Clinical care outcomes in abdominal wall defects

Anterior abdominal wall defects and their management outcomes in Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, neonatal intensive care unit

Introduction

Gastroschisis and omphalocele are common malformations of the anterior abdominal wall and can lead to significant morbidity and mortality in neonates. Despite advances in surgical care, these conditions remain challenging to manage effectively.

Objective

This retrospective institutional study aimed to assess the management outcomes of neonates with anterior abdominal wall defects, specifically gastroschisis and omphalocele, in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH) (Tertiary Hospital).

Method

A retrospective review was conducted on cases of gastroschisis and omphalocele managed in the NICU of TASH from August 2018 to August 2022. Patient charts of neonates with omphalocele and gastroschisis were identified and retrieved from the NICU records. The collected data were analyzed using statistical software such as SPSS.

Results

The study included a total of 50 neonates with abdominal wall defects, consisting of 39 cases of omphalocele and 11 cases of gastroschisis. Maternal age ranged from 18 to 40 years, with a mean age of 27.6 ± 4.5 years. Associated malformations were documented in 33.3% of omphalocele cases and 18.2% of gastroschisis cases. Cardiac anomalies were the most frequently associated malformation with omphalocele. Surgical intervention was performed in 27.3% of gastroschisis cases (3 out of 11) and 41% of omphalocele cases (16 out of 39). The postsurgery mortality rate was 12.5% for both major and minor omphaloceles, with 11 deaths occurring in gastroschisis cases. Sepsis was identified as the cause of death in all neonates who did not survive.

Conclusions

The study revealed a significantly higher mortality rate in gastroschisis cases compared to omphalocele cases. Sepsis was identified as the primary cause of death in the neonates. These findings underscore the importance of effective management strategies to prevent and manage sepsis in neonates with abdominal wall defects.

Predictors of long-term respiratory insufficiency of exomphalos major

INTRODUCTION

Exomphalos major (EM) is associated with significant morbidity and even mortality with an important risk of long-term pulmonary disease.

AIM

To assess the outcomes of exomphalos in a single tertiary pediatric unit and to identify prognostic factors for patients with respiratory insufficiency who still require ventilatory assistance at six months.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

All infants admitted to our institution over a 10-year period (2005 to 2015) with exomphalos were retrospectively reviewed. EM was defined when the abdominal wall defect measured >= 5 cm and/or contained liver within the sac. Data were collected on patient demographics, prenatal course and imaging, birth information, immediate and long-term outcomes. Those with long-term respiratory insufficiency were identified as the primary outcome and reviewed to assess prognostic factors. A p value of ≤0.05 was regarded as significant. Data are quoted as median(range).

RESULTS

A total of 46 infants were diagnosed with exomphalos during the study period, with most (n = 30, 65%) defined as exomphalos major. Respiratory complications occurred in 16 (35%) with 8 (50%) of these requiring long-term (≥6 months) mechanical ventilation and 5 (31%) required a tracheostomy. On univariate analysis, resuscitation at birth (p = 0.0004), birth weight <3000 g (p = 0.008), use of nitric oxide (p = 0.004), high frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) (p = 0.001), pulmonary hypoplasia (p<0.0001) and pulmonary hypertension (PHTN) (p = 0.02) were significantly associated with respiratory insufficiency. The strongest predictive model for ventilation support at six months was resuscitation at birth in combination with PH (OR = 1.57). Five infants (11%) died at 5(1-122) days.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with EM, the presence of pulmonary hypertension along with resuscitation at birth are the most important prognostic factors for long-term respiratory insufficiency. Acknowledgement of these factors allows for better parental counselling regarding respiratory outcomes.

Ex utero intrapartum treatment for giant congenital omphalocele

BACKGROUND

To determine whether ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) is an appropriate approach for managing fetuses antenatally diagnosed with giant congenital omphaloceles.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed patients with omphaloceles who underwent either an EXIT procedure or a traditional repair surgery. Basic and clinical parameters including gender, gestational age, birth weight, maternal blood loss, operative times and operative complications were analyzed. During the 6-12-month follow-ups, postoperative complications including bowel obstruction, abdominal infections, postoperative abdominal distension were monitored, and survival rate was analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of seven patients underwent the EXIT procedure and 11 patients underwent the traditional postnatal surgery. We found no differences in maternal age, gestational age at diagnosis, gestational age at delivery and birth weight between the two groups. In the EXIT group, the average operation time for mother was 68.3 ± 17.5 minutes and the average maternal blood loss was 233.0 ± 57.7 mL. The operation time in the EXIT group (22.0 ± 4.5 minutes) was shorter than that in the traditional group (35 ± 8.7 minutes), but the length of hospital stay in the EXIT group (20.5 ± 3.1 days) was longer than that in the traditional group (15.7 ± 2.5 days, P < 0.05). During the follow-up, one patient in the EXIT group had an intestinal obstruction, one developed abdominal compartment syndrome and one died in the traditional group.

