Impact of societal factors and health care delivery systems on gastroschisis outcomes

An exploration of potential risk factors for gastroschisis using decision tree learning

PURPOSE

Despite a wealth of research, the etiology of the abdominal wall defect gastroschisis remains largely unknown. The strongest known risk factor is young maternal age. Our objective was to conduct a hypothesis-generating analysis regarding gastroschisis etiology using random forests.

METHODS

Data were from the Slone Birth Defects Study (case-control, United States and Canada, 1998-2015). Cases were gastroschisis-affected pregnancies (n = 273); controls were live-born infants, frequency-matched by center (n = 2591). Potential risk factor data were ascertained via standardized interviews. We calculated adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) using targeted maximum likelihood estimation.

RESULTS

The strongest associations were observed with young maternal age (aOR 3.4, 95 % CI 2.9, 4.0) and prepregnancy body-mass-index < 30 kg/m2 (aOR 3.3, 95 % CI 2.4, 4.5). More moderate increased odds were observed for parents not in a relationship, non-Black maternal race, young paternal age, marijuana use, cigarette smoking, alcohol intake, lower parity, oral contraceptive use, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use, daily fast food/processed foods intake, lower poly- or monounsaturated fat, higher total fat, and lower parental education.

CONCLUSIONS

Our research provides support for established risk factors and suggested novel factors (e.g., certain aspects of diet), which warrant further investigation.

Outcomes of Gastroschisis and Omphalocele Treated at Children's Surgery Verified Centers in Texas

INTRODUCTION

Anterior abdominal wall defects (AWDs), such as gastroschisis or omphalocele, are often diagnosed prenatally and counseled to deliver at facilities with resources capable of managing their AWD and complex-associated anomalies. The American College of Surgeons instituted their Children's Surgery Verification (CSV) program to identify facilities with the optimal resources for pediatric surgical care. We aimed to evaluate the impact of CSV status on the outcomes of AWD and potential health disparities in the care of AWD in the first year of life in Texas.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a multicenter epidemiological cohort study of infants <1 y of age at discharge with AWD from 2013 to 2021. Data were extracted from the Texas Health Care Information Council Public Use Data File. Patients who were transferred were excluded to avoid systematic double counting.

RESULTS

We identified 2282 AWD patients with 26% treated at CSV centers and 68% undergoing surgical abdominal wall repair. The majority (70%) had gastroschisis. CSV center care recipients were more likely to be non-Hispanic (64% versus 58%, P = 0.018), reside in urban counties (92% versus 82%, P < 0.001), or counties not along the Mexican border (98% versus 81%, P < 0.001) when compared with non-CSV patients. While non-CSV admissions had lower costs per day ($9316 versus $10,109, P = 0.003), CSV centers had slightly lower mortality although this was not statistically significant (8% versus 10%, P = 0.153) despite higher illness severity scores (extreme illness severity: 51% versus 44%, P = 0.019). However, it is notable that non-CSV centers had higher rates of prematurity (62% versus 55%, P = 0.003). Multivariable logistic regression analysis for mortality revealed that treatment at CSV centers (adjusted odds ratio 0.562, P = 0.005) was protective. Predictive modeling revealed that CSV centers have lower predicted mortality across all illness severity levels as compared with non-CSV centers.

CONCLUSIONS

AWD treated at CSV centers have superior outcomes with improved mortality despite increased patient complexity and illness severity. Disparities in care at CSV centers exist based on race and geographic residency. Ongoing quality efforts are needed to improve quality universally and recognize facilities providing high-quality care while also ensuring equitable access to high-quality pediatric surgical care.

Comparison of Perinatal Outcomes between Patients with Suspected Complex and Simple Gastroschisis

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare perinatal outcomes between patients with and without prenatal ultrasound markers predictive of complex gastroschisis.

