Introduction: Gastroschisis is a rare congenital abdominal wall defect. Other associated malformations are not commom occuring in 5-35% of cases. However, these patients can present infections, failure to thrive and intestinal failure. This study described a group of patients with gastroschisis and their evolution umtil hospital discharge born at reference hospital of Northeastern of Brazil.

Method: this is a study of case series of 16 pediatric patients with a diagnosis of gastroschisis accompanied at a reference hospital during a year (2017-2018).The birth weight, surgical approach (in one or two times with silo use), associated malformations, parenteral nutrition time (considered to be prolonged when greater than 14 days), time to onset of enteral diet (considered early if less than or equal to 7 days), presence of neonatal cholestasis , confection of ostomy, intestinal resection, and death were evaluated. The data evaluated were selected according to the characteristics and risk factors already described at the literature.

Results: sixteen children were evaluated and 6/16 (37.5%) patients had birth weight less than 2,500 g; 11/16 (68.7%) had single-time surgical correction; 3/16 (18.7%) had other associated malformations (2 intestinal atresias, polydactyly). All patients required prolonged parenteral nutrition (NP); 13/16 (81.2%) had onset of diet in more than 7 days of life. The mean time of central venous access were 26.8 days and 12/16 (75%) patients progressed with cholestasis and 2/16 ​​(12.5%) patients needed ostomies. One patient didn’t used antibiotic and the maximum time of antibiotic use was 70 days in one patient. Only one patient had intestinal resection and 2/16 (12,5%) children died in the first 48 hours of life after the surgical correction.

Conclusion: The most patients described had presented adequate birth weight and surgical repair in a single time without silo utilization. Associated malformations were not frequent. All patients used NP for a long time and they had had late onset of diet. Two deaths were observed few hours after the surgery correction. The patients presented similar characteristics to those described in the literature and required multidisciplinary team and specialized care for a long period of time.