1
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Lantos L, Széll A, Chong D, Somogyvári Z, Belteki G. Acceleration during neonatal transport and its impact on mechanical ventilation. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2023; 108:38-44. [PMID: 35705324 DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2021-323498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE During interhospital transfer, critically ill neonates frequently require mechanical ventilation and are exposed to physical forces related to movement of the ambulance. In an observational study, we investigated acceleration during emergency transfers and if they result from changes in ambulance speed and direction or from vibration due to road conditions. We also studied how these forces impact on performance of the fabian+nCPAP evolution neonatal ventilator and on patient-ventilator interactions. METHODS We downloaded ventilator parameters at 125 Hz and acceleration data at 100 Hz sampling rates, respectively, during the emergency transfer of 109 infants. Study subjects included term, preterm and extremely preterm infants. We computationally analysed the magnitude, direction and frequency of ambulance acceleration. We also analysed maintenance and variability of ventilator parameters and the shape of pressure-volume loops. RESULTS While acceleration was <1 m/s2 most of the time, most babies were occasionally exposed to accelerations>5 m/s2. Vibration was responsible for most of the acceleration, rather than speed change or vehicle turning. There was no significant difference between periods of high or low vibration in ventilation parameters, their variability and how well targeted parameters were kept close to their target. Speed change or vehicle turning did not affect ventilator parameters or performance. However, during periods of intense vibration, pressure-volume ventilator loops became significantly more irregular. CONCLUSIONS Infants are exposed to significant acceleration and vibration during emergency transport. While these forces do not interfere with overall maintenance of ventilator parameters, they make the pressure-volume loops more irregular.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lajos Lantos
- Neonatal Emergency & Transport Services of the Peter Cerny Foundation, Budapest, Hungary
| | - András Széll
- Neonatal Emergency & Transport Services of the Peter Cerny Foundation, Budapest, Hungary
| | - David Chong
- Neonatology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - Zsolt Somogyvári
- Neonatal Emergency & Transport Services of the Peter Cerny Foundation, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gusztav Belteki
- Neonatal Emergency & Transport Services of the Peter Cerny Foundation, Budapest, Hungary .,Neonatology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
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2
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Shipley L, Hyliger G, Sharkey D. Temporal trends of in utero and early postnatal transfer of extremely preterm infants between 2011 and 2016: a UK population study. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2022; 107:201-205. [PMID: 34281936 DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2021-322195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Early postnatal transfer (PNT) of extremely preterm infants is associated with adverse outcomes compared with in utero transfer (IUT). We aimed to explore recent national trends of IUT and early PNT. DESIGN Observational cohort study using the National Neonatal Research Database. SETTING Neonatal units in England, Scotland and Wales. PATIENTS Extremely preterm infants 23+0-27+6 weeks' gestation admitted for neonatal care from 2011 to 2016. MAIN OUTCOME The incidence of IUT or PNT within 72 hours of life. Secondary outcomes included mortality, hospital transfer level between centres and temporal changes across two equal epochs, 2011-2013 (epoch 1 (Ep1)) and 2014-2016 (epoch 2 (Ep2)). RESULTS 14 719 infants were included (Ep1=7363 and Ep2=7256); 4005 (27%) underwent IUT; and 3042 (20.7%) had PNT. IUTs decreased significantly between epochs from 28.3% (Ep1=2089) to 26.0% (Ep2=1916) (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.84 to 0.97, p<0.01). Conversely, PNTs increased from 19.8% (Ep1=1416) to 21.5% (Ep2=1581) (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.20, p=0.01). PNTs between intensive care centres increased from 8.1% (Ep1=119) to 10.2% (Ep2=161, p=0.05). Mortality decreased from 21.6% (Ep1=1592) to 19.3% (Ep2=1421) (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.83 to 0.97, p=0.01). Survival to 90 days of age was significantly lower in infants undergoing PNT compared with IUT (HR 1.31, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.46), with the greatest differences observed in infants <25 weeks' gestational age. CONCLUSION In the UK, IUT of extremely preterm infants has significantly decreased over the study period with a parallel increase in early PNT. Strategies to reverse these trends, improve IUT pathways and optimise antenatal steroid use could significantly improve survival and reduce brain injury for these high-risk infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Shipley
- Academic Child Health, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Gillian Hyliger
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Nottingham Children's Hospital, Nottingham, UK
| | - Don Sharkey
- Academic Child Health, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
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3
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Abstract
Perinatal asphyxia remains one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality for term newborns. Though access to health care and birth attendants have decreased the rate, Neonatal encephalopathy (NE) has not been eliminated. Worldwide, women at socioeconomic disadvantage have the highest risk of delivering a neonate with NE. Neonates that will experience perinatal asphyxia cannot be easily identified prospectively and the intrapartum testing available is not specific enough to clearly indicate the best course of action in most cases. Despite this, training programs that aim to decrease morbidity and mortality from all causes appear to be associated with fewer cases of perinatal asphyxia. The current best approach is to support education and communication for all people involved in the care of birthing women. Ideally, new technology will address identification of the fetus likely to be affected or the fetus who is beginning to experience injury in advance of delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan G Hill
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Kathryn L Reed
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Arizona College of Medicine Tucson, Tucson, USA.
| | - Richard N Brown
- Divisions of Obstetrics, Maternal Fetal Medicine and Ultrasound, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada.
