Mode of Delivery and Outcome in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants

Sung, Se In; Kim, Jin Kyu; Yoo, Hye Soo; Ahn, So Yoon; Kim, Eun Sun; Choi, Suk Joo; Chang, Yun Sil; Park, Won Soon

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Some studies have suggested that delivery by Cesarean section is associated with a better prognosis for the extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWIs). The purpose of this study is to review neonatal outcomes according to the mode of delivery in ELBWIs.
METHODS
Medical records of 415 ELBWIs (<1,000 g) who were born and admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Samsung Medical Center (SMC) from January 2000 to December 2008 were reviewed retrospectively. Clinical characteristics and outcomes of the ELBWIs delivered by Cesarean section (C-group, N=325) were compared with those of vaginally delivered infants (V-group, N=90). Logistic regression was performed to verify the significance of outcome difference, and to obtain odds ratios for mortality and morbidities according to the mode of delivery. Potential confounders were adjusted in this multivariate logistic regression analysis.
RESULTS
Among the 415 ELBWIs, 325 (78%) were delivered by C-section. Gestational age and the rate of Cesarean section delivery showed positive correlation. Gestational age, small-for-gestational age status, pregnancy-induced hypertension and antenatal steroid administration were found to interact with the outcomes of ELBWIs and were corrected in the subsequent analysis. The analysis was stratified by confounders, and comparison between the two groups showed no differences in mortality within 28 days. Multivariate logistic regression also showed no significant differences in mortality and morbidities according to the mode of delivery.
CONCLUSIONS
In our study, Cesarean section was not associated with better outcomes for the extremely low birth weight infants.