Patient's question:
I have been pregnant for five months. The ultrasound examination said that the intestines of the fetus are growing outside. However, there are no people with deformities in our family. Why would my child be like this? Could the fetus be misdiagnosed as having gastroschisis?Doctor's answer:
The bleeding and oozing phenomena associated with a ventral hernia, even the protruding exposed intestines appear dilated and edematous, and are embedded in a slightly whitish gelatinous matrix—all of which reveal the true nature of the congenital ventral hernia. The full-thickness defect on the abdominal wall is usually small, measuring 2-3 cm in length, but sometimes it can be larger, with the protruding organs typically being loops of small intestine. Due to the exposure of the intestines and other organs, it is equivalent to an open abdomen, making it highly susceptible to fatal secondary infections—peritonitis—anytime. Therefore, early treatment is essential.