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22 Weeks Pregnancy Ultrasound Shows No Stomach Bubble, Other Things Normal. What Is The Possible Cause ?
Question: Hey there! I am 23 weeks pregnant. At my 20 week ultrasound no stomach bubble was visible, and the baby is confirmed a boy. At the check up ultrasound, that lasted about 20 minutes, at 22 weeks again the stomach bubble was not visible but everything else looks perfect (kidneys, heart, bladder, etc). We now have an appointment at a prenatal diagnosis facility. What are possible causes? The most common cause? Will my baby live?
Hey there! I am 23 weeks pregnant. At my 20 week ultrasound no stomach bubble was visible, and the baby is confirmed a boy. At the check up ultrasound, that lasted about 20 minutes, at 22 weeks again the stomach bubble was not visible but everything else looks perfect (kidneys, heart, bladder, etc). We now have an appointment at a prenatal diagnosis facility. What are possible causes? The most common cause? Will my baby live?
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
Absent stomach bubble on repeated ultrasounds with normal amount of amniotic fluid is a matter of concern. If no stomach bubble is seen at 22 weeks , it is indicative of esophageal atresia or a fistula- the pipe that carries the food from mouth to the stomach.
It is suggestive of a congenital malformation and the exact cause of such a malformation is not known. Most of the times such a condition can be repaired surgically immediately after the birth of the baby.
The child might need a feeding tube for a few days.
Most of the cases do improve after a surgery. The treatment depends on the extent of blockage which can only be assessed after the baby is delivered.
Hope this answers your query. I will be glad to answer the follow up queries that you have.
Please accept my answer in case you do not have further queries.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Rakhi Tayal.
Thanks for posting your query.
Absent stomach bubble on repeated ultrasounds with normal amount of amniotic fluid is a matter of concern. If no stomach bubble is seen at 22 weeks , it is indicative of esophageal atresia or a fistula- the pipe that carries the food from mouth to the stomach.
It is suggestive of a congenital malformation and the exact cause of such a malformation is not known. Most of the times such a condition can be repaired surgically immediately after the birth of the baby.
The child might need a feeding tube for a few days.
Most of the cases do improve after a surgery. The treatment depends on the extent of blockage which can only be assessed after the baby is delivered.
Hope this answers your query. I will be glad to answer the follow up queries that you have.
Please accept my answer in case you do not have further queries.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Rakhi Tayal.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
At the specialist/diagnosis center will they be able to tell if EA is the problem? Or will I just have to wait until the baby is born to know for sure.
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
It is difficult to assess the extent of esophageal atresia before delivery. MRI may be helpful upto some extent in detecting the abnormality. The extent of clarity all depends on the position of the baby during the investigation.
Hope my answer is helpful.
Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.
Regards.
Thanks for writing again.
It is difficult to assess the extent of esophageal atresia before delivery. MRI may be helpful upto some extent in detecting the abnormality. The extent of clarity all depends on the position of the baby during the investigation.
Hope my answer is helpful.
Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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