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4
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Helenius K, Mäkikallio K, Valpas A, Lehtonen L. Means of reaching successful antenatal transfers to level 3 hospitals in cases of threatened very preterm deliveries: a national survey. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2021; 35:6779-6781. [PMID: 33980114 DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2021.1922382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Centralization of very preterm deliveries to level 3 hospitals is recommended to improve infant survival and prevent brain injury. We studied the clinical practices of centralization from level 2 to level 3 hospitals in cases of threatening very preterm delivery in Finland. MATERIALS AND METHODS Obstetricians in all 16 level 2 hospitals in Finland were invited to participate in an online survey regarding antenatal transfer to level 3 hospitals among women with threatened delivery below 32 gestational weeks. We report clinical thresholds used as indications and contraindications for antenatal transfers, and logistical factors related to transfers. RESULTS Twelve out of 16 (75%) hospitals completed the survey. The lower gestational age threshold for antenatal transfer ranged from 22 + 0 to 23 + 0 weeks. All hospitals regarded preterm premature rupture of membranes, chorioamnionitis, and severe pre-eclampsia as indications for antenatal transfer to a level 3 hospital. Most hospitals reported transferring women in spite of regular contractions (interval over 5 min) or cervical dilatation up to 4 cm. Suspicion of placental abruption, abnormal cardiotocography tracing and poor maternal condition were the most frequently reported contraindications for antenatal transfer. The time to arrange antenatal transfer was less than 2 h in all hospitals, and overcrowding of level 3 hospitals rarely hindered antenatal transfer. CONCLUSIONS Successful centralization of very preterm deliveries is reached in Finland by rapid and active antenatal transfers. This study identified clinical thresholds used by obstetricians in a setting of long distances and high centralization rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kjell Helenius
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.,Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Kaarin Mäkikallio
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Antti Valpas
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Central Hospital of South Karelia, Lappeenranta, Finland
| | - Liisa Lehtonen
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.,Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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5
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Hirata K, Kimura T, Hirano S, Wada K, Kusuda S, Fujimura M. Outcomes of outborn very-low-birth-weight infants in Japan. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2021; 106:131-136. [PMID: 32788390 DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2019-318594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Revised: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Outcomes of prenatal covariate-adjusted outborn very-low-birth-weight infants (VLBWIs) (≤1500 g) remain uncertain. OBJECTIVE To compare morbidity and mortality between outborn and inborn VLBWIs. DESIGN Observational cohort study using inverse-probability-of-treatment weighting. SETTING Neonatal Research Network of Japan. PATIENTS Singleton VLBWIs with no major anomalies admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit from 2012 to 2016. METHODS Inverse-probability-of-treatment weighting with propensity scores was used to reduce imbalances in prenatal covariates (gestational age (GA), birth weight, small for GA, sex, maternal age, premature rupture of membranes, chorioamnionitis, preeclampsia, maternal diabetes mellitus, antenatal steroids and caesarean section). The primary outcome was severe intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH). The secondary outcomes were outcomes at resuscitation, other neonatal morbidities and mortality. RESULTS The full cohort comprised 15 842 VLBWIs (668 outborns). The median (IQR) GA and birth weight were 28.9 (26.4-31.0) weeks and 1128 (862-1351) g for outborns and 28.7 (26.3-30.9) weeks and 1042 (758-1295) g for inborns. Outborn VLBWIs had a higher incidence of severe IVH (8.2% vs 4.1%; OR, 3.45; 95% CI 1.16 to 10.3) and pulmonary haemorrhage (3.7% vs 2.8%; OR, 5.21; 95% CI 1.41 to 19.2). There were no significant differences in Apgar scores, oxygen rates at delivery, intubation ratio at delivery, persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn, IVH of any grade, periventricular leukomalacia, chronic lung disease, oxygen at discharge, patent ductus arteriosus, retinopathy of prematurity, necrotising enterocolitis, sepsis or mortality. CONCLUSION Outborn delivery of VLBWIs was associated with an increased risk of severe IVH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katsuya Hirata
- Neonatal Medicine, Osaka Women's and Children's Hospital, Izumi, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takeshi Kimura
- Neonatal Medicine, Osaka Women's and Children's Hospital, Izumi, Osaka, Japan
| | - Shinya Hirano
- Neonatal Medicine, Osaka Women's and Children's Hospital, Izumi, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kazuko Wada
- Neonatal Medicine, Osaka Women's and Children's Hospital, Izumi, Osaka, Japan
| | | | - Masanori Fujimura
- Neonatal Medicine, Osaka Women's and Children's Hospital, Izumi, Osaka, Japan
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6
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Walther F, Küster DB, Bieber A, Rüdiger M, Malzahn J, Schmitt J, Deckert S. Impact of regionalisation and case-volume on neonatal and perinatal mortality: an umbrella review. BMJ Open 2020; 10:e037135. [PMID: 32978190 PMCID: PMC7520832 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-037135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This umbrella review summarises and critically appraises the evidence on the effects of regulated or high-volume perinatal care on outcome among very low birth weight/very preterm infants born in countries with neonatal mortality <5/1000 births. INTERVENTION/EXPOSITION Perinatal regionalisation, centralisation, case-volume. PRIMARY OUTCOMES Death. SECONDARY OUTCOMES Disability, discomfort, disease, dissatisfaction. METHODS On 29 November 2019 a systematic search in MEDLINE and Embase was performed and supplemented by hand search. Relevant systematic reviews (SRs) were critically appraised with A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews 2. RESULTS The literature search revealed 508 hits and three SRs were included. Effects of perinatal regionalisation were assessed in three (34 studies) and case-volume in one SR (6 studies). Centralisation has not been evaluated. The included SRs reported effects on 'death' (eg, neonatal), 'disability' (eg, mental status), 'discomfort' (eg, maternal sensitivity) and 'disease' (eg, intraventricular haemorrhages). 'Dissatisfactions' were not reported. The critical appraisal showed a heterogeneous quality ranging from moderate to critically low. A pooled effect estimate was reported once and showed a significant favour of perinatal regionalisation in terms of neonatal mortality (OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.33-1.92). The qualitative evidence synthesis of the two SRs without pooled estimate suggests superiority of perinatal regionalisation in terms of different mortality and non-mortality outcomes. In one SR, contradictory results of lower neonatal mortality rates were reported in hospitals with higher birth volumes. CONCLUSIONS Regionalised perinatal care seems to be a crucial care strategy to improve the survival of very low birth weight and preterm births. To overcome the low and critically low methodological quality and to consider additional clinical and patient-reported results that were not addressed by the SRs included, we recommend an updated SR. In the long term, an international, uniformly conceived and defined perinatal database could help to provide evidence-based recommendations on optimal strategies to regionalise perinatal care. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER CRD42018094835.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Walther
