Left-sided gastroschisis: A case report and review of the literature

The fetus of a 29 year old G2P1 was diagnosed on routine prenatal ultrasound in the early second trimester with gastroschisis. Classically, gastroschisis is a right-sided periumbilical abdominal wall defect. Our case is highly unusual because the gastroschisis defect was on the left. None of the current theories of the embryogenesis of right sided gastroschisis adequately explain how the defect can arise on the left. Associated congenital anomalies are rare in gastroschisis but our patient had a left talipes deformity, digital anomalies of the right hand and persistent left superior vena cava. Also, our patient had severe problems with gastrointestinal motility and a protracted surgical course. A review of the literature suggests that this case represents the 26th reported case of left-gastroschisis.