Gastroschisis: the outcome. We have reviewed a single-institution experience with 111 infants who had surgically corrected gastroschisis. Major complications included wound infection in 20%, intestinal obstruction in 21%, short gut syndrome in 10% and pulmonary insufficiency in 4%. Minor complications included herniation of bowel through the defect, inappetence and dehydration. Seven (6.2%) infants had significant intraventricular hemorrhage, and three died from sepsis (2.7%). We conclude that the overall outcome of surgically treated gastroschisis is satisfactory when the bowel is brought out through the abdomen by operative closure of the abdominal wall. We reserve abdominal wall closure at a later date for cases of complicated gastroschisis when a functional abdomen is impossible to achieve.