- Center for Evidence-based Healthcare, TU Dresden Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
- Quality and Medical Risk Management, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
| | - Denise Bianca Küster
- Center for Evidence-based Healthcare, TU Dresden Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
| | - Anja Bieber
- Center for Evidence-based Healthcare, TU Dresden Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
- Institute of Health and Nursing Science, Martin Luther-Universitat Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Mario Rüdiger
- Department for Neonatology and Pediatric Intensive Care, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
- Saxony Center for Feto-Neonatal Health, TU Dresden Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jürgen Malzahn
- Clinical Care, Federation of Local Health Insurance Funds, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jochen Schmitt
- Center for Evidence-based Healthcare, TU Dresden Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
- Saxony Center for Feto-Neonatal Health, TU Dresden Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stefanie Deckert
- Center for Evidence-based Healthcare, TU Dresden Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
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7
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Varley-Campbell J, Mújica-Mota R, Coelho H, Ocean N, Barnish M, Packman D, Dodman S, Cooper C, Snowsill T, Kay T, Liversedge N, Parr M, Knight L, Hyde C, Shennan A, Hoyle M. Three biomarker tests to help diagnose preterm labour: a systematic review and economic evaluation. Health Technol Assess 2020; 23:1-226. [PMID: 30917097 DOI: 10.3310/hta23130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preterm birth may result in short- and long-term health problems for the child. Accurate diagnoses of preterm births could prevent unnecessary (or ensure appropriate) admissions into hospitals or transfers to specialist units. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this report is to assess the test accuracy, clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the diagnostic tests PartoSure™ (Parsagen Diagnostics Inc., Boston, MA, USA), Actim® Partus (Medix Biochemica, Espoo, Finland) and the Rapid Fetal Fibronectin (fFN)® 10Q Cassette Kit (Hologic, Inc., Marlborough, MA, USA) at thresholds ≠50 ng/ml [quantitative fFN (qfFN)] for women presenting with signs and symptoms of preterm labour relative to fFN at 50 ng/ml. METHODS Systematic reviews of the published literature were conducted for diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) studies of PartoSure, Actim Partus and qfFN for predicting preterm birth, the clinical effectiveness following treatment decisions informed by test results and economic evaluations of the tests. A model-based economic evaluation was also conducted to extrapolate long-term outcomes from the results of the diagnostic tests. The model followed the structure of the model that informed the 2015 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines on preterm labour diagnosis and treatment, but with antenatal steroids use, as opposed to tocolysis, driving health outcomes. RESULTS Twenty studies were identified evaluating DTA against the reference standard of delivery within 7 days and seven studies were identified evaluating DTA against the reference standard of delivery within 48 hours. Two studies assessed two of the index tests within the same population. One study demonstrated that depending on the threshold used, qfFN was more or less accurate than Actim Partus, whereas the other indicated little difference between PartoSure and Actim Partus. No study assessing qfFN and PartoSure in the same population was identified. The test accuracy results from the other included studies revealed a high level of uncertainty, primarily attributable to substantial methodological, clinical and statistical heterogeneity between studies. No study compared all three tests simultaneously. No clinical effectiveness studies evaluating any of the three biomarker tests were identified. One partial economic evaluation was identified for predicting preterm birth. It assessed the number needed to treat to prevent a respiratory distress syndrome case with a 'treat-all' strategy, relative to testing with qualitative fFN. Because of the lack of data, our de novo model involved the assumption that management of pregnant women fully adhered to the results of the tests. In the base-case analysis for a woman at 30 weeks' gestation, Actim Partus had lower health-care costs and fewer quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) than qfFN at 50 ng/ml, reducing costs at a rate of £56,030 per QALY lost compared with qfFN at 50 ng/ml. PartoSure is less costly than Actim Partus while being equally effective, but this is based on diagnostic accuracy data from a small study. Treatment with qfFN at 200 ng/ml and 500 ng/ml resulted in lower cost savings per QALY lost relative to fFN at 50 ng/ml than treatment with Actim Partus. In contrast, qfFN at 10 ng/ml increased QALYs, by 0.002, and had a cost per QALY gained of £140,267 relative to fFN at 50 ng/ml. Similar qualitative results were obtained for women presenting at different gestational ages. CONCLUSION There is a high degree of uncertainty surrounding the test accuracy and cost-effectiveness results. We are aware of four ongoing UK trials, two of which plan to enrol > 1000 participants. The results of these trials may significantly alter the findings presented here. STUDY REGISTRATION The study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42017072696. FUNDING The National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jo Varley-Campbell
- Peninsula Technology Assessment Group (PenTAG), University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Rubén Mújica-Mota
- Peninsula Technology Assessment Group (PenTAG), University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Helen Coelho
- Peninsula Technology Assessment Group (PenTAG), University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Neel Ocean
- Peninsula Technology Assessment Group (PenTAG), University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Max Barnish
- Peninsula Technology Assessment Group (PenTAG), University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - David Packman
- Peninsula Technology Assessment Group (PenTAG), University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Sophie Dodman
- Peninsula Technology Assessment Group (PenTAG), University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Chris Cooper
- Peninsula Technology Assessment Group (PenTAG), University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Tristan Snowsill
- Peninsula Technology Assessment Group (PenTAG), University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.,Health Economics Group, University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Tracey Kay
- Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter, UK
| | | | - Michelle Parr
