Neonatal outcome of inborn and transported very-low-birth-weight infants: relevance of perinatal factors

Risk of Severe Intraventricular Hemorrhage in the First Week of Life in Preterm Infants Transported Before 72 Hours of Age

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.

Risk of neurodevelopmental impairment for outborn extremely preterm infants in an Australian regional network

OBJECTIVE

To compare neurodevelopmental outcomes at 2-3 years in extremely premature outborn and inborn infants.

DESIGN

Population-based retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Geographically defined area of New South Wales (NSW) and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) served by a network of 10 neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).

PATIENTS

All premature infants <29 weeks gestation born between 1998 and 2004 in the setting.

INTERVENTION

At 2-3 years, corrected age, 1473 children were assessed with either the Griffiths Mental Developmental Scales (GMDS) or the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID-II).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Moderate/severe functional disability (FD) defined as: developmental delay (GMDS general quotient (GQ) or BSID-II mental developmental index (MDI)) > 2 standard deviations (SD) below the mean; cerebral palsy (CP) requiring aids; sensorineural or conductive deafness (requiring amplification); or bilateral blindness (visual acuity <6/60 in better eye).

RESULTS

At 2-3 years, moderate/severe functional disability does not appear to be significantly different between outborn and inborn infants (adjusted OR 0.782; 95% CI 0.424-1.443). However, there were a significant number of outborn infants lost to follow up (23.3% versus 42.9%).

CONCLUSION

In this cohort, at 2-3 years follow up neurodevelopmental outcome does not appear to be significantly different between outborn and inborn infants. These results should be interpreted with caution given the limitation of this study.

Mortality and morbidity in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants in a neonatal intensive care unit

OBJECTIVE

To determine the morbidity and mortality in ELBW babies till discharge from a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

METHODS

This study was a prospective observational study conducted in a 40 bed well equipped level III care NICU between 01.12.2006 and 30.04.2008. All ELBW babies admitted during this period were assessed for morbidities and interventions required during NICU stay and for their outcome like survival or death.

RESULTS

The survival rate of 87 ELBW babies admitted during this period was 56.1 %. Pulmonary hemorrhage was the commonest cause of death (25 %) followed by respiratory distress syndrome (22.5 %), intraventricular hemorrhage (22.5 %) and sepsis (20 %). Significantly higher number of non-survivors were <750 g at birth (p = 0.0001) and <28 wk gestation (p = 0.0001). Small for gestational babies had better chances of survival compared to those appropriate for gestational age (p = 0.005). RDS (67.8 %), probable sepsis (62.1 %) and hyperbilirubinemia (59.8 %) were the most frequent morbidities. Conventional ventilation (72.4 %) and nasal CPAP(48.3 %) were the commonest respiratory interventions. Surfactant replacement therapy was required in 47.1 % babies.

CONCLUSIONS

ELBW babies have a major contribution to mortality in a NICU. Babies with birth weight <750 g and gestation <28 wk have poor survival. RDS, pulmonary hemorrhage, IVH and sepsis are the common causes of death while RDS, sepsis and hyperbilirubinemia are the most common morbidities.

Factors associated with clinical complications during intra-hospital transports in a neonatal unit in Brazil

OBJECTIVE

Analyze factors associated with clinical complications during intra-hospital transport of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients.

METHODS

Prospective study of 641 infants submitted to 1197 intra-hospital transports at a public university NICU. Factors associated with clinical complications during intra-hospital transports were studied by multiple logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Included infants had a mean gestational age of 35.1 ± 3.8 weeks and a birth weight of 2328 ± 906 g. Underline diseases were: malformations (71.9%), infections (7.6%), respiratory distress (4.1%) and others (16.4%). Patients were transported for surgical procedures (22.6%), magnetic resonance (10.6%), tomography imaging (20.9%), contrasted exams (18.2%), ultrasound (10.4%) and others (17.3%). Clinical complications occurred in 327 (27.3%) transports and were associated (odds ratio; 95% CI) with: central nervous system malformations (1.6; 95% CI 1.0-2.0); use of supplemental oxygen (4.0; 95% CI 2.8-5.6); mechanical ventilation (5.0; 95% CI 3.5-7.5); transport for surgeries (4.0; 95% CI 1.1-14.0) and duration of the transport longer than 120 min (1.6; 95% CI 1.1-2.4).

