Incidence of gastro-intestinal anomalies and surgical outcome of fetuses diagnosed with echogenic bowel and bowel dilatation.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to evaluate the incidence of gastro-intestinal (GI) anomalies and surgical outcome in fetuses diagnosed with either echogenic bowel (EB) or EB plus bowel dilatation (BD) but no associated chromosomal, DNA and/or additional structural defects. METHODS: A 10-year (2008-2018) retrospective review was performed on all fetuses diagnosed with EB and EB+BD (RES-18-0000-072Q). Results are reported as number of cases (%) and mean ±SD. Fisher's exact test, Mann-Whitney U test and logistic regression were used to identify differences between groups and predisposing factors for gastro-intestinal anomalies. RESULTS: We identified 41 fetuses with EB and 14 fetuses with EB+BD. Post-natal surgical intervention was required in no patient of the EB group and in 7/14 (50%) of the EB+BD group, p<0.001. The risk of having a GI anomaly was higher in the EB+BD group (RR 42.0 [2.5-691.6]; p=0.009). Advanced maternal age (p=0.04), ascites (p=0.006) and polyhydramnios (p=0.007) were associated with a higher incidence of GI pathology. CONCLUSIONS: In fetuses with no associated chromosomal, DNA and/or additional structural defects, the finding of EB+BD is associated with 50% incidence of GI anomalies at birth. Advanced maternal age, ascites and polyhydramnios are also associated with higher incidence of GI pathology at birth.