- Central Manchester University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Lisa Knight
- Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter, UK
| | - Chris Hyde
- Peninsula Technology Assessment Group (PenTAG), University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Andrew Shennan
- Department of Women and Children's Health, King's College London, London, UK.,Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK
| | - Martin Hoyle
- Peninsula Technology Assessment Group (PenTAG), University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
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8
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Watson H, McLaren J, Carlisle N, Ratnavel N, Watts T, Zaima A, Tribe RM, Shennan AH. All the right moves: why in utero transfer is both important for the baby and difficult to achieve and new strategies for change. F1000Res 2020; 9. [PMID: 32913633 PMCID: PMC7429922 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.25923.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The best way to ensure that preterm infants benefit from relevant neonatal expertise as soon as they are born is to transfer the mother and baby to an appropriately specialised neonatal facility before birth (“
in utero”). This review explores the evidence surrounding the importance of being born in the right unit, the advantages of
in utero transfers compared to
ex utero transfers, and how to accurately assess which women are at most risk of delivering early and the challenges of
in utero transfers. Accurate identification of the women most at risk of preterm birth is key to prioritising who to transfer antenatally, but the administrative burden and pathway variation of
in utero transfer in the UK are likely to compromise optimal clinical care. Women reported the impact that
in utero transfers have on them, including the emotional and financial burdens of being transferred and the anxiety surrounding domestic and logistical concerns related to being away from home. The final section of the review explores new approaches to reforming the
in utero transfer process, including learning from outside the UK and changing policy and guidelines. Examples of collaborative regional guidance include the recent Pan-London guidance on
in utero transfers. Reforming the transfer process can also be aided through technology, such as utilising the CotFinder app. In utero transfer is an unavoidable aspect of maternity and neonatal care, and the burden will increase if preterm birth rates continue to rise in association with increased rates of multiple pregnancy, advancing maternal age, assisted reproductive technologies, and obstetric interventions. As funding and capacity pressures on health services increase because of the COVID-19 pandemic, better prioritisation and sustained multi-disciplinary commitment are essential to maximise better outcomes for babies born too soon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Watson
- Guy's and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.,Department of Women and Children's Health, School of Life Course Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - James McLaren
- Gosford Hospital, Gosford, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Naomi Carlisle
- Department of Women and Children's Health, School of Life Course Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | - Tim Watts
- Guy's and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | | | - Rachel M Tribe
- Department of Women and Children's Health, School of Life Course Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Andrew H Shennan
- Guy's and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.,Department of Women and Children's Health, School of Life Course Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
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9
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Edwards K, Impey L. Extreme preterm birth in the right place: a quality improvement project. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2020; 105:445-448. [PMID: 31719143 PMCID: PMC7363788 DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2019-317741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2019] [Revised: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Extreme preterm birth is a major precursor to mortality and disability. Survival is improved in babies born in specialist centres but for multiple reasons this frequently does not occur. In the Thames Valley region of the UK in 2012-2014, covering 27 000 births per annum, about 50% of extremely premature babies were born in a specialist centre. Audit showed a number of potential areas for improvement. We used regional place of birth data and compared the place of birth of extremely premature babies for 2 years before our intervention and for 4 years (2014-2018) after we started. We aimed to improve the proportion of neonates born in a specialist centre with three interventions: increasing awareness and education across the region, by improving and simplifying the referral pathway to the local specialised centre, and by developing region-wide guidelines on the principal precursors to preterm birth: preterm labour and expedited delivery for fetal growth restriction. There were 147 eligible neonates born within the network in the 2 years before the intervention and 80 (54.4%) were inborn in a specialised centre. In the 4 years of and following the intervention, there were 334 neonates of whom 255 were inborn (76.3%) (relative risk of non-transfer 0.50 (95% CI 0.39 to 0.65), p<0.001). Rates showed a sustained improvement. The proportion of extremely premature babies born in specialist centres can be significantly improved by a region-wide quality improvement programme. The interventions and lessons could be used for other areas and specialties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Edwards
- Patient Safety Collaborative, Oxford Academic Health Sciences Network, Oxford, UK
| | - Lawrence Impey
- Department of Fetal Medicine, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
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10
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Mújica-Mota RE, Landa P, Pitt M, Allen M, Spencer A. The heterogeneous causal effects of neonatal care: a model of endogenous demand for multiple treatment options based on geographical access to care. HEALTH ECONOMICS 2020; 29:46-60. [PMID: 31746059 DOI: 10.1002/hec.3970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2018] [Revised: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 10/06/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Neonatal units in the UK are organised into three levels, from highest Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), to Local Neonatal Unit (LNU) to lowest Special Care Unit (SCU). We model the endogenous treatment selection of neonatal care unit of birth to estimate the average and marginal treatment effects of different neonatal designations on infant mortality, length of stay and hospital costs. We use prognostic factors, survival and hospital care use data on all preterm births in England for 2014-2015, supplemented by national reimbursement tariffs and instrumental variables of travel time from a geographic information system. The data were consistent with a model of demand for preterm birth care driven by physical access. In-hospital mortality of infants born before 32 weeks was 8.5% overall, and 1.2 (95% CI: -0.7, 3.2) percentage points lower for live births in hospitals with NICU or SCU compared to those with an LNU according to instrumental variable estimates. We find imprecise differences in average total hospital costs by unit designation, with positive unobserved selection of those with higher unexplained absolute and incremental costs into NICU. Our results suggest a limited scope for improvement in infant mortality by increasing in-utero transfers based on unit designation alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubén E Mújica-Mota
