Preliminary report on elective preterm delivery at 34 weeks and primary abdominal closure for the management of gastroschisis

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Alexandre Serra - , TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • G. Fitze - , Department of Pediatric Surgery (Author)
  • G. Kamin - , TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • J. Dinger - , Department of Paediatrics (Author)
  • I. R. König - , University of Lübeck (Author)
  • D. Roesner - , TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)

Abstract

Introduction: We aimed to critically evaluate elective preterm delivery and immediate abdominal wall closure and other techniques for the management of gastroschisis, hypothesizing that the advantages of an elective preterm delivery outweigh possible complications related to prematurity at birth. Patients and Methods: 13 gastroschisis patients were enrolled in the elective preterm delivery program (Group 1) since 1999. Patients were delivered by cesarean section in the 34th gestational week, with immediate primary closure of the defect. Data regarding parameters at and after birth were compared with a historical control group of 10 patients conventionally managed for gastroschisis in a similar period (1994-1999) (Group 2). The primary endpoints of this study were the initiation of oral feeding and the length of hospital stay. Results: There was a significantly faster initiation of oral feeding (p = 0.0012) and a shorter hospital stay (p = 0.0160) in Group 1. The postoperative outcome was excellent in all patients. Acute and late complications were fewer and less severe in Group 1 and none were related to prematurity. Conclusions: Elective preterm delivery appears to be an effective method for the management of gastroschisis, and a method whose advantages thus far have outweighed the possible complications due to prematurity.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)32-37
Number of pages6
JournalEuropean journal of pediatric surgery
Volume18
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2008
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 18302067

Keywords

Keywords

  • Elective preterm delivery, Gastroschisis, Primary abdominal closure