Open AccessImpact of Change in Delivery Practice on Neonatal and Maternal Outcomes in Cases of Significant Congenital Heart Disease
Author(s) -
Dadlez Nina M.,
Brubaker Sara G.,
Simpson Lynn L.,
Yilmaz Betul,
Williams Ismée A.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
congenital heart disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.828
H-Index - 42
eISSN - 1747-0803
pISSN - 1747-079X
DOI - 10.1111/chd.12167
Subject(s) - medicine , gestational age , heart disease , pediatrics , neonatal intensive care unit , retrospective cohort study , odds ratio , cesarean delivery , cohort , birth weight , obstetrics , pregnancy , genetics , biology
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. Design 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. Setting Our study was conducted at a tertiary care level 4 neonatal intensive care unit with comprehensive cardiac service. Patients Study subjects consisted of neonates with significant congenital heart disease admitted between 2004 and 2010. Outcome Measures 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.