EXITE-like procedure to treat gastroschisis, is anesthesia an issue? A retrospective cohort study

Objectives: To describe the anesthetic techinque used during EXIT-like procedures and assess its effects in the overall success rate of the intervention.Methodology: Retrospective cohort study of 32 mother-newborn pairs with an antenatal diagnosis of gastroschisis in whom a primary closure was planned using the EXIT-like procedure.Results: In 26 (81.3%, 95%CI 63.5-92.8%)cases a successful closure of the abdominal defect was achieved.A slightly reduced success rate was found amongst patients receiving spinal anesthesia (71.4%) when compared with general (80.0%) and mixed techniques (86.7%), which did not reach statistical significance.Conclusions: No association was found between anesthesia technique and EXIT-like procedure success rates.Futher randomised studies are needed to confirm these findings.