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What is Gastroschisis Repair?

Gastroschisis repair is a surgical procedure to correct a congenital defect where a hole in the abdominal wall (usually to the right of the umbilicus) allows intestines and sometimes other organs to protrude outside the body, uncovered by skin or a sac. It’s typically performed in newborns to protect the intestines and close the defect. In India, gastroschisis repair is conducted in pediatric surgery departments at hospitals like Apollo, Fortis, Medanta, and AIIMS, often at affordable costs. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs is essential for caregivers.

Why do you need Gastroschisis Repair?

Gastroschisis repair is indicated for:

  • Gastroschisis:
    • A congenital abdominal wall defect (1 in 2,000–4,000 births), distinct from omphalocele (which has a sac covering the organs).
    • Intestines protrude through a hole (usually <4 cm) to the right of the umbilicus, exposed to amniotic fluid prenatally.
    • Symptoms: Visible intestines at birth, potential for infection, dehydration, or heat loss.
  • Associated risks:
    • Bowel damage: From amniotic fluid exposure, leading to inflammation or atresia (blockage).
    • Prematurity: Common in gastroschisis (50–60% born before 37 weeks).
  • Timing:
    • Surgery within hours of birth (ideally 4–12 hours) to minimize infection and fluid loss.

The procedure aims to return the intestines to the abdominal cavity, close the defect, and support bowel function, often requiring staged approaches if the abdomen is too small to accommodate the organs immediately.

Why Do Gastroschisis Repair Costs Vary in India?

Costs range from ₹1 lakh to ₹3.5 lakh :

  • Procedure Complexity: Primary closure (₹1–2 lakh); staged closure or with bowel resection (₹2–3.5 lakh).
  • Hospital/Location: Higher in metro cities (Apollo, Fortis: ₹2–3.5 lakh); lower in government hospitals (AIIMS: ₹50,000–₹1.5 lakh, often subsidized under Ayushman Bharat).
  • NICU Stay: ₹5,000–₹20,000/day, depending on ventilation/TPN needs.
  • Surgeon’s Expertise: Experienced pediatric surgeons charge more.
  • Additional Costs: Anesthesia (₹10,000–₹20,000), NICU (₹50,000–₹2 lakh), medications (₹10,000–₹30,000).
  • Insurance: Covered for congenital defects; confirm with your provider.

Gastroschisis Repair Procedure

  • Before Surgery Evaluation:
    • Diagnosis:
      • Prenatal ultrasound: Detects gastroschisis (as early as 12–14 weeks gestation).
      • Postnatal exam: Confirms exposed intestines, assesses bowel condition.
      • Blood tests: Monitors electrolytes, infection markers (e.g., CRP).
    • Stabilization: Intestines wrapped in sterile saline-soaked gauze and plastic (silo bag) to prevent infection; IV fluids for hydration; temperature control.
    • Consent: Risks, including infection, are explained.
  • Surgical Techniques:
    • Gastroschisis Repair:
      • Performed under general anesthesia, lasting 1–3 hours.
      • Approach:
        • Primary closure: If abdominal cavity can accommodate intestines (30–50% of cases), defect closed in one surgery.
        • Staged closure: If abdomen too small (50–70%), intestines placed in a silo bag, gradually reduced over 5–10 days, then defect closed.
      • Repair:
        • Intestines inspected for damage (e.g., atresia, perforation); damaged segments resected if needed.
        • Intestines returned to abdomen manually or via silo reduction.
        • Abdominal wall closed with sutures; synthetic patch (e.g., Gore-Tex) used for large defects (rare).
      • Umbilicus: Often reconstructed for cosmetic outcome.
    • Intraoperative Tools:
      • Silo bag: Temporarily houses intestines (staged closure).
      • Fine sutures: Closes defect.
      • Sterile drapes: Maintains asepsis.
  • After Surgery:
    • Hospital stay: 3–8 weeks (NICU).
    • Care: Mechanical ventilation (if needed, 1–7 days); feeding via total parenteral nutrition (TPN) initially.
    • Pain management: Mild to moderate pain for 3–7 days; managed with IV analgesics (e.g., fentanyl).
    • Instructions: Monitor for bowel function (first stool); gradual introduction of oral feeding.

Recovery After Gastroschisis Repair

  1. Hospital Stay: 3–8 weeks (NICU).
  2. Post-Surgery Care:
    • Ventilation: Often required for 1–7 days, depending on respiratory status.
    • Feeding: TPN for 2–6 weeks; oral feeding starts once bowel function returns (2–4 weeks, confirmed by stool passage).
    • Pain/Swelling: Mild to moderate pain for 3–7 days; incision swelling resolves in 1–2 weeks.
    • Bowel function: May be delayed (ileus); motility improves over weeks.
    • Activity: Normal infant activities once off TPN; avoid pressure on abdomen.
  3. Follow-Up:
    • Visits at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months.
    • Ultrasound: At 1–3 months to check for bowel obstruction.
    • Developmental assessment: At 6–12 months for milestones (e.g., feeding, growth).

Full recovery varies; most leave NICU in 4–8 weeks, but feeding and growth may take months. Survival rate: 90–95% with modern care; outcomes depend on bowel condition and associated anomalies.

