdominal distention after his bowel resection. His growth was preserved because of careful management of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) via a judicious nutrition plan.