IMMEDIATE DELIVERY ROOM REPAIR OF FETAL ABDOMINAL-WALL DEFECTS

Eighteen patients with a prenatal diagnosis of fetal abdominal wall de fect were delivered by cesarean section and repaired either immediatel y (begun within 15 min, n = 9), or by the traditional (delayed) method (n = 9, average delay = 4.4 h). Neonates repaired immediately had com parable gestational ages and birthweight, however, subjectively had le ss edematous bowel with less fibrous peel. These fetuses were more lik ely to be closed primarily (7/9 vs. 4/9), spent less time on a ventila tor (8.1 vs. 17.9 days), seemed to be fed sooner (7.6 vs. 17.9 days), and discharged home earlier (14.3 vs. 24.0 days). Our results suggest that for fetuses delivered by cesarean section, early defect repair ma y reduce bowel edema and fibrous peel formation thus facilitating prim ary closure, with earlier ventilator weaning, feeding and discharge ho me.