Risks and Complications

  • Surgical Risks:
    • Infection (5–10%): At incision site or sepsis; treated with antibiotics.
    • Bleeding (2–5%): Intra-abdominal bleeding; may need transfusion.
    • Anesthesia risks (<1%): Reaction to general anesthesia; rare in stable infants.
  • Post-Surgery:
    • Bowel obstruction (5–15%): Due to adhesions or atresia; may need surgery.
    • Wound dehiscence (2–5%): Abdominal closure opens; needs re-suturing.
    • Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC, 3–5%): Bowel inflammation; managed with antibiotics or surgery.
    • Short bowel syndrome (1–3%): If significant bowel resected; needs long-term nutritional support.
  • Long-Term:
    • Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD, 20–30%): Managed with medication.
    • Growth delays (10–20%): Due to feeding issues; needs nutritional support.
    • Hernia (5–10%): At repair site; may need surgery later.

Report fever, vomiting, poor feeding, or abdominal distension promptly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What causes gastroschisis?

Unknown; likely multifactorial (genetic, environmental); associated with young maternal age (<20 years).

Can I avoid gastroschisis repair?

No, surgery is necessary to protect intestines and enable feeding; non-surgical care only stabilizes pre-surgery.

Is gastroschisis repair painful?

Mild to moderate pain for 3–7 days, managed with IV analgesics; infants recover with proper care.

How soon can my child resume normal feeding?

Oral feeding: 2–4 weeks (after bowel function returns); normal feeding patterns may take months.

Is gastroschisis repair covered by insurance in India?

Yes, for congenital defects; confirm with your provider; Ayushman Bharat often subsidizes.

Signs of complications?

Fever, vomiting, poor feeding, or abdominal distension.

Will my child have normal growth and development?

90–95% survive; most achieve normal growth with time, but feeding challenges and GERD are common—needs ongoing care.

Lifestyle changes post-surgery?

Monitor feeding, manage GERD, attend follow-ups (growth, development), and watch for bowel issues.

Conclusion

Gastroschisis repair is a critical procedure to correct a congenital abdominal wall defect, protecting the intestines and enabling feeding with a high survival rate. India’s top hospitals (Apollo, Fortis, AIIMS) provide affordable care, often covered by insurance or subsidized. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs helps caregivers approach surgery confidently. Consult a pediatric surgeon for personalized guidance.

Looking for Best Hospitals for Gastroschisis Repair

Note: we are not promoting any hospitals

we are not promoting any hospitals we sourced all the details from google and hospitals website, please verify and start with your surgery here we go the list includes government, budget and superspeciality hospitals accreditation bodies are the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and the Joint Commission International (JCI)

  • click on your city and schedule your surgery now done in good hands.
City Minimum Price (₹) Maximum Price (₹)
Agra
2,00,000
5,50,000
Ahmedabad
2,50,000
6,00,000
Ajmer
2,00,000
5,50,000
Aligarh
2,00,000
5,50,000
Allahabad
2,00,000
5,50,000
Amritsar
2,25,000
5,75,000
Aurangabad
2,25,000
5,75,000
Bangalore
2,50,000
6,00,000
Bareilly
2,00,000
5,50,000
Belgaum
2,25,000
5,75,000
Bhopal
2,25,000
5,75,000
Bhubaneswar
2,25,000
5,75,000
Bikaner
2,00,000
5,50,000
Chandigarh
2,50,000
6,00,000
Chennai
2,50,000
6,00,000
Coimbatore
2,50,000
6,00,000
Dehradun
2,25,000
5,75,000
Delhi
2,50,000
6,00,000
Dhanbad
2,00,000
5,50,000
Durgapur
2,00,000
5,50,000
Faridabad
2,50,000
6,00,000
Ghaziabad
2,50,000
6,00,000
Gorakhpur
2,00,000
5,50,000
Guntur
2,25,000
5,75,000
Gurgaon
2,50,000
6,00,000
Guwahati
2,25,000
5,75,000
Gwalior
2,00,000
5,50,000
Hyderabad
2,50,000
6,00,000
Indore
2,25,000
5,75,000
Jabalpur
2,00,000
5,50,000
Jaipur
2,50,000
6,00,000
Jalandhar
2,25,000
5,75,000
Jamshedpur
2,25,000
5,75,000
Jodhpur
2,00,000
5,50,000
Kanpur
2,00,000
5,50,000
Kochi
2,50,000
6,00,000
Kolkata
2,50,000
6,00,000
Kollam
2,25,000
5,75,000
Lucknow
2,25,000
5,75,000
Ludhiana
2,50,000
6,00,000
Madurai
2,25,000
5,75,000
Mangalore
2,25,000
5,75,000
Meerut
2,00,000
5,50,000
Moradabad
2,00,000
5,50,000
Mumbai
2,50,000
6,00,000
Mysore
2,50,000
6,00,000
Nagpur
2,25,000
5,75,000
Nashik
2,25,000
5,75,000
Navi Mumbai
2,50,000
6,00,000
Noida
2,50,000
6,00,000
Patna
2,00,000
5,50,000
Pune
2,50,000
6,00,000
Raipur
2,25,000
5,75,000
Rajkot
2,25,000
5,75,000
Ranchi
2,00,000
5,50,000
Surat
2,50,000
6,00,000
Thane
2,50,000
6,00,000
Vadodara
2,25,000
5,75,000
Varanasi
2,00,000
5,50,000
Visakhapatnam
2,25,000
5,75,000

Disclaimer

This information is sourced from open platforms and is for general awareness only. Costs may vary based on individual cases. Please consult a qualified doctor for medical advice and explore options within your budget before deciding on the procedure.

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