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Caesarean delivery and outcome in very low birthweight infants
David A Paul1, Anthony Sciscione, Kathleen H Leef
1Department of Pediatrics, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, Delaware 19718, USA.
Objective:
To determine the relationship between mode of delivery, intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH), and mortality in very low birthweight (VLBW) infants.
Study Design:
A historical cohort study of infants admitted to a single level III neonatal intensive care unit during a five-year period. Infants < 1500 g born by caesarean delivery (n = 400) were compared to those born by vaginal delivery (n = 305).
Results:
After controlling for potential confounding variables including: gestational age, fetal presentation, and multiple birth, caesarean delivery was not associated with a decreased odds of IVH (odds ratio 1.2, 95% CI 0.7-2.0), severe IVH (1.9, 0.9-4.0), or mortality (1.2, 0.6-2.4).
Conclusions:
In our population of very low birthweight infants, caesarean delivery is not associated with a decreased risk for mortality or intraventricular haemorrhage.