Effects of gestational age at delivery and type of labor on neonatal outcomes among infants with gastroschisis†

Management of Gastroschisis: Timing of Delivery, Antibiotic Usage, and Closure Considerations (A Systematic Review From the American Pediatric Surgical Association Outcomes & Evidence Based Practice Committee)

BACKGROUND

No consensus exists for the initial management of infants with gastroschisis.

METHODS

The American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA) Outcomes and Evidenced-based Practice Committee (OEBPC) developed three a priori questions about gastroschisis for a qualitative systematic review. We reviewed English-language publications between January 1, 1970, and December 31, 2019. This project describes the findings of a systematic review of the three questions regarding: 1) optimal delivery timing, 2) antibiotic use, and 3) closure considerations.

RESULTS

1339 articles were screened for eligibility; 92 manuscripts were selected and reviewed. The included studies had a Level of Evidence that ranged from 2 to 4 and recommendation Grades B-D. Twenty-eight addressed optimal timing of delivery, 5 pertained to antibiotic use, and 59 discussed closure considerations (Figure 1). Delivery after 37 weeks post-conceptual age is considered optimal. Prophylactic antibiotics covering skin flora are adequate to reduce infection risk until definitive closure. Studies support primary fascial repair, without staged silo reduction, when abdominal domain and hemodynamics permit. A sutureless repair is safe, effective, and does not delay feeding or extend length of stay. Sedation and intubation are not routinely required for a sutureless closure.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the large number of studies addressing the above-mentioned facets of gastroschisis management, the data quality is poor. A wide variation in gastroschisis management was documented, indicating a need for high quality RCTs to provide an evidence-based approach when caring for these infants.

TYPE OF STUDY

Qualitative systematic review of Level 1-4 studies.

Diverse mechanisms underlying the fetal growth course in gastroschisis and omphalocele

BACKGROUND

Gastroschisis and omphalocele are the 2 most common congenital fetal abdominal wall defects. Both malformations are commonly associated with small-for-gestational-age neonates. However, the extent and causes of growth restriction remain controversial in both gastroschisis and omphalocele without associated malformations or aneuploidy.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to examine the role of the placenta and the birthweight-to-placental weight ratio in fetuses with abdominal wall defects.

STUDY DESIGN

This study included all cases of abdominal wall defects examined at our hospital between January 2001 and December 2020, retrieving the data from the hospital's software. Fetuses with any other combined congenital anomalies, known chromosomal abnormalities, or lost to follow-up were excluded. Overall, 28 singleton pregnancies with gastroschisis and 24 singleton pregnancies with omphalocele met the inclusion criteria. Patient characteristics and pregnancy outcomes were reviewed. The primary outcome was to investigate the association between birthweight and placental weight in pregnancies with abdominal wall defects as measured after delivery. To correct for gestational age and to compare total placental weights, ratios between the observed and expected birthweights for the given gestational age in singletons were calculated. The scaling exponent β was compared with the reference value of 0.75. Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism (version 8.2.1; GraphPad Software, San Diego, CA) and IBM SPSS Statistics. A P value of <.05 indicated statistical significance.

RESULTS

Women pregnant with a fetus with gastroschisis were significantly younger and more often nulliparous. In addition, in this group, the gestational age of delivery was significantly earlier and almost exclusively for cesarean delivery. Of 28 children, 13 (46.7%) were born small for gestational age, only 3 of them (10.7%) had a placental weight <10th percentile. There is no correlation between birthweight percentiles and placental weight percentiles (P=not significant). However, in the omphalocele group, 4 of 24 children (16.7%) were born small for gestational age (<10th percentile), and all children also had a placental weight <10th percentile. There is a significant correlation between birthweight percentiles and placental weight percentiles (P<.0001). The birthweight-to-placental weight ratio differs significantly between pregnancies diagnosed with gastroschisis and pregnancies diagnosed with omphalocele (4.48 [3.79-4.91] vs 6.05 [5.38-6.47], respectively; P<.0001). Allometric metabolic scaling revealed that placentas complicated by gastroschisis and placentas complicated by omphalocele do not scale with birthweight.

