Mode of delivery and mortality among neonates with gastroschisis: A population-based cohort in Texas

Mode of delivery is hypothesised to influence clinical outcomes among neonates with gastroschisis. Results from previous studies of neonatal mortality have been mixed; however, most studies have been small, clinical cohorts and have not adjusted for potential confounders.

To evaluate whether caesarean delivery is associated with mortality among neonates with gastroschisis.

We studied liveborn, nonsyndromic neonates with gastroschisis delivered during 1999-2014 using data from the Texas Birth Defect Registry. Using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression, we separately assessed the relationship between caesarean and death during two different time periods, prior to 29 days (<29 days) and prior to 365 days (<365 days) after delivery, adjusting for potential confounders. We also updated a recent meta-analysis on this relationship, combining our estimates with those from the literature.

Among 2925 neonates with gastroschisis, 63% were delivered by caesarean. No associations were observed between caesarean delivery and death <29 days (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.00, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.63, 1.61) or <365 days after delivery (aHR 0.99, 95% CI 0.70, 1.41). The results were similar among those with additional malformations and among those without additional malformations. When we combined our estimate with prior estimates from the literature, results were similar (combined risk ratio [RR] 1.00, 95% CI 0.84, 1.19).

Although caesarean rates among neonates with gastroschisis were high, our results suggest that mode of delivery is not associated with mortality among these individuals. However, data on morbidity outcomes (eg intestinal damage, infection) were not available in this study.