Gastroschisis is a congenital fissure of the abdominal wall, usually with the protrusion of viscera, and without a covering membrane. The absence of a sac and the absence of herniation into the cord distinguish gastroschisis from omphalocele, the condition for which it is usually mistaken. One cannot define the fissure as extraumbilical, for the umbilical ring may form part of the wall of the fissure (Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 6).
World literature pertinent to the problem of gastroschisis was reviewed by Hagemeyer1 in 1955. He found 10 authentic cases, in 4 of which the patients survived. Successfully treated cases have been reported by Watkins2 (1943), Stolowski3 (1952), and Stiller et al.4 (1954). A thorough review of the literature in English is that of Moore and Stokes5 (1953), who found five previously reported cases. They added two additional cases, in neither of which did the