MAIN PRINCIPLES OF ETIOPATHOGENETIC TREATMENT OF NEWBORNS WITH GASTROSCHISIS

Introduction. The paper focuses on the challenging issue of treatment of newborns with gastroschisis (GS) and a high level of intraabdominal hypertension in case of severe viscero-abdominal disproportion. The aim of the paper is to present the current state of the problem at the regional level based on our own clinical experience in observation and treatment of newborns with GS. Material and methods. The study is based on the analysis of examination and treatment of 29 newbornswith GS. The distribution of boys and girls was nearly the same: 16 (55.17%) boys and 13 (44.83%) girls. The number of premature babies was 23 (79.31%). The complex of diagnostic procedures included clinical laboratory examination, radiologic investigation (using contrast agents when required), ultrasound investigation and Doppler sonography, intraabdominal pressure measurement, histologic study of surgical specimens.Results. Prenatal information on the congenital anterior abdominal wall defect was obtained with the help of prenatal ultrasound. In most cases, fetal GS is diagnosed before 20 weeks of pregnancy. Prenatal ultrasound was performed in 13 (44.83%) pregnant women out of the researched group. Two false test results were obtained.Radiologic investigation of a child with GS is necessary to detect intestinal obstruction, necrosis or bowel perforation. Among patients under our study, two cases of ileal atresia were registered. The analysis of intraabdominal pressure indices in patients with GS showed a high level of intraabdominal hypertension in approximately 70% of cases. It proves that patients with GS have a high level of surgical and anesthetic risk. The main therapy measures include the following steps: appropriate preoperative preparation, anesthetic management, and the choice of appropriate perioperative techniques taking into account the level of intraabdominal hypertension and viscero-abdominal disproportion.Depending on the child's condition, type of GS and level of intraabdominal hypertension, there were twosurgical options:1. Primary radical surgery.2. Staged surgical treatment.Analyzing the results of the study, it may be noted that 8 newborns in total died after the surgery, which is 27.59%(it used to be 56-60% till 2005). The main causes of death were respiratory failure, neonatal sepsis and unfavorable premorbid conditions (very low gestational age, severe comorbidity, multiple congenital malformations).Conclusions. 1. Successful treatment of newborns with GS depends on the early diagnosis of the pathology, which must be prenatal, and elimination of contradictions in treatment tactics. 2. Before suturing the abdominal wall defect in newborns with GS, it is necessary to measure intraabdominal pressure, since intraabdominal hypertension leads to a significant deterioration in the mechanical properties of the lungs, hemodynamic abnormalities,oliguria, intestinal ischemia, decrease in organ perfusion, which must be taken into account when carrying out preoperative preparation and aesthetic management. 3. The level of intraabdominal hypertension in patients with GS,which is high in 68.96% of cases, must be an indication for choosing the method of surgical correction of the defect i.e.the refusal of radical plasty of the abdominal wall and the resort to staged intervention or other surgical techniquesthat involve an increase in the abdominal cavity volume. 4. The reduction in mortality in newborns with GS to 27.59%is possible due to the introduction of etiopathogenetic approaches to early diagnosis, preoperative management, anesthetic management and surgical correction of this pathology into the practice of neonatal surgery.