CONCLUSIONS

Intra-hospital transports are associated with increased risk of clinical complications.

Fatores associados à hipotermia durante o transporte intra-hospitalar em pacientes internados em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal

OBJETIVO: Determinar a frequência e os fatores associados à ocorrência de hipotermia em transportes intra-hospitalares de pacientes internados em uma unidade neonatal de cuidados intensivos. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal aninhado em uma coorte prospectiva de crianças submetidas a transportes intra-hospitalares realizados por uma equipe treinada de janeiro de 1997 a dezembro de 2008 na unidade de cuidados intensivos de um hospital público universitário. Foram excluídos os transportes de pacientes com mais de um ano e/ou com peso na data do transporte superior a 10kg. Os fatores associados à hipotermia durante o transporte foram estudados por regressão logística. RESULTADOS: Dos 1.197 transportes realizados no período do estudo, 1.191 (99,5%) atenderam aos critérios de inclusão. As doenças de base das 640 crianças estudadas (idade gestacional: 35,0±3,8 semanas; peso ao nascer: 2341±888g) foram: malformações únicas ou múltiplas (71,0%), infecções (7,7%), hemorragia peri/intraventricular (5,5%), desconforto respiratório (4,0%) e outros (11,8%). Os pacientes foram transportados para realização de cirurgias (22,6%), ressonância magnética (10,6%), tomografia (20,9%), exames contrastados (18,2%) e outros procedimentos (27,7%). A hipotermia ocorreu em 182 (15,3%) transportes e se associou ao (OR; IC95%): peso ao transporte <1000g (3,7; 1,4-9,9); peso ao transporte 1000-2500g (1,5; 1,0-2,2); temperatura axilar pré-transporte <36,5°C (2,0; 1,4-2,9); presença de malformações do sistema nervoso (2,8; 1,8-4,4); uso de oxigênio inalatório (1,6; 1,0-2,5); ventilação mecânica antes do transporte (2,5; 1,5-4,0); cirurgias (1,7; 1,0-2,7) e anos de 2001, 2003 e 2006 (protetores). CONCLUSÕES: Os transportes intra-hospitalares apresentaram risco elevado de hipotermia, mostrando que devem ser realizados por equipe habilitada e com equipamentos adequados.

Perfis de mortalidade neonatal precoce: um estudo para uma Maternidade Pública de Belo Horizonte (MG), 2001-2006

Trata-se de estudo seccional, com base em dados secundários, com o objetivo de traçar o perfil dos óbitos neonatais precoces ocorridos em uma Maternidade Pública de referência no Estado de Minas Gerais (Maternidade Odete Valadares), Belo Horizonte, no período de 2001 a 2006. Foram utilizadas variáveis relacionadas ao recém-nascido (período de ocorrência do óbito, idade ao óbito, sexo, idade gestacional e peso ao nascer), à mãe (tipo de gravidez, tipo de parto, idade, parturição e número de nascidos mortos), bem como causas múltiplas de mortalidade categorizadas. Obtiveram-se três perfis de óbitos neonatais precoces por meio do método Grade of Membership, que possibilitou também encontrar a prevalência destes perfis. O Perfil 1 foi caracterizado por óbitos de difícil redução e teve prevalência de 41,4%; o Perfil 2, pelos óbitos passíveis de redução (prevalência de 28,3%); e o Perfil 3, pelos óbitos redutíveis (prevalência de 30,4%). Estes perfis possibilitaram a compreensão da mortalidade neonatal precoce na Maternidade Odete Valadares e a análise da sua relação com a história reprodutiva e obstétrica materna, bem como com as condições do recém-nascido. Chama a atenção a elevada prevalência de óbitos evitáveis, realidade que deve ser enfrentada pelos profissionais e pela rede pública de saúde.

Characteristics of neonatal units that care for very preterm infants in Europe: results from the MOSAIC study

OBJECTIVES

We sought to compare guidelines for level III units in 10 European regions and analyze the characteristics of neonatal units that care for very preterm infants.

