Gastrochisis: A rare cause of intrauterine fetal death

Abstract

The patient booked at thirteen weeks gestation and developed hydramnios at thirty two weeks gestation. Three ultrasound scans done during the pregnancy were reported as normal. She presented in transverse lie with fetal death ten days post date. At caesarean section a macerated fetus with gastrochisis was delivered. The post operative period was uneventful. Although gastrochisis has a good prognosis and is not a difficult diagnosis to make it is often missed by sonographers with disastrous consequences. This case is presented to highlight this so that sonographers will endeavour to exclude it whenever a pregnancy scan is done particularly in the investigation of hydramnios.