CONCLUSIONS

In our experience, EXIT is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of giant congenital omphaloceles. However, more experience is needed before this procedure can be widely recommended.

Nutritional management and postoperative prognosis of newborns submitted to primary surgical repair of gastroschisis

OBJECTIVE

Gastroschisis is a defect of the abdominal wall, resulting in congenital evisceration and requiring neonatal intensive care, early surgical correction, and parenteral nutrition. This study evaluated newborns with gastroschisis, seeking to associate nutritional characteristics with time of hospital stay.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study of 49 newborns undergoing primary repair of gastroschisis between January 1995 and December 2010. The newborns' characteristics were described with emphasis on nutritional aspects, correlating them with length of hospital stay.

RESULTS

The characteristics that influenced length of hospital stay were: (1) newborn small for gestational age (SGA); (2) use of antibiotics; (3) day of life when enteral feeding was started; (4) day of life when full diet was reached. SGA infants had longer length of hospital stay (24.2%) than other newborns. The length of hospital stay was increased by 2.1% for each additional day taken to introduce enteral feeding. However, slower onset of full enteral feeding acted as a protective factor, decreasing length of stay by 3.6%. The volume of waste drained by the stomach catheter in the 24h prior the start of enteral feeding was not associated with the timing of diet introduction or length of hospital stay.

CONCLUSION

Early start of enteral feeding and small, gradual increase of volume can shorten the use of parenteral nutrition. This management strategy contributes to reduce the incidence of infection and length of hospital stay of newborns with gastroschisis.

Perinatal mortality in pregnancies with omphalocele: data from the Chinese national birth defects monitoring network, 1996-2006

Background

Previous studies on the mortality rate of omphalocele are limited. The risk of death of non-isolated omphalocele and that of cases of omphalocele that are diagnosed prenatally by ultrasound are unclear. This study aimed to estimate the perinatal mortality of pregnancies with omphalocele. This study also examined the potential risk of death of non-isolated omphalocele and that of cases that are prenatally diagnosed by ultrasound.

Methods

Data were retrieved from the national birth defects registry in China, for 1996–2006. Multinomial logistic regression was used to calculate the adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) between perinatal mortality and selected maternal and fetal characteristics.

Results

Among 827 cases of omphalocele, 309 (37.4%) cases resulted in termination of pregnancy and stillbirth, and 124 (15.0%) cases resulted in death in the first 7 days after delivery, yielding a perinatal mortality rate of 52.4% (95% CI: 49.0–55.8%). The late fetal death rate (LFDR) of omphalocele that was diagnosed prenatally by ultrasound was 15.91-fold (AOR: 15.91, 95% CI: 10.18–24.87) higher than that of postnatally diagnosed cases. The LFDR of non-isolated omphalocele was 2.64-fold (AOR: 2.64, 95% CI: 1.62–4.29) higher than that of isolated cases. For the early neonatal death rate, neonates with non-isolated omphalocele had a 2.96-fold (AOR: 2.96, 95% CI: 1.82–4.81) higher risk than isolated cases, but the difference between prenatal ultrasound diagnosis and postnatal diagnosis was not significant.

Conclusions

Selected fetal characteristics are significantly associated with the perinatal risk of death from omphalocele. Our findings suggest that improving pregnancy and delivery care, as well as management for omphalocele are important.

A case of choledocholithiasis and intestinal malrotation in an adolescent with repaired gastroschisis

Most infants with repaired gastroschisis develop normally and remain in good health. About 10% of patients with gastroschisis have other malformations. We report a case of choledocholithiasis and intestinal malrotation in an adolescent with repaired gastroschisis. A 17-year-old girl presented with fever, jaundice, and abdominal pain. She had undergone an operation to repair gastroschisis at birth. Physical examination revealed icteric sclera, a tight abdominal wall, and a longitudinal surgical scar at the midline. An abdominal computed tomography scan revealed a round calcifying lesion near the pancreas and a midline-positioned liver and gallbladder. Absence of the retroperitoneal duodenum and the anterior and left-sided position of the superior mesenteric vein compared with the superior mesenteric artery were observed. Results of abarium examination revealed intestinal malrotation. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography revealed diffuse dilatation of the biliary trees and a malpositioned gallbladder. A single stone was removed by using a basket. The clinical symptoms improved after the patient underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Advances in surgery for abdominal wall defects: gastroschisis and omphalocele

Abdominal wall defects (AWDs) are a common congenital surgical problem in fetuses and neonates. The incidence of these defects has steadily increased over the past few decades due to rising numbers of gastroschisis. Most of these anomalies are diagnosed prenatally and then managed at a center with available pediatric surgical, neonatology, and high-risk obstetric support. Omphaloceles and gastroschisis are distinct anomalies that have different management and outcomes. There have been a number of recent advances in the care of patients with AWDs, both in the fetus and the newborn, which will be discussed in this article.

