Outcomes of simple gastroschisis surgical treatment in a highly specialized hospital.

Objective: To assess the outcomes of three surgical techniques in the management of simple gastroschisis.

Materials and methods: An observational, descriptive, retrospective, longitudinal study was carried out. Medical records of patients diagnosed with simple gastroschisis and treated with different surgical techniques -Simil-Exit, primary closure, and deferred closure- were reviewed.

Results: 38 gastroschisis patients undergoing either the Simil-Exit (n= 10), the primary closure (n= 11), or the deferred closure (n= 17) techniques were analyzed. The Simil-Exit technique involved a shorter operating time than primary closure and deferred closure. Both Simil-Exit and primary closure patients required a shorter mechanical ventilation time, fewer days of parenteral nutrition, shorter time to oral feeding initiation, and a shorter hospital stay than deferred closure patients. The deferred closure technique had more frequent complications, such as sepsis.

Conclusions: The Simil-Exit and the primary closure techniques demonstrated favorable outcomes in patients with simple gastroschisis. In addition, the former involved shorter operating times, it required less exposure of the small bowel loops to the environment, it was easily reproducible, and it provided a better cosmetic result.