UK Neonatal Stoma Practice: A Population Study
Author Information
Author(s): Graciaa Singhal, Rema Ramakrishnan, Raph Goldacre, Cheryl Battersby, Hall Nigel J, Chris Gale, Marian Knight, Nick Lansdale
Primary Institution: Imperial College London
Hypothesis
The optimal time for neonatal stoma closure is unclear and there have been calls for a trial to compare early and late surgery.
Conclusion
There are sufficient UK neonates undergoing stoma formation for a trial, with clinical stability, gestation, weight, and stoma complications influencing timing.
Supporting Evidence
- Approximately 160–200 babies undergo stoma formation for NEC/SIP in the UK each year.
- Stoma closure for infants with NEC/SIP is performed at an average of 2 months post-formation.
- Infants who underwent earlier stoma closure were born at higher gestation and had higher birth weights.
- Data from three national databases provide the largest and most robust analysis on this topic.
Takeaway
Doctors are trying to figure out the best time to close stomas in newborns, and this study shows there are enough babies to test different timings.
Methodology
A retrospective cohort study using three national databases to analyze neonates who underwent stoma surgery.
Potential Biases
Potential coding errors and missed case reporting could introduce bias.
Limitations
Missing data and coding inaccuracies may lead to underestimating the true number of neonates undergoing stoma formation and closure.
Participant Demographics
Neonates with NEC/SIP had a median birth weight of 860g and a median gestational age of 26 weeks.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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