A practical approach to anaesthesia for abdominal wall defects in neonates

Ventral Body Wall defects in neonates are either major defects such as gastroschisis and omphalocoele, bladder exstrophy, cloacal exstrophy, or minor (hernias). For the purposes of this exercise the latter will be excluded, although the principles of neonatal anaesthesia obviously apply to this group as well. It is important to appreciate that these are often NOT isolated defects and the patient should be evaluated properly for coexisting conditions and syndromes.