title: Obstetrical risk factors for focal intestinal perforation in very low birth weight infants.
abstract: Our objective was to determine the obstetrical risk for spontaneous focal intestinal perforation (FIP) in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.
  
  
  
  Eight mothers delivered infants who underwent laparotomy for FIP between 2001 and 2006 in our hospital. A retrospective case-control study of the eight case mothers and 32 control mothers was conducted. Clinical findings were retrospectively analyzed.
  
  
  
  There were significant differences in the frequency of oligohydramnios (P<0.01) and velamentous cord insertion (P<0.05) between cases and controls. The 1-min Apgar score was significantly lower in the FIP group than in the control group (P<0.05). Moreover, primigravidity was significantly associated with a risk of FIP.
  
  
  
  The etiology of FIP may be related to changes in the blood circulation, such as fetal hypoxic-ischemic episodes or disturbance in the umbilical blood flow, during the antepartum and/or intrapartum periods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tokyo Women's Medical University Yachiyo Medical Center, Chiba 276-8524, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Masaoka
authors.forename: Tatsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001034:Apgar Score; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005311:Fetal Hypoxia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D020073:Gravidity; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007511:Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D016104:Oligohydramnios / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000473:pathology; D014472:Umbilicus / Q000098:blood supply