CONCLUSION

Fetuses with gastroschisis displayed impaired intrauterine growth, which seemed to differ from the classical placental insufficiency growth restriction.

Perinatal Outcomes of Neonates with Complex and Simple Gastroschisis after Planned Preterm Delivery-A Single-Centre Retrospective Cohort Study

This research analysed early neonatal outcomes of complex and simple gastroschisis following planned elective preterm delivery in relation to prenatal ultrasound assessment of bowel conditions. A retrospective study of 61 neonates with prenatal gastroschisis diagnosis, birth, and management at a single tertiary centre from 2011 to 2021 showed a 96.72% survival rate with no intrauterine fatalities. Most cases (78.7%) were simple gastroschisis. Neonates with complex gastroschisis had longer hospital stays and time to full enteral feeding compared to those with simple gastroschisis-75.4 versus 35.1 days and 58.1 versus 24.1 days, respectively. A high concordance of 86.90% between the surgeon's and perinatologist's bowel condition assessments was achieved. The caesarean delivery protocol demonstrated safety, high survival rate, primary closure, and favourable outcomes compared to other reports. Prenatal ultrasound effectively evaluated bowel conditions and identified complex gastroschisis cases.

Elective Delivery versus Expectant Management for Gastroschisis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

INTRODUCTION

 The optimal timing of delivery for pregnancies complicated by prenatally diagnosed gastroschisis remains controversial. Therefore, the aim of this study was to find whether elective or expectant delivery is associated with improved neonatal outcome.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

 MEDLINE and Embase databases were searched for studies up to 2021 that reported timing of delivery for prenatally diagnosed gastroschisis. A systematic review and meta-analysis were then performed in group 1: moderately preterm (gestational age [GA]: 34-35 weeks) elective delivery versus expectant management after GA 34-35 weeks; and group 2: near-term (GA: 36-37 weeks) elective delivery versus expectant management after GA 36-37 weeks. The following clinical outcomes were evaluated: length of stay (LOS), total parenteral nutrition (TPN) days, bowel morbidity (atresia, perforation, and volvulus), sepsis, time of first feeding, short gut syndrome and respirator days, and mortality.

RESULTS

 Two randomized controlled trials (RCT)s and eight retrospective cohort studies were included, comprising 629 participants. Moderately preterm elective delivery failed to improve clinical outcomes. However, near-term elective delivery significantly reduced bowel morbidity (7.4 vs. 15.4%, relative risk = 0.37; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.18, 0.74; p = 0.005; I2 = 0%) and TPN days (mean difference =-13.44 days; 95% CI: -26.68, -0.20; p = 0.05; I2 = 45%) compared to expectant delivery. The mean LOS was 39.2 days after near-term delivery and 48.7 days in the expectant group (p = 0.06).

CONCLUSION

 Based on the data analyzed, near-term elective delivery (GA 36-37 weeks) appears to be the optimal timing for delivery of pregnancies complicated by gastroschisis as it is associated with less bowel morbidity and shorter TPN days. However, more RCTs are necessary to better validate these findings.

Preterm vs term delivery in antenatally diagnosed gastroschisis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To review the evidence regarding gestational age at birth, length of stay, sepsis incidence, days on mechanical ventilation, and mortality between preterm and term deliveries in pregnancies complicated by gastroschisis.

DATA SOURCES

We conducted database searches of PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and ClinicalTrials.gov without language restrictions through August 16, 2021. References of all relevant articles were reviewed.

STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Randomized controlled trials, nonrandomized controlled trials, and observational studies were evaluated comparing length of stay, sepsis, days on mechanical ventilation, and mortality between either elective preterm delivery and expectant management (Group 1) or preterm gestational age and term gestational age (Group 2).

METHODS

Two researchers independently selected studies and evaluated risk of bias with the Risk of Bias 2 tool for randomized controlled trials and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for cohort studies. Mean differences and odds ratios were calculated using a random-effects model for inclusion and methodological quality. The primary outcome was length of stay. Secondary outcomes were incidence of sepsis, mortality, days on mechanical ventilation, and gestational age.

