Routine cesarean delivery does not improve the outcome of infants with gastroschisis

The optimal mode of delivery for infants with gastroschisis is controversial. The authors compared the outcomes of infants with gastroschisis born vaginally (VD) or by cesarean section (CS).

A retrospective analysis of infants with gastroschisis born between 1990 and 2000 was performed. Assessment included patient demographics, respiratory distress, method of closure, number of surgeries, presence of atresia, feeding parameters, parenteral nutrition days (TPN), time to full feeding (FPO), mortality, and length of stay (LOS). Subgroup analyses were performed for those infants requiring cesarean section for fetal distress. Student's t test/analysis of variance (ANOVA) or chi2/Fisher's Exact tests were used for statistical analysis. Logistic and linear regression analyses were also performed.

One hundred thirteen patients were studied (82 VD and 31 CS). No statistical difference existed between the VD and CS groups for perinatal complications, method of closure, number of surgeries (1.6 each), TPN (40.6 v 46.0 days), FPO (40.4 v 47.1 days), mortality (9.7 v 6.5%) and LOS (53.4 v 61.7 days). CS was associated with increased stenosis (25.8 v 4.9%; P =.003), gastrointestinal dysfunction (25.8 v 11.0%; P =.049), and respiratory distress (16.1 v 3.7%; P =.035). Many of these differences did not persist when infants undergoing CS for fetal distress were excluded from the analysis. However, regression analysis identified CS as an independent risk factor for the development of respiratory distress at birth (odds ratio, 7.11; CI, 1.06 to 47.7), with a trend to increased gastrointestinal dysfunction (odds ratio, 4.35; CI, 0.77 to 24.61).

The routine use of CS for infants with gastroschisis is not supported by our results because equivalent outcomes were observed with both modes of delivery. CS may be a necessary intervention for fetal distress.