Factors Affecting the Intensive Care Stay of Patients with Spinal Neural Tube Defects

AIM: To evaluate the duration of hospitalization and the factors that increase this duration in cases treated in the neonatal intensive care unit with the diagnosis of a spinal neural tube defect (NTD). MATERIAL and METHODS: The demographic characteristics, NTD type and level, ventriculoperitoneal (V-P) shunt needs, accompanying spinal deformity, antibiotherapy applied during treatment, and intensive care stay periods of 73 patients treated in our clinic between July 2017 and 2020 were retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS: The intensive care stay of NTD cases was 7-109 (mean=23) days. Fifty-one cases (69.9%) had myeloschisis, and 22 cases (30.1%) had myelomeningocele (MMC) sac. A V-P shunt was applied to 24 cases (32.9%) during hospitalization, and additional antibiotherapy was given to 32 (43.8%) cases. CONCLUSION: In myeloschisis cases compared with MMC marsupial cases, incidences of ventricular dilatation, kyphotic/scoliotic spine pathology, V-P shunt requirement, and longer hospital stay were observed. No difference in the duration of hospitalization was found in patients who underwent defect repair between the first day and 48 h after birth. However, the length of stay in hospital increased in patients operated on after 48 h. The period was longer in cases operated after seven days postnatally. Therefore, by performing NTD surgical treatment within the first 48 hours, the need for additional antibiotherapy and hospital stay can be shortened.