Prenatal and postnatal diagnostics problems of the most common surgical congenital malformations of newborns in Latvia

The most common surgical congenital malformations of newborns in Latvia are esophageal atresia (EA) with or without tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF), duodenal atresia (DA) and abdominal wall defects - gastroschisis (G) and omphalocele (O). Survival and quality of life of these patients depend on precise pre- and postnatal diagnosis, timely and qualified treatment, and presence of associated anomalies and prematurity. The aim of our study was to define prenatal and postnatal diagnostic problems of the most common surgical congenital malformations of new-borns in Latvia. Data concerning pre- and postnatal diagnostics from case-records of patients treated in Children's Clinical University Hospital from 1998 till 2008 with esophageal atresia (58 patients), duodenal atresia (20 patients) and congenital abdominal wall defects - gastroschisis (17 patients) and omphalocele (28 patients) were analysed. Results showed that in case of EA prenatal USG was performed in 62% of expectant mothers and in neither case suspicion about. EA was expressed. In all patients after birth diagnostic placement of nasogastric tube was performed. In approximately one-third catheter of bad opaqueness was used. Preoperative bronchoscopy and esophagoscopy in order to exclude upper tracheoesophageal fistula were performed in two patients from the analysed group. In 40% of cases DA was diagnosed in prenatal ultrasonography. G was diagnosed prenatally in 29.4%, O - only in 3.7%.