- University of Leeds Medical School, Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, Leeds, UK
| | - Paolo Landa
- Department of Economics, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Martin Pitt
- University of Exeter Medical School, Institute of Health Research, Exeter, UK
| | - Mike Allen
- University of Exeter Medical School, Institute of Health Research, Exeter, UK
| | - Anne Spencer
- University of Exeter Medical School, Institute of Health Research, Exeter, UK
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11
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Helenius K, Longford N, Lehtonen L, Modi N, Gale C. Association of early postnatal transfer and birth outside a tertiary hospital with mortality and severe brain injury in extremely preterm infants: observational cohort study with propensity score matching. BMJ 2019; 367:l5678. [PMID: 31619384 PMCID: PMC6812621 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.l5678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine if postnatal transfer or birth in a non-tertiary hospital is associated with adverse outcomes. DESIGN Observational cohort study with propensity score matching. SETTING National health service neonatal care in England; population data held in the National Neonatal Research Database. PARTICIPANTS Extremely preterm infants born at less than 28 gestational weeks between 2008 and 2015 (n=17 577) grouped based on birth hospital and transfer within 48 hours of birth: upward transfer (non-tertiary to tertiary hospital, n=2158), non-tertiary care (born in non-tertiary hospital; not transferred, n=2668), and controls (born in tertiary hospital; not transferred, n=10 866). Infants were matched on propensity scores and predefined background variables to form subgroups with near identical distributions of confounders. Infants transferred between tertiary hospitals (horizontal transfer) were separately matched to controls in a 1:5 ratio. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Death, severe brain injury, and survival without severe brain injury. RESULTS 2181 infants, 727 from each group (upward transfer, non-tertiary care, and control) were well matched. Compared with controls, infants in the upward transfer group had no significant difference in the odds of death before discharge (odds ratio 1.22, 95% confidence interval 0.92 to 1.61) but significantly higher odds of severe brain injury (2.32, 1.78 to 3.06; number needed to treat (NNT) 8) and significantly lower odds of survival without severe brain injury (0.60, 0.47 to 0.76; NNT 9). Compared with controls, infants in the non-tertiary care group had significantly higher odds of death (1.34, 1.02 to 1.77; NNT 20) but no significant difference in the odds of severe brain injury (0.95, 0.70 to 1.30) or survival without severe brain injury (0.82, 0.64 to 1.05). Compared with infants in the upward transfer group, infants in the non-tertiary care group had no significant difference in death before discharge (1.10, 0.84 to 1.44) but significantly lower odds of severe brain injury (0.41, 0.31 to 0.53; NNT 8) and significantly higher odds of survival without severe brain injury (1.37, 1.09 to 1.73; NNT 14). No significant differences were found in outcomes between the horizontal transfer group (n=305) and controls (n=1525). CONCLUSIONS In extremely preterm infants, birth in a non-tertiary hospital and transfer within 48 hours are associated with poor outcomes when compared with birth in a tertiary setting. We recommend perinatal services promote pathways that facilitate delivery of extremely preterm infants in tertiary hospitals in preference to postnatal transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kjell Helenius
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Section of Neonatal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster campus, Imperial College London, London SW10 9NH, UK
| | - Nicholas Longford
- Section of Neonatal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster campus, Imperial College London, London SW10 9NH, UK
| | - Liisa Lehtonen
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Neena Modi
- Section of Neonatal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster campus, Imperial College London, London SW10 9NH, UK
| | - Chris Gale
- Section of Neonatal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster campus, Imperial College London, London SW10 9NH, UK
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12
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Outborn Birth Status Is Associated With Short- and Long-Term Morbidity in Extremely Preterm Neonates. Pediatr Crit Care Med 2019; 20:994-996. [PMID: 31580277 DOI: 10.1097/pcc.0000000000002042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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13
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Risk of Severe Intraventricular Hemorrhage in the First Week of Life in Preterm Infants Transported Before 72 Hours of Age. Pediatr Crit Care Med 2019; 20:638-644. [PMID: 31013263 DOI: 10.1097/pcc.0000000000001937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Evaluate the risk of severe intraventricular hemorrhage, in the first week of life, in preterm infants undergoing early interhospital transport. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. SETTING Tertiary neonatal centers of the Trent Perinatal Network in the United Kingdom. PATIENTS Preterm infants less than 32 weeks gestation, who were either born within and remained at the tertiary neonatal center (inborn), or were transferred (transported) between centers in the first 72 hours of life. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Multivariable logistic regression models adjusting for key confounders were used to calculate odds ratios for intraventricular hemorrhage with 95% CIs for comparison of inborn and transported infants. Cranial ultrasound findings on day 7 of life. Secondary analyses were performed for antenatal steroid course and gestational age subgroups. A total of 1,047 preterm infants were included in the main analysis. Transported infants (n = 391) had a significantly higher risk of severe (grade III/IV) intraventricular hemorrhage compared with inborns (n = 656) (9.7% vs 5.8%; adjusted odds ratio, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.04-2.76), especially for infants born at less than 28 weeks gestation (adjusted odds ratio, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.03-3.21). Transported infants were less likely to receive a full antenatal steroid course (47.8% vs 64.3%; p < 0.001). A full antenatal steroid course significantly decreased the risk of severe intraventricular hemorrhage irrespective of transport status (odds ratio, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.2-0.55). However, transported infants less than 28 weeks gestation remained significantly more likely to develop a severe intraventricular hemorrhage despite a full antenatal steroid course (adjusted odds ratio, 2.84; 95% CI, 1.08-7.47). CONCLUSIONS Preterm infants transported in the first 72 hours of life have an increased risk of early-life severe intraventricular hemorrhage even when maternal antenatal steroids are given. The additional burden of postnatal transport could be an important component in the pathway to severe intraventricular hemorrhage. As timely in-utero transfer is not always possible, we need to focus research on improving the transport pathway to reduce this additional risk.
