[Management protocol in gastroschisis]

There are two classical managements in gastroschisis: primary or delayed closure. From 2007 on, a multidisciplinary approach protocol based in preterm caesarean delivery at 34-35th gestational age (in order to minimize peel injury) plus primary closure is followed in our institution. Prior to this, term delivery, either by caesarean section or not, was the rule.

Retrospective study of gastroschisis's patients before (1978-2006) and after (2007-2016) protocol approval. Complex gastroschisis frequency, peel's presence, primary or delayed closure, complications, re-interventions, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) length of stay, age at onset of enteral nutrition, total parenteral nutrition's length and length of stay were compared.

Study groups: before (12 patients) and after (13 newborns) the protocol implantation (pre/post). Nine complex gastroschisis were observed in the pre-protocol period, compared to one in the post-protocol era (p= 0.001). The re-interventions also decreased: 58.33% in the pre-protocol vs. 15.38% in the post-protocol group (p= 0.025). Complications rate were 66.67% before protocol vs. 23.07% after protocol (p= 0.028). NICU length of stay decreased from 40 ± 32 to 17 ± 12 days (p= 0.025). Parenteral total nutrition length was 61 ± 36 in the pre-protocol vs. 15 ± 6 in the port-protocol eras, respectively (p= 0.043). The age at onset of enteral nutrition was 34 ± 26 vs. 9 ± 5 days (p= 0.004) and hospitalization length was 98 ± 81 days pre vs. 35 ± 15 days post protocol implantation (p= 0.011).

The protocol implantation has allowed primary closure, decreased hospitalization; reduced complications and mortality rate as well.