Institutional practice and outcome variation in the management of congenital diaphragmatic hernia and gastroschisis in Canada: a report from the Canadian Pediatric Surgery Network

Abstract Background Perinatal management of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) and gastroschisis (GS) remains nonstandardized and institution specific. This analysis describes practice and outcome variation across a national network. Methods A national, prospective, disease-specific database for CDH and GS was evaluated over 4 years. Centers were evaluated individually and defined as low (low-volume center [LVC]) or high (high-volume center [HVC]) volume based on case mean. Results Congenital diaphragmatic hernia . Two hundred fifteen liveborn cases were studied (mean, 14.3 cases/center) across 15 centers (8 LVCs and 7 HVCs). Significant interinstitutional practice variation was noted in rates of termination (0%-40%) and cesarean delivery (0%-61%). Centers demonstrated marked variation in ventilation strategies, vasodilator and paralytic use, timing of surgery, and rates of primary closure. Overall survival was 81.4% (LVC, 76.9%; HVC, 82.4%; P = .43). Gastroschisis . Four hundred sixteen cases were investigated (mean, 26 cases/center; range, 6-72) across 16 centers (10 LVCs and 6 HVCs). Cesarean delivery rates varied widely between centers (0%-86%) as did timing of closure (early vs delayed, 1%-100%). There was no difference in length of stay, days on total parenteral nutrition, and overall survival (94.3% vs 97.2%; P = .17) between LVCs and HVCs. Conclusions The existence of perinatal practice and outcome variation for GS and CDH suggests targets for improved delivery of care and justifies efforts to standardize treatment on a national basis.