Intestinal venous congestion as a complication of elective silo placement for gastroschisis

Use of a spring-loaded silastic silo has been advocated as a means of gentle reduction of the herniated bowel, while avoiding the possible complications of primary closure of gastroschisis. We recently encountered intestinal venous congestion during elective silo reduction of gastroschisis. Two babies with gastroschisis were treated postdelivery with a spring-loaded silo placed under the fascial defect and the eviscerated bowel suspended within the silo. Patient #1 had no bowel matting. On day of life 2, the bowel within the silo was noted to be dusky. The silo was removed, and the bowel was indeed congested, but viable. Complete reduction with a modified Bianchi closure was performed at the bedside. Patient #2 had severe matting of the bowel and did not require intubation for silo placement. As daily reductions progressed, the bowel was noted to be congested on day 2. On day 3, removal of the silo revealed frank bowel necrosis with impending perforation. Two-thirds of the small bowel required resection, leaving the child with short bowel. Venous congestion within a silo should be given prompt attention, including removal of the silo, as bowel infarction may result.