Caesarean delivery and outcome in very low birthweight infants.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relationship between mode of delivery, intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH), and mortality in very low birthweight (VLBW) infants.


METHODS
A historical cohort study of infants admitted to a single level III neonatal intensive care unit during a five-year period. Infants < 1500 g born by caesarean delivery (n = 400) were compared to those born by vaginal delivery (n = 305).


RESULTS
After controlling for potential confounding variables including: gestational age, fetal presentation, and multiple birth, caesarean delivery was not associated with a decreased odds of IVH (odds ratio 1.2, 95% CI 0.7-2.0), severe IVH (1.9, 0.9-4.0), or mortality (1.2, 0.6-2.4).


CONCLUSIONS
In our population of very low birthweight infants, caesarean delivery is not associated with a decreased risk for mortality or intraventricular haemorrhage.
Paul
David A
DA
Department of Pediatrics, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, Delaware 19718, USA.
Sciscione
Anthony
A
Leef
Kathleen H
KH
Stefano
John L
JL
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007226:Infant Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009321:Natural Childbirth / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology