Background/Purpose: In gastroschisis it is proposed that gut reduction may be achieved without intubation or general anesthesia (GA) through ward reduction. The authors aimed to determine if ward reduction decreased morbidity and duratio n of treatment. Methods: Infants born from January 1, 1995, to December 31, 2001 , with gastroschisis were managed with either reduction under GA in the operatin g theatre (OT group)- up to September 1999, or ward reduction (when eligible) i n the neonatal unit without GA/ventilation (ward reduction [WR]- group)- from September 1999. Results: Of the 37 infants, 31 were eligible for ward reduction - 15 from the OT group, 16 from the WR group. All infants in the OT group had a t least 1 episode of ventilation and 1 GA: 62% of infants in the WR group avoi ded ventilation (P = .0002) and 81% avoided GA (P < .0001). Infants who had wa rd reduction had significantly shorter durations of ventilation and oxygen thera py. Septicemia occurred in 31% of the WR group and 7% of the OT group (P = . 17). Infants who had ward reduction left intensive care 16 days earlier (P = .02 ) and tended to reach full enteral feeds 8 days sooner (P =.06) and be discharge d from hospital 15 days earlier (P =.05). Conclusions: Infants who had ward redu ction do better in terms of avoiding GA/ventilation, establishing feeds, and goi ng home earlier. A randomized, controlled trial comparing the 2 approaches is fe asible, safe, and worthwhile. Background / Purpose: In gastroschisis it is proposed that gut reduction may be achieved without intubation or general anesthesia (GA) through ward reduction. The authors aimed to determine if ward reduction decreased morbidity and duratio n of treatment. Methods: Infants born from January 1 , 1995, to December 31, 2001, with gastroschisis were managed with either reduction under GA in the operatin g theater (OT group) - up to September 1999, or ward reduction (when eligible) in the neonatal unit without GA / ventilation Reduction [WR] - group) - from September 1999. Results: Of the 37 infants, 31 were eligible for ward reduction - 15 from the OT group, 16 from the WR group. All infants in the OT group had at least 1 episode of ventilation and 1 GA: 62% of infants in the WR group avoi ded ventilation (P = .0002) and 81% avoided GA (P <.0001). Infants who had wa rd reduction significantly significantly shorter durations of ventilation and oxygen thera py Septicemia occurred in 31% of the WR gr oup and 7% of the OT group (P =. 17). Infants who had ward reduction left intensive care 16 days earlier (P = .02) and tended to reach full enteral feeds 8 days sooner (P = .06) and be discharge d from hospital 15 days earlier (P = .05). Conclusions: Infants who had ward redu ction do better in terms of avoiding GA / ventilation, establishing feeds, and go ng ng home earlier. A randomized, controlled trial comparing approaches 2 is fe asible, safe, and worthwhile.