Left-Sided Gastroschisis: A Rare Congenital Abdominal Wall Defect

Abstract

Gastroschisis is a congenital abdominal wall defect that occurs at the immediate right of the umbilicus. Left-sided gastroschisis, which is located in the left periumbilical region, is extremely rare, as only 22 cases have been reported worldwide. Although most cases of gastroschisis are not complicated by other anomalies, extraintestinal anomalies are more commonly associated with left-sided gastroschisis than classic right-sided gastroschisis. In this report, we describe a case of left-sided gastroschisis complicated by cardiac anomalies. We also discuss the suggested theories of its pathogenesis and present a literature review. For patients with leftsided gastroschisis, we recommend evaluation of the associated anomalies because extraintestinal anomalies in the genitourinary, cardiovascular, or central nervous systems are more common in left-sided gastroschisis than in classic right-sided gastroschisis.