title: The influence of delay in closure of the abdominal wall on outcome in gastroschisis.
abstract: To evaluate the effect of a delay in closure of the abdominal wall (AWC) on outcome in the management of gastroschisis, a retrospective analysis of 91 babies admitted over a 7-year period (1992-1998) to a single neonatal surgical unit with a diagnosis of gastroschisis was carried out. Antenatal diagnosis was made in 89 (98%) cases. Surgical intervention occurred in 90 babies at a median of 4 h (standard error 0.345, range 0.5-17) post-delivery. In 72 (80%) cases primary closure of the abdominal defect was achieved, with a silo fashioned in the remaining 18 (20%). One infant died prior to AWC. The median time to full oral feeding was 22 days (2.96, 5-160), and to discharge 28 days (4.03, 11-183). There was no correlation between time to AWC and any measured outcome parameter. There was no significant difference in mortality in those patients having closure before 6 h. Thus, no correlation between time to AWC and outcome was demonstrated. This would suggest that the time taken to optimally resuscitate a newborn infant prior to surgical closure does not have an adverse influence upon outcome and is to be recommended.
authors: Neonatal Surgical Unit, St Mary's Hospital, Whitworth Park, Manchester, UK.
authors: C P
authors: CP
authors: Driver
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Bowen
authors: C M
authors: CM
authors: Doig
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Bianchi
authors: A P
authors: AP
authors: Dickson
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Bruce
mesh_terms: D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000601:surgery*; D020139:Gastroschisis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome