title: Gastroschisis: preterm or term delivery?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main objective of this study was to evaluate the association between prematurity and the time to achieve full enteral feeding in newborns with gastroschisis. The second objective was to analyze the associations between length of hospital stay and time to achieve full enteral feeding with mode of delivery, birth weight and surgical procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical records of newborns with gastroschisis treated between 1997 and 2007 were reviewed. Two groups were considered: those delivered before 37 weeks (group A) and those delivered after 37 weeks (group B). The variables of gestational age, mode of delivery, birth weight, time to achieve full enteral feeding, length of hospital stay and surgical approach were analyzed and compared between groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-one patients were studied. In Group A, there were 14 patients with a mean birth weight (BW) of 2300 g (range=1680-3000) and a mean gestational age (GA) of 36 weeks (range=34-36). In group B, there were 24 patients with a mean BW of 2700 g (range=1500-3550) and a mean GA of 38 weeks (range=37-39). The mean time to achieve full enteral feeding was 30.1+/-6.7 days in group A and 17.0+/-2.5 days in group B (p=0.09) with an OR of 0.82 and a 95% CI of 0.20-3.23 after adjustment for sepsis and BW. No statistical difference was found between low BW (<2500 g), mode of delivery and number of days to achieve full enteral feeding (p=0.34 and p=0.13, respectively). Patients with BW over 2500 g had fewer days in the hospital (22.9+/-3.1 vs. 35.7+/-5.7 days; p=0.06).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study do not support the idea of anticipating the delivery of fetuses with gastroschisis in order to achieve full enteral feeding earlier.
authors.affiliation: Neonatology Department, São João Hospital and Porto Medical School - Porto/Portugal.
authors.forename: Henrique
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pissarra
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Correia-Pinto
authors.forename: Hercília
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guimarães
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods*; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005260:Female; D020139:Gastroschisis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies