Impact of change in delivery practice on neonatal and maternal outcomes in cases of significant congenital heart disease.
OBJECTIVE
Because of data published in 2009 demonstrating improved outcomes among early- vs. late-term infants,practice shifted toward delivering infants at later gestational ages. We examined the effects of this change on neonates with congenital heart disease.


METHODS
This was a retrospective cohort study. Neonates with congenital heart disease born between 2004 and 2008 were compared with those born in 2010. Patients born in 2009, considered to be a transitional year, were excluded.


METHODS
Our study was conducted at a tertiary care level 4 neonatal intensive care unit with comprehensive cardiac service.


METHODS
Study subjects consisted of neonates with significant congenital heart disease admitted between 2004 and 2010.


METHODS
Outcomes measures consisted of mode of delivery, length of stay, neonatal morbidity, and mortality.


RESULTS
There were 878 infants with congenital heart disease born in 2004-2008 and 124 in 2010. The mean gestational age was higher in 2010 than in 2004-2008 (38.4 ± 1.9 vs. 37.8 ± 2.3 weeks, P = .001), and there were fewer preterm births in 2010 compared with 2004-2008 (P = .003, odds ratio [OR] = 0.4). Mean birth weight was also higher in 2010 (3134 ± 675 vs. 2975 ± 599 g, P = .008). In 2010, less than half as many infants were born via scheduled induction (P < .001, OR = 0.2) or scheduled cesarean delivery (P = .002, OR = 0.4) as in 2004-2008. However, in 2010, there were more urgent inductions (P = .002, OR = 3.1), cesarean deliveries after labor (P = .01, OR = 2.2),and unplanned cesarean deliveries in general (P = .02, OR = 1.7) compared with 2004-2008. In 2010, neonates were less likely to require preoperative vasopressors (P = .002), but there were no differences in 5 minutes APGAR,antibiotic administration, preoperative intubation, median length of stay, or mortality compared with 2004-2008.Conclusions. Despite increased gestational age and birth weight following the shift in delivery practice, there was no difference in length of stay, neonatal morbidity, or mortality in infants with congenital heart disease. The resultant increase in urgent cesarean delivery and urgent inductions may confer additional maternal morbidity.
Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York-Presbyterian, Columbia University Medical Center.
Nina M
NM
Dadlez
Sara G
SG
Brubaker
Lynn L
LL
Simpson
Betul
B
Yilmaz
Ismée A
IA
Williams
D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006304:Health Status; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D007751:Labor, Induced / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D009519:New York City; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult