Complicated gastroschisis and maternal smoking: a causal association?

The incidence of gastroschisis appears to be rising in developed nations, with epidemiological studies indicating association with young maternal age and smoking. Is there an association between maternal smoking and the development of complicated gastroschisis? A retrospective population-based review of all cases of gastroschisis over 11 years was conducted in three Canadian provinces. Complicated cases were defined as those with an associated intestinal atresia or other vascular compromise of the bowel, those requiring a prolonged time to full enteral feeding (>42 days). Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were conducted. Fifty-four cases of gastroschisis were treated. Seventeen patients had complicated gastroschisis (CG). 47.1% of infants were born to smoking mothers; of those 56.25% were in the CG group. On univariate analysis statistically significant associations with complicated cases were young maternal age (