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Helenius K, Gissler M, Lehtonen L. Trends in centralization of very preterm deliveries and neonatal survival in Finland in 1987-2017. Transl Pediatr 2019; 8:227-232. [PMID: 31413956 PMCID: PMC6675682 DOI: 10.21037/tp.2019.07.05] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Very preterm infants are at high risk of death and complications of prematurity. Optimal outcomes are achieved if these infants are delivered in hospitals with the highest level of neonatal expertise. Centralization of very preterm deliveries to such hospitals has been recommended for decades, and is supported by a large body of literature. However, centralization may not be easy to implement due to financial, organizational and workforce-related issues. In this review, we present the scientific background for centralization, how it has been successfully implemented in Finland and how neonatal survival has changed following this implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kjell Helenius
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Mika Gissler
- National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Liisa Lehtonen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
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Watson HA, Carlisle N, Kuhrt K, Tribe RM, Carter J, Seed P, Shennan AH. EQUIPTT: The Evaluation of the QUiPP app for Triage and Transfer protocol for a cluster randomised trial to evaluate the impact of the QUiPP app on inappropriate management for threatened preterm labour. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2019; 19:68. [PMID: 30760248 PMCID: PMC6373061 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-019-2210-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Accurate diagnosis of preterm labour is needed to ensure correct management of those most at risk of preterm birth and to prevent the maternal and fetal risks incurred by unnecessary interventions given to the large majority of women, who do not deliver within a week of presentation. Intervention “just-in-case” results in many avoidable admissions, women being transferred out of their local hospital unnecessarily and most women receiving unwarranted drugs, such as steroids and tocolytics. It also precludes appropriate transfers for others as neonatal cots are blocked pre-emptively, resulting in more dangerous ex-utero transfers. We have developed the QUiPP App which is a clinical decision-making aid based on previous outcomes of women, quantitative fetal fibronectin (qfFN) values and cervical length. It is hypothesised that using the QUiPP app will reduce inappropriate admissions and transfers. Methods A multi-site cluster randomised trial will evaluate whether the QUiPP app reduces inappropriate management for threatened preterm labour. The 13 participating centres will be randomly allocated to receive either intervention or control. If the QUiPP app calculates risk of delivery within 7 days to be is less than 5%, clinicians are advised that interventions may be withheld. Women’s experience of threatened preterm labour assessment will be explored using self-completed questionnaires, with a subset of participants being invited to semi-structured interview. A health economics analysis is also planned. Discussion We hypothesise that the QUiPP app will improve identification of the most appropriate women for admission and transfer and ensure that therapies known to reduce risk of preterm neonatal morbidities are offered to those who need them. We will determine which women do not require these therapies, thereby reducing over-medicalisation and the associated maternal and fetal risks for these women. The findings will inform future national guidelines on threatened preterm labour. Beyond obstetrics, evaluating the impact of an app in an emergency setting, and our emphasis on balancing harms of over-treatment as well as under-treatment, make EQUIPTT a valuable contribution to translational medicine. Trial registration The EQUIPTT trial was prospectively registered on 16th January 2018 with the ISRCTN registry (no. 17846337).
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena A Watson
- Division of Women's Health, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, 10th Floor, North Wing, St Thomas's Hospital Campus, London, SE1 7EH, UK.
