Prolonged intestinal exposure to amniotic fluid does not result in peel formation in gastroschisis.

The etiology of bowel wall changes in infants with gastroschisis remains unknown. Currently, debate focuses on the relative roles of amniotic fluid exposure versus that of intestinal ischemia. The authors report five cases of prenatally diagnosed gastroschisis in which the bowel was exposed to amniotic fluid for up to 21.3 weeks without developing any visible intestinal peel. These cases appear to minimize the role of prolonged amniotic fluid exposure in the development of bowel wall changes in gastroschisis.