Abdominal Wall Defects
Definition
Abdominal wall defects are birth (congenital) defects that allow the stomach or intestines to protrude.
Description
Many unexpected events occur during the development of a fetus inside the womb. The stomach and intestines begin development outside the baby's abdomen and only later does the abdominal wall enclose them. Occasionally, either the umbilical opening is too large or it develops improperly, allowing the bowels or stomach to remain outside or squeeze through the abdominal wall. This results in one of two conditions, gastroschisis and omphalocele. Gastroschisis occurs when the abdominal wall does not close completely and the stomach and the small and large intestines appear outside the infant's body. In omphalocele, some of the internal organs protrude through the...
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