What Is Prune Belly Syndrome?
7. Malrotation
Patients with Prune Belly syndrome can also exhibit gastrointestinal system abnormalities. One example, though rare, is intestinal malrotation.
During development, the gastrointestinal tract of the fetus herniates out of the abdominal cavity and rotates counterclockwise around its major blood vessels (superior mesenteric vessels). Once it rotates to its correct place it returns to the abdominal cavity for fixation. However, in intestinal malrotation, there are variations in the rotation and fixation of the gastrointestinal tract of the fetus, leading to several acute and chronic complications. Complications of intestinal malrotation include midgut volvulus (torsion of the bowel), duodenal (small intestine) obstruction and internal herniation.
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