Prenatal therapies to improve outcomes in gastroschisis: A systematic scoping review protocol

IntroductionGastroschisis is a congenital birth defect with a rising incidence. The herniation of intestines into the amniotic cavity leads to prenatal bowel injury, which contributes to significant postnatal morbidity and mortality. Current management focuses on postnatal interventions, though bowel injury begins in utero. Emerging interest in prenatal therapies aims to mitigate this injury and improve outcomes. However, none of these interventions have been widely adopted in clinical practice, highlighting the need for further research and validation. ObjectivesOutline the procedures to conduct a systematic scoping review of prenatal interventions to improve outcomes for gastroschisis, identifying gaps in the literature to guide future research and inform clinical practice. Methods and analysisThis systematic scoping review will follow the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. We will include studies on prenatal interventions for gastroschisis in both human and animal models. Key databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and others will be searched. Gray literature and clinical trial registries will also be reviewed. Studies will be screened, selected, and data extracted in duplicate using predefined criteria. Descriptive analysis will summarize findings, grouped by intervention, with outcomes presented in a narrative synthesis. Ethics and DisseminationAs a scoping review, no ethical approval is required since no primary data collection or direct subject involvement is involved. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publication, conferences, and relevant digital platforms. RegistrationThe review protocol has been registered within the Open Science Framework database (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/39DSQ) Key MessagesO_LIWhat is already known on this topic -While several reviews have explored prenatal interventions for gastroschisis, they are often limited in scope-- focusing on surgical approaches alone--and frequently lack systematic methodology, limiting the reliability and comprehensiveness of their findings. C_LIO_LIWhat this study hopes to add - This scoping review aims to systematically map and evaluate all published prenatal interventions for gastroschisis, including both surgical and non-surgical approaches. C_LIO_LIHow this study might affect research, practice or policy - By identifying existing evidence and gaps, this review may inform future research priorities, support clinical decision-making, and contribute to evaluating the potential role of fetal therapy in improving outcomes for gastroschisis. C_LI