| | - Naomi Carlisle
- Division of Women's Health, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, 10th Floor, North Wing, St Thomas's Hospital Campus, London, SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Katy Kuhrt
- Division of Women's Health, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, 10th Floor, North Wing, St Thomas's Hospital Campus, London, SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Rachel M Tribe
- Division of Women's Health, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, 10th Floor, North Wing, St Thomas's Hospital Campus, London, SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Jenny Carter
- Division of Women's Health, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, 10th Floor, North Wing, St Thomas's Hospital Campus, London, SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Paul Seed
- Division of Women's Health, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, 10th Floor, North Wing, St Thomas's Hospital Campus, London, SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Andrew H Shennan
- Division of Women's Health, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, 10th Floor, North Wing, St Thomas's Hospital Campus, London, SE1 7EH, UK
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16
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[Analysis of obstetric-pediatric care in the perinatal period. Are births before 31 weeks' gestation in level 2B maternity units avoidable?]. Arch Pediatr 2017; 24:1188-1196. [PMID: 29153908 DOI: 10.1016/j.arcped.2017.09.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2016] [Revised: 07/02/2017] [Accepted: 09/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Regionalization of perinatal care has been developed to improve the survival of preterm babies. The mortality rate is higher among very premature infants born outside level-3 maternity units. The objective of this study was to evaluate the preventability of these very premature births occurring outside recommendations within level-2B maternity units. The secondary objective was to describe the care of premature infants between 23 and 24 weeks. METHODS This is a single-center retrospective qualitative study of the care delivery pathways. Thirty-one deliveries in which the fetus was alive between 23 and 30 weeks+6 days occurred in a level-2B maternity unit in Thionville, France, between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2015. After oral presentation of the cases, a level 2-3 multidisciplinary committee of experts in Lorraine evaluated the preventability criteria and reasons, and divided the deliveries into three groups: (i) birth in level-2B institutions avoidable, (ii) inevitable with factors related to the mother or the organization of care, (iii) with no inevitable factors. RESULTS Out of the 31 deliveries included, the committee classified six deliveries as preventable, 14 as inevitable with factors, and 11 as inevitable with no factors. The criteria for preventability of birth in a level-2B unit were underestimation of maternal and fetal risk, an erroneous initial estimate of term or preterm labor, and two births in the upper limits of the French recommendations for in utero transfer. Nineteen of the 35 premature infants before 31 weeks' gestation died, 16 children were transferred to a level-3 maternity ward, and 16 children were allowed to go home. CONCLUSION Analysis of the obstetrical-pediatric care course by an expert committee determined the preventability of the average birth and prematurity in level-2B maternity units in Lorraine for a small but significant number of cases. The local regionalization of neonatal care could be improved by the application of this method of analysis to other maternity wards in the Lorraine network.
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17
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Watson HA, Carter J, Seed PT, Tribe RM, Shennan AH. The QUiPP App: a safe alternative to a treat-all strategy for threatened preterm labor. ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY 2017; 50:342-346. [PMID: 28436125 DOI: 10.1002/uog.17499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2017] [Accepted: 04/14/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of triaging women at risk of spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) using the QUiPP App, which incorporates a predictive model combining history of sPTB, gestational age and quantitative measurements of fetal fibronectin, compared with a treat-all policy (advocated by the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) among women with threatened preterm labor before 30 weeks' gestation. METHODS Prospectively collected data of pregnant women presenting with symptoms of preterm labor (abdominal pain or tightening) at 24-34 weeks' gestation were retrieved from the research databases of the EQUIPP and PETRA studies for subanalysis. Each episode of threatened preterm labor was retrospectively assigned a risk for sPTB within 7 days using the QUiPP App. A primary outcome of delivery within 7 days was used to model the performance accuracy of the QUiPP App compared with a treat-all policy. RESULTS Using a 5% risk of delivery within 7 days according to the QUiPP App as the threshold for intervention, 9/9 women who presented with threatened preterm labor < 34 weeks would have been treated correctly, giving a sensitivity of 100% (one-sided 97.5% CI, 66.4%) and a negative predictive value of 100% (97.5% CI, 98.9-100%). The positive predictive value for delivery within 7 days was 30.0% (95% CI, 11.9-54.3%) for women presenting before 30 weeks and 20.0% (95% CI, 12.7-30.1%) for women presenting between 30 + 0 and 34 + 0 weeks. If this 5% threshold had been used to triage women presenting between 24 + 0 and 29 + 6 weeks, 89.4% (n = 168) of admissions could have been safely avoided, compared with 0% for a treat-all strategy. No true case of preterm labor would have been missed, as no woman who was assigned a risk of < 10% delivered within 7 days. CONCLUSION For women with threatened preterm labor, the QUiPP App can accurately guide management at risk thresholds for sPTB of 1%, 5% and 10%, allowing outpatient management in the vast majority of cases. A treat-all approach would not have avoided admission for any woman, and would have exposed 188 mothers and their babies to unnecessary hospitalization and steroid administration and increased the burden on network and transport services owing to unnecessary in-utero transfers. Prediction of sPTB should be performed before 30 weeks to determine management until there is evidence that such a high level of unnecessary intervention, as suggested by the treat-all strategy, does less harm than the occurrence of rare false negatives. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- H A Watson
- Division of Women's Health, Kings Health Partners, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - J Carter
- Division of Women's Health, Kings Health Partners, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - P T Seed
- Division of Women's Health, Kings Health Partners, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - R M Tribe
- Division of Women's Health, Kings Health Partners, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - A H Shennan
- Division of Women's Health, Kings Health Partners, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust, London, UK
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18
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Lehtonen L. Are there too many or too few antenatal transfers? Acta Paediatr 2016; 105:450-1. [PMID: 27062474 DOI: 10.1111/apa.13332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2015] [Accepted: 01/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Liisa Lehtonen
- Turku University Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Turku, Finland. .,University of Turku, Finland.
