Patient's question:
I am now 10 weeks pregnant. I heard that taking medication during pregnancy may cause fetal malformations. I took a cold medicine when I was pregnant. I would like to ask if a diagnosis of abdominal wall defect found at 10 weeks can be reported?Doctor's answer:
Gastroschisis is a congenital defect in the development of the abdominal wall. It is a rare malformation characterized by a full-thickness defect in the abdominal wall near the umbilical cord, through which the internal organs protrude. The incidence of this disease varies by country, but it is most commonly found in low birth weight infants. After birth, the small intestine can be observed protruding from the abdominal wall defect near the umbilical cord, with the mesentery being free, the intestines congested, swollen, thickened, and covered with fibrin exudate, leading to adhesions between the intestinal tubes. It is generally only detected around the 20th week of pregnancy. If prenatal diagnosis is confirmed, the child will undergo immediate surgery after birth, which can achieve good therapeutic effects.