METHODS

The MOSAIC (Models of Organising Access to Intensive Care for Very Preterm Births) project combined a prospective cohort study on all births between 22 and 31 completed weeks of gestation in 10 European regions and a survey of neonatal unit characteristics. Units that admitted > or = 5 infants at < 32 weeks of gestation were included in the analysis (N = 111). Place of hospitalization of infants who were admitted to neonatal care was analyzed by using the cohort data (N = 4947). National or regional guidelines for level III units were reviewed.

RESULTS

Six of 9 guidelines for level III units included minimum size criteria, based on number of intensive care beds (6 guidelines), neonatal admissions (2), ventilated patients (1), obstetric intensive care beds (1), and deliveries (2). The characteristics of level III units varied, and many were small or unspecialized by recommended criteria: 36% had fewer than 50 very preterm annual admissions, 22% ventilated fewer than 50 infants annually, and 28% had fewer than 6 intensive care beds. Level II units were less specialized, but some provided mechanical ventilation (57%) or high-frequency ventilation (20%) or had neonatal surgery facilities (17%). Sixty-nine percent of level III and 36% of level I or II units had continuous medical coverage by a qualified pediatrician. Twenty-two percent of infants who were < 28 weeks of gestation were treated in units that admitted fewer than 50 very preterm infants annually (range: 2%-54% across the study regions).

CONCLUSIONS

No consensus exists in Europe about size or other criteria for NICUs. A better understanding of the characteristics associated with high-quality neonatal care is needed, given the high proportion of very preterm infants who are cared for in units that are considered small or less specialized by many recommendations.

Transporte intra-hospitalar de pacientes internados em UTI Neonatal: fatores de risco para intercorrências

OBJETIVO: Estudar os fatores associados à hipotermia e ao aumento da necessidade de oxigênio e/ou suporte ventilatório durante o transporte intra-hospitalar de pacientes internados em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva neonatal. MÉTODOS: Estudo prospectivo de todos os pacientes internados na unidade neonatal que necessitaram de transporte intra-hospitalar de janeiro de 1997 a dezembro de 2000, entre segundas-feiras e sextas-feiras, das 8h às 17h. Fatores associados à hipotermia e ao aumento da necessidade de oxigênio e/ou de suporte ventilatório durante e até duas horas após o transporte foram estudados por meio de regressão logística. RESULTADOS: Foram realizados 502 transportes no período. Os pacientes tinham em média 2.000g, 35 semanas de idade gestacional ao nascer e 22 dias de vida. As principais indicações do transporte foram: cirurgia e realização de exames de imagem. A hipotermia ocorreu em 17% dos transportes e o aumento da necessidade de oxigênio e/ou de suporte ventilatório em 7%. Fatores associados à hipotermia foram: duração do transporte >3h (OR=2,1; IC95%=1,2-3,6), presença de malformações neurológicas (OR=1,7; IC95%=1,1-2,5), transporte realizado em 1997 (OR=1,7; IC95%=1,1-2,6) e peso no transporte >3.500g (OR=0,3; IC95%=0,16-0,68). Fatores de risco para o aumento da necessidade de oxigênio e/ou de suporte ventilatório foram: idade gestacional ao nascimento em semanas (OR=0,9; IC95%=0,8-0,9), idade em dias no transporte (OR=1,0; IC95%=1,0-1,1) e presença de malformações gastrintestinais e geniturinárias (OR=3,1; IC95%=1,6-6,2). CONCLUSÕES: As intercorrências relativas ao transporte intra-hospitalar são freqüentes nos neonatos em UTI e estão associadas às condições dos pacientes e dos transportes.

Effect of managed care on perinatal transports for the publicly funded in upstate New York

OBJECTIVE

To determine if Medicaid Managed Care (MMC) status influences perinatal transfer rates among publicly funded individuals in a well-regionalized area.

STUDY DESIGN

Perinatal transport rates were determined from deidentified data from the NYS Perinatal Data System (PDS). The predictor of interest was managed care status. Covariates included maternal, newborn, and regional variables.

RESULTS