Gastroschisis: one year outcomes from national cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To describe one year outcomes for a national cohort of infants with gastroschisis.

DESIGN

Population based cohort study of all liveborn infants with gastroschisis born in the United Kingdom and Ireland from October 2006 to March 2008.

SETTING

All 28 paediatric surgical centres in the UK and Ireland.

PARTICIPANTS

301 infants (77%) from an original cohort of 393.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Duration of parenteral nutrition and stay in hospital; time to establish full enteral feeding; rates of intestinal failure, liver disease associated with intestinal failure, unplanned reoperation; case fatality.

RESULTS

Compared with infants with simple gastroschisis (intact, uncompromised, continuous bowel), those with complex gastroschisis (bowel perforation, necrosis, or atresia) took longer to reach full enteral feeding (median difference 21 days, 95% confidence interval 9 to 39 days); required a longer duration of parenteral nutrition (median difference 25 days, 9 to 46 days) and a longer stay in hospital (median difference 57 days, 29 to 95 days); were more likely to develop intestinal failure (81% (25 infants) v 41% (102); relative risk 1.96, 1.56 to 2.46) and liver disease associated with intestinal failure (23% (7) v 4% (11); 5.13, 2.15 to 12.3); and were more likely to require unplanned reoperation (42% (13) v 10% (24); 4.39, 2.50 to 7.70). Compared with infants managed with primary fascial closure, those managed with preformed silos took longer to reach full enteral feeding (median difference 5 days, 1 to 9) and had an increased risk of intestinal failure (52% (50) v 32% (38); 1.61, 1.17 to 2.24). Event rates for the other outcomes were low, and there were no other significant differences between these management groups. Twelve infants died (4%).

CONCLUSIONS

This nationally representative study provides a benchmark against which individual centres can measure outcome and performance. Stratifying neonates with gastroschisis into simple and complex groups reliably predicts outcome at one year. There is sufficient clinical equipoise concerning the initial management strategy to embark on a multicentre randomised controlled trial comparing primary fascial closure with preformed silos in infants suitable at presentation for either treatment to determine the optimal initial management strategy and define algorithms of care.

Early severe hypoalbuminemia is an independent risk factor for intestinal failure in gastroschisis

OBJECTIVE

This study attempted to evaluate the association of early hypoalbuminemia with the risk of intestinal failure in gastroschisis patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Neonates with gastroschisis treated at a tertiary children's hospital over a 10-year period were initially categorized into groups based on the lowest serum albumin measurement during the first 7 days of life. Based on preliminary analysis, patients with serum albumin <1.5 g/dL were considered to have early severe hypoalbuminemia. Intestinal failure was defined as inability of the patient to wean from parenteral nutrition (PN) during the initial hospital admission, thus requiring home PN. Logistic regression modeling was performed to adjust for sex, gestational age, birth weight, and concomitant intestinal complications.

RESULTS

One hundred and thirty-five gastroschisis patients were included, of whom 21% had early severe hypoalbuminemia. Patients with early severe hypoalbuminemia had a significantly higher risk of intestinal failure compared to those with higher albumin levels (26 vs. 8%, p = 0.015). On multivariable logistic regression modeling, early severe hypoalbuminemia was strongly associated with intestinal failure (OR 6.4, 95% CI 1.8-23.3, p = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

Early severe hypoalbuminemia appears to be an independent risk factor for long-term intestinal compromise rather than merely an indicator of overall illness. Further interventional studies are needed to determine whether clinical protocols utilizing judicious fluid administration, exogenous albumin, and early enteral feeding can improve clinical outcomes in gastroschisis.