STUDY DESIGN

A prospective cohort of 98 patients with isolated fetal gastroschisis underwent antenatal ultrasound and delivered in a tertiary referral center. Patients were classified according to eight ultrasonographic markers predictive of complexity, and perinatal outcomes were assessed accordingly. The primary outcome was the presence of fetal growth restriction and staged SILO reduction postnatally. RESULTS:  Of all fetuses, 54.1% (n = 53) displayed ultrasonographic markers predictive of complexity at 32.7 ± 4.3 weeks of gestation. Gastric dilatation was the most frequent marker followed by extra-abdominal bowel dilatation. The presence of ultrasound markers predictive of complexity, was not associated with fetal growth restriction but its absence was less associated with staged SILO reduction of the abdominal wall postnatally with a relative risk of 0.79 (CI 95% 0.17-0.53).

CONCLUSION

Fetuses with ultrasound markers that predict complexity were not associated with fetal growth restriction, but its absence was less associated with staged SILO reduction of the abdominal wall postnatally. It is necessary to unify criteria, establish cut-off points, and the optimal moment to measure these markers.

KEY POINTS

· The association between ultrasound markers and adverse perinatal outcomes in fetuses with gastroschisis remain controversial.. · The absence of ultrasound markers that predict complexity was less associated with staged SILO reduction postnatally.. · It is necessary to unify criteria, establish cut-off points, and the optimal moment to measure these markers..

Relationship between volume and outcome for gastroschisis: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Newborns with gastroschisis need surgery to reduce intestines into the abdominal cavity and to close the abdominal wall. Due to an existing volume-outcome relationship for other high-risk, low-volume procedures, we aimed at examining the relationship between hospital or surgeon volume and outcomes for gastroschisis.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic literature search in Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, CINAHL and Biosis Previews in June 2021 and searched for additional literature. We included (cluster-) randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective or retrospective cohort studies analyzing the relationship between hospital or surgeon volume and mortality, morbidity or quality of life. We assessed risk of bias of included studies using ROBINS-I and performed a systematic synthesis without meta-analysis and used GRADE for assessing the certainty of the evidence.

RESULTS

We included 12 cohort studies on hospital volume. Higher hospital volume may reduce in-hospital mortality of neonates with gastroschisis, while the evidence is very uncertain for other outcomes. Findings are based on a low certainty of the evidence for in-hospital mortality and a very low certainty of the evidence for all other analyzed outcomes, mainly due to risk of bias and imprecision. We did not identify any study on surgeon volume.

CONCLUSION

The evidence suggests that higher hospital volume reduces in-hospital mortality of newborns with gastroschisis. However, the magnitude of this effect seems to be heterogeneous and results should be interpreted with caution. There is no evidence on the relationship between surgeon volume and outcomes.

Abdominal Wall Defects

The 2 most common congenital abdominal wall defects are gastroschisis and omphalocele. Both are usually diagnosed prenatally with fetal ultrasonography, and affected patients are treated at a center with access to high-risk obstetric services, neonatology, and pediatric surgery. The main distinguishing features between the 2 are that gastroschisis has no sac and the defect is to the right of the umbilicus, whereas an omphalocele typically has a sac and the defect is at the umbilicus. In addition, patients with an omphalocele have a high prevalence of associated anomalies, whereas those with gastroschisis have a higher likelihood of abnormalities related to the gastrointestinal tract, with the most common being intestinal atresia. As such, the prognosis in patients with omphalocele is primarily affected by the severity and number of other anomalies and the prognosis for gastroschisis is correlated with the amount and function of the bowel. Because of these distinctions, these defects have different management strategies and outcomes. The goal of surgical treatment for both conditions consists of reduction of the abdominal viscera and closure of the abdominal wall defect; primary closure or a variety of staged approaches can be used without injury to the intra-abdominal contents through direct injury or increased intra-abdominal pressure, or abdominal compartment syndrome. Overall, the long-term outcome is generally good. The ability to stratify patients, particularly those with gastroschisis, based on risk factors for higher morbidity would potentially improve counseling and outcomes.

Relationship between volume and outcome for gastroschisis: a systematic review protocol

BACKGROUND

Gastroschisis is a congenital anomaly that needs surgical management for repositioning intestines into the abdominal cavity and for abdominal closure. Higher hospital or surgeon volume has previously been found to be associated with better clinical outcomes for different especially high-risk, low volume procedures. Therefore, we aim to examine the relationship between hospital or surgeon volume and outcomes for gastroschisis.

METHODS

We will perform a systematic literature search from inception onwards in Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, CINAHL, and Biosis Previews without applying any limitations. In addition, we will search trial registries and relevant conference proceedings. We will include (cluster-) randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective or retrospective cohort studies analyzing the relationship between hospital or surgeon volume and clinical outcomes. The primary outcomes will be survival and mortality. Secondary outcomes will be different measures of morbidity (e.g., severe gastrointestinal complications, gastrointestinal dysfunctions, and sepsis), quality of life, and length of stay. We will systematically assess risk of bias of included studies using RoB 2 for individually or cluster-randomized trials and ROBINS-I for cohort studies, and extract data on the study design, patient characteristics, case-mix adjustments, statistical methods, hospital and surgeon volume, and outcomes into standardized tables. Title and abstract screening, full text screening, critical appraisal, and data extraction of results will be conducted by two reviewers independently. Other data will be extracted by one reviewer and checked for accuracy by a second one. Any disagreements will be resolved by discussion. We will not pool results statistically as we expect included studies to be clinically and methodologically very diverse. We will conduct a systematic synthesis without meta-analysis and use GRADE for assessing the certainty of the evidence.

DISCUSSION

Given the lack of a comprehensive summary of findings on the relationship between hospital or surgeon volume and outcomes for gastroschisis, this systematic review will put things right. Results can be used to inform decision makers or clinicians and to adapt medical care.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

Open Science Framework (DOI: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/EX34M ; https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/HGPZ2 ).

Reducing Infant Mortality Using Telemedicine and Implementation Science

Optimal perinatal regionalization is a proven evidence-based strategy to lower infant mortality. Telemedicine can engage community stakeholders, providers, and patients to facilitate optimal perinatal regionalization leading to lower infant mortality. Rural community caregivers and administrators can participate in forming optimal perinatal guidelines without leaving their community. The visual picture created by telemedicine facilitates better transport decisions; ensuring infants who are transferred to larger centers truly need it while supporting smaller nurseries by providing better consultation services and back transport of patients when appropriate. Telemedicine can also provide educational opportunities to community practices, leading to better evidence-based care.

A comparison between placental and amniotic mesenchymal stem cells in transamniotic stem cell therapy for experimental gastroschisis

PURPOSE

We compared placental and amniotic fluid-derived mesenchymal stem cells (pMSCs and afMSCs, respectively) in transamniotic stem cell therapy for experimental gastroschisis.

METHODS

Gastroschisis was surgically created in 126 rat fetuses at gestational day 18 (term = 22 days), immediately followed by volume-matched intraamniotic injections of suspensions of afMSCs (n = 32), pMSCs (n = 33), or normal saline (NS) (n = 33). Untreated fetuses served as controls (n = 28). Blinded observers performed computerized measurements of total and segmental (serosa, muscularis, and mucosa) intestinal wall thickness on the herniated bowel at term. Statistical analysis included ANOVA, the Wald test, and Levene's test (p < 0.05).

RESULTS

Among survivors, there were statistically significant decreases in segmental and total bowel wall thicknesses in both the afMSC and pMSC groups vs. the untreated (p < 0.001 to 0.003) and saline (p < 0.001 to 0.011) groups. There were significant differences between the afMSC and pMSC groups favoring the former in both therapeutic impact and its variability (p < 0.001 to 0.031). Labeled cells were comparably identified within the intestinal wall in the afMSC and pMSC groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Both placental and amniotic mesenchymal stem cells can mitigate bowel damage in experimental gastroschisis as agents of transamniotic stem cell therapy. However, amniotic cells lead to improved and more consistent outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

N/A (animal and laboratory study).

Error traps and culture of safety in the treatment of abdominal wall defects

The importance of defining and implementing a culture of safety in pediatric surgery is being increasingly seen as essential to decreasing complications and improving outcomes. The concept of a safety culture is a universal one, but the elements of such a culture are different for every disease and anomaly treated. In this paper, I will review these elements as they pertain to the treatment of abdominal wall defects starting from fetal evaluation to post-discharge care.