Gastroschisis and omphalocele are the most common malformation of the anterior abdominal wall.
<bold>The aim of the study</bold> was to determine the abdominal wall defect frequencies, survival, and mortalities in Ahvaz, Khuzestan province of Iran.
<bold>Materiał and methods.</bold> All cases born with omphalocele or gastroschisis whom born in Imam Khomeini hospital, were included in this study. Duration of study was 3 years from April 2005. All patients treated at Imam Khomeini hospital in Ahwaz, Iran.
<bold>Results.</bold> Among 15321 consecutive births, 42 patients had abdominal wall deformity. Overall incidence was 27.41 per 10,000 live births. Of all cases, 18 (42.9%) of cases were male and 24 (57.1%) were female. Of all cases, 21.7% of patients with omphalocele and 10% patients with gastroschisis had other anomalies. Of all cases, 71.8% of patients with omphalocele and 60% with gastroschisis underwent surgery. The type of anomaly (omphalocele and gastroschisis) had correlation with post operation prognosis significantly (p<0.001). Of 66.7% of patients under went surgery, 46.4% with mesh and 53.6% without mesh performed. 80% of patients with omphalocele and 20% with gastroschisis were lived.
<bold>Conclusions:</bold> In our study, mortality was significantly higher in cases with gastroschisis than cases with omphalocele