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19
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Helenius K, Helle E, Lehtonen L. Amount of Antenatal Care Days in a Context of Effective Regionalization of Very Preterm Deliveries. J Pediatr 2016; 169:81-6. [PMID: 26602011 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2015.10.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2015] [Revised: 10/05/2015] [Accepted: 10/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the amount of antenatal care days in level III hospitals caused by regionalization of very preterm deliveries. STUDY DESIGN We included all 171,997 pregnancies registered in Finland between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2006. Data on deliveries from the Medical Birth Register were linked to the Hospital Discharge Register. Maternal zip codes were used to define whether a mother lived inside or outside a level III hospital region. Regionalization was defined as care in level III hospitals between gestational weeks 22 and 32 among mothers living outside level III hospital regions. Pregnancies were divided into 3 groups based on the gestational age at delivery: very preterm (<32 weeks), late preterm (32-36 weeks), and term (≥37 weeks). RESULTS There were 12,354 antenatal care days in level III hospitals caused by regionalization, which amounts to a need for 12 antenatal maternal beds annually. In the very preterm pregnancies, the antenatal length of stay was comparable for mothers living inside or outside level III hospital regions (median 4 days, P = .81) but significantly longer for mothers living outside level III hospital regions in the late preterm (median 9 vs 7 days, P = .001) and term groups (median 3 vs 2 days, P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS The costs of regionalization of very preterm deliveries were low, as measured by antenatal care days. Regionalization did not increase the antenatal length of stay in very preterm deliveries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kjell Helenius
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland; Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
| | - Emmi Helle
- Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Stanford University, Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA
| | - Liisa Lehtonen
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland; Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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Porcellato L, Masson G, O'Mahony F, Jenkinson S, Vanner T, Cheshire K, Perkins E. ‘It's something you have to put up with’-service users’ experiences ofin uterotransfer: a qualitative study. BJOG 2015; 122:1825-32. [DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.13235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- L Porcellato
- Centre for Public Health; Faculty of Education, Health and Community; Liverpool John Moores University; Liverpool UK
| | - G Masson
- Maternity Centre; Royal Stoke University Hospital; Stoke on Trent UK
| | - F O'Mahony
- Maternity Centre; Royal Stoke University Hospital; Stoke on Trent UK
| | - S Jenkinson
- Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust; New Cross Hospital; Wolverhampton UK
| | - T Vanner
- Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust; New Cross Hospital; Wolverhampton UK
| | - K Cheshire
- Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust; New Cross Hospital; Wolverhampton UK
| | - E Perkins
- Maternity Centre; Royal Stoke University Hospital; Stoke on Trent UK
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21
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Watson SI, Arulampalam W, Petrou S, Marlow N, Morgan AS, Draper ES, Santhakumaran S, Modi N. The effects of designation and volume of neonatal care on mortality and morbidity outcomes of very preterm infants in England: retrospective population-based cohort study. BMJ Open 2014; 4:e004856. [PMID: 25001393 PMCID: PMC4091399 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-004856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the effects of designation and volume of neonatal care at the hospital of birth on mortality and morbidity outcomes in very preterm infants in a managed clinical network setting. DESIGN A retrospective, population-based analysis of operational clinical data using adjusted logistic regression and instrumental variables (IV) analyses. SETTING 165 National Health Service neonatal units in England contributing data to the National Neonatal Research Database at the Neonatal Data Analysis Unit and participating in the Neonatal Economic, Staffing and Clinical Outcomes Project. PARTICIPANTS 20 554 infants born at <33 weeks completed gestation (17 995 born at 27-32 weeks; 2559 born at <27 weeks), admitted to neonatal care and either discharged or died, over the period 1 January 2009-31 December 2011. INTERVENTION Tertiary designation or high-volume neonatal care at the hospital of birth. OUTCOMES Neonatal mortality, any in-hospital mortality, surgery for necrotising enterocolitis, surgery for retinopathy of prematurity, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and postmenstrual age at discharge. RESULTS Infants born at <33 weeks gestation and admitted to a high-volume neonatal unit at the hospital of birth were at reduced odds of neonatal mortality (IV regression odds ratio (OR) 0.70, 95% CI 0.53 to 0.92) and any in-hospital mortality (IV regression OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.54 to 0.85). The effect of volume on any in-hospital mortality was most acute among infants born at <27 weeks gestation (IV regression OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.33 to 0.79). A negative association between tertiary-level unit designation and mortality was also observed with adjusted logistic regression for infants born at <27 weeks gestation. CONCLUSIONS High-volume neonatal care provided at the hospital of birth may protect against in-hospital mortality in very preterm infants. Future developments of neonatal services should promote delivery of very preterm infants at hospitals with high-volume neonatal units.
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Affiliation(s)
- S I Watson
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - W Arulampalam
- Department of Economics, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - S Petrou
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - N Marlow
- Academic Neonatology, UCL Institute for Women's Health, London, UK
| | - A S Morgan
- Academic Neonatology, UCL Institute for Women's Health, London, UK
| | - E S Draper
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - S Santhakumaran
- Section of Neonatal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster Campus, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - N Modi
- Section of Neonatal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster Campus, Imperial College London, London, UK
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Time-to-delivery after maternal transfer to a tertiary perinatal centre. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:325919. [PMID: 24745012 PMCID: PMC3976911 DOI: 10.1155/2014/325919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2014] [Accepted: 02/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Objectives. To determine, in women transferred antenatally for acute admission with high risk pregnancies, the numbers who deliver, the average time from transfer to delivery, and whether the reason for transfer influences the time-to-delivery. Methods. A retrospective analysis of time-to-delivery was performed in a population of women transferred to the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, QLD. Data were obtained from the hospital obstetric, neonatal, and admission databases. Results. A total of 941 women were transferred antenatally with high risk pregnancies where delivery was deemed potentially imminent. Of these 821 (87%) delivered at RBWH. The remaining 120 women (13%) were discharged prior to delivery and then delivered elsewhere. Of the 821 maternal transfers that delivered, the median time to delivery was 24.4 hrs. There were 43% who delivered within 24 hours of admission and 29% who either delivered after 7 days or delivered elsewhere. Most transfers for fetal abnormality delivered in the first 24 hours while most transfers for antepartum haemorrhage and preterm prelabour membrane rupture delivered beyond 24 hours. Conclusion. There are significant differences in time-to-delivery following transfer depending on the reason for transfer and many infants transferred in utero will not deliver imminently.
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