The influence of delay in closure of the abdominal wall on outcome in gastroschisis

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.