RESULTS

Thirty studies with a total of 7409 patients were included in the systematic review, of which 25 were included in the analysis. Group 1 studies found no difference in length of stay or mortality and a trend toward fewer days on mechanical ventilation (mean difference, -0.40; 95% confidence interval, -0.89 to -0.10; P=.12; I²=35%). Subgroup analysis excluding premature delivery demonstrated lower sepsis incidence in elective preterm delivery (odds ratio, 0.46; 95% confidence interval, 0.25-0.84; P=.01; I²=0%). Group 2 studies found increased length of stay (mean difference, 15.44; 95% confidence interval, 8.44-21.83; P<.00001; I²=94%), sepsis (odds ratio, 1.69; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-2.50; P=.008; I²=51%), days on mechanical ventilation (mean difference, 1.38; 95% confidence interval, 0.10-2.66; P=.03; I²=66%), and mortality (odds ratio, 2.97; 95% confidence interval, 1.59-5.55; P=.0007; I²=0%). Gestational age was significantly lower in Group 2 studies than in Group 1 studies.

CONCLUSION

Data continue to be conflicting, but subgroup analysis suggested a possible reduction in sepsis incidence and mean days on mechanical ventilation with elective early term delivery.

Predicting Factors of Protracted Intestinal Failure in Children with Gastroschisis

OBJECTIVE

To identify prenatal and neonatal predictors of short bowel syndrome-related intestinal failure (SBS-IF) in gastroschisis.

STUDY DESIGN

This retrospective study included all patients with gastroschisis born between 2000 and 2017 who were enrolled in our home parenteral nutrition program, and all patients with gastroschisis born in our institution who survived 2 weeks, during the same time period. Prenatal ultrasound features, neonatal status, anatomic features, oral feeding, and parenteral nutrition dependency were analyzed.

RESULTS

Among 180 patients, 35 required long-term parenteral nutrition (SBS-IF group) and 145 acquired full oral feeding within 6 months (oral feeding group). The mean follow-up was 7.9 years (IQR, 1.6-17.5 years) and 5.0 years (IQR, 0.1-18.2 years), respectively. Both bowel matting (OR, 14.23; 1.07-16.7; P = .039) and secondarily diagnosed atresia or stenosis (OR, 17.78; 3.13-100.98; P = .001) were independent postnatal predictors of SBS-IF. Eighteen children (51% of the SBS-IF group) were still dependent on artificial nutrition at the last follow-up. patients with SBS-IF who achieved full oral feeding had a median residual small-bowel length of 74 cm (IQR, 51-160 cm) vs 44 cm (IQR, 10-105 cm) for those still dependent on artificial nutrition (P = .02). An initial residual small bowel length of more than 50 cm was the best predictive cut-off for nutritional autonomy, with a sensitivity of 67% and a specificity of 100%.

CONCLUSIONS

Bowel matting, complex gastroschisis, and secondary intestinal obstruction were associated with SBS-IF in gastroschisis. For patients with SBS-IF, a small bowel length of more than 50 cm was predictive of secondary nutritional autonomy.

Is there a role for fetal interventions in gastroschisis management? - An updated comprehensive review

We conducted a comprehensive evidence-based review on the epidemiology and current standard of care of gastroschisis management as well as the pathophysiology, rationale and feasibility of fetal therapy as a viable alternative. Gastroschisis is a periumbilical abdominal wall defect characterized by abdominal viscera herniation in utero. It affects 4 in 10 000 live births, but the prevalence has steadily increased in recent years. Gastroschisis is typically diagnosed on routine second-trimester ultrasound. The overall prognosis is favorable, but complex gastroschisis, which accounts for about 10% to 15% of cases, is associated with a higher mortality, significant disease burden and higher healthcare costs due to long- and short-term complications. The current standard of care has yet to be established but generally involves continued fetal surveillance and multidisciplinary perinatal care. Postnatal surgical repair is achieved with primary closure, staged silo closure or sutureless repair. Experimental animal studies have demonstrated the feasibility of in utero closure, antiinflammatory therapy and prenatal regenerative therapy. However, reports of early preterm delivery and amnioinfusion trials have failed to show any benefit in humans. Further experimental studies and human trials are necessary to demonstrate the potential benefit of fetal therapy in gastroschisis.