Effects of multidisciplinary prenatal care and delivery mode on gastroschisis outcomes

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

This study examined the effects of multidisciplinary prenatal care and delivery mode on gastroschisis outcomes, with adjustment for key confounding variables.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included all gastroschisis patients treated at a single tertiary children's hospital between 1999 and 2009. Prenatal care, delivery mode (vaginal vs cesarean section before labor vs after labor), patient characteristics, and clinical outcomes were determined by chart review. Time to discontinuation of parenteral nutrition (PN) was the primary outcome of interest. Effects of multidisciplinary prenatal care and delivery mode were evaluated using Cox proportional hazards regression models that included gestational age, birth weight, sex, concomitant intestinal complications, and year of admission.

RESULTS

Of 167 patients included, 46% were delivered vaginally, 69% received multidisciplinary prenatal care, and median time to PN discontinuation was 38 days. On multivariable modeling, gestational age, uncomplicated gastroschisis, and year of admission were significant predictors of early PN independence. Delivery mode and prenatal care had no independent effect on outcomes, although patients receiving multidisciplinary prenatal care were more likely to be born at term (49% vs 27%, P = .01).

CONCLUSIONS

Gestational age and intestinal complications are the major determinants of outcome in gastroschisis. Multidisciplinary prenatal care may facilitate term delivery.

Perinatal demography of gastroschisis in North Queensland

AIM

To review the demography of gastroschisis in North Queensland.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review of live born cases of gastroschisis originating in North Queensland from 1988 to 2007.

RESULTS

Fifty-nine cases were identified, giving an overall rate of 3.2 per 10,000 live births. In mothers <20 years old compared with 20-24 and 25-29 it was 12.1, 6.3 and 1.7. Overall, the rate was higher in Indigenous mothers (6.6 vs. 2.6, OR 2.5; 95% CI 1.4-4.5, P= 0.0018). Overall, the rate increased significantly from 0.7 per 10,000 live births in the first 5 years of the study to 4.8 in the last (trend test P= 0.0015), but it increased particularly in mothers <20 years old, from 2.40 in the first 5 years to 19.3 in the last (trend test P= 0.0177). It also rose from 0 to 3.6 in those aged 25-29 (P= 0.0337) but remained stable in other age groups. There was no difference in the outcomes of babies born to Indigenous or non-Indigenous mothers, or in outcomes of babies delivered vaginally or by Caesarean section, or in outcomes of babies from any particular location in North Queensland. There was no significant difference in the average age of Indigenous and non-Indigenous mothers.

CONCLUSION

Gastroschisis is increasing in North Queensland, especially in mothers <20. Overall, the rate in Indigenous mothers is two to three times higher.

Gastroschisis: an update

Gastroschisis (GS) continues to increase in frequency, with several studies now reported an incidence of between 4 and 5 per 10,000 live births. The main risk factor would seem to be young maternal age, and it is in this group that the greatest increase has occurred. Whilst various geographical regions confer a higher risk, the impact of several other putative risk factors, including smoking and illicit drug use, may be less important than when first identified in early epidemiological studies. Over 90% of cases of GS will now be diagnosed on antenatal ultrasound, but its value in determining the need for early delivery remains unclear. There would appear no clear evidence for either routine early delivery or elective caesarean section for infants with antenatally diagnosed GS. Delivery at a centre with paediatric surgical facilities reduces the risk of subsequent morbidity and should represent the standard of care. The relative roles of primary closure, staged closure and ward reduction, with or without general anaesthesia, appear less clear with considerable variation between centres in both the use of these techniques and subsequent surgical outcomes. Survival rates continue to improve, with rates well in excess of 90% now routine. The limited long-term developmental data available would suggest that normal or near-normal outcomes may be expected although there remains a need for further studies.

Minor and giant omphalocele: long-term outcomes and quality of life

PURPOSE

Long-term outcome and quality of life in omphalocele (OC) studies are mainly focused on cosmetic disorders with the abdominal scar and gastrointestinal disorders. The aim of this study was to compare long-term mortality, morbidity, and quality of life between patients with minor and giant OCs.

METHODS

Records of 89 minor and 22 giant OC children were reviewed. A questionnaire on general health was sent to all patients. A second questionnaire concerning quality of life and functional status; Darthmouth COOP Functional Health Assessment Charts/WONCA (COOP/WONCA) was sent to all patients aged 18 years or older and a peer control group.

RESULTS

Of the surviving patients (69 minor OC, 20 giant OC), 12 were lost to hospital follow-up. The first questionnaire was returned by 64 (83%) of 77 patients. There were no significant differences in gastrointestinal disorders. Cosmetic problems were experienced significantly more in giant OC. The results of the COOP/WONCA charts indicated a good to very good quality of life in both groups comparable to the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study indicates that after a high level of medical intervention perinatally, quality of life is good to very good in both groups and comparable to healthy young adults.