Fetal Gastroschisis: Maternal Epidemiologic Profile and Influence of Possible Risk Factors on Neonatal Outcomes

The aim of this study was to evaluate the maternal epidemiological profile for gastroschisis as well as to assess whether the presence of meconium at birth was associated with adverse neonatal outcomes.

This was a retrospective observational cohort study that included 52 neonates with gastroschisis whose mothers had delivery at our service. The variables observed were the following: 1) socio-demographic data, 2) ultrasonographic data, 3) birth data, and 4) neonatal outcomes. Simple (univariate) and multiple (multivariate) logistic regression models were used to examine the influence of meconium on neonatal outcomes.

Mean maternal age and body mass index (BMI) of the pregnant women were 21.9 years and 23.3 kg/m2, respectively. There was a similarity between mixed (50%) and white (48.1%) races, and 27.7% (13) reported to use an oral contraceptive (OC). Mean birth weight was 2,386.9 grams, and 24 of the neonates (46.2%) were premature (<37 weeks). The majority of neonates had neonatal sepsis (40.4%) and 39 were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit with a median length of stay of 31 days. Forty neonates required mechanical ventilation, with a median duration of 5 days. Primary closure was achieved in 50% (26) of cases. Although not significant and with low precision, the point estimate suggested that the presence of meconium at birth, on average, reduced the chance of primary closure (OR=0.26, CI 95% [0.06; 1.16], p=0.077).

Pregnant women with gastroschisis fetuses were more likely to be young, primigravida, with a normal BMI, white or mixed, and with a history of OC use. There was no evidence of an association between the presence of meconium at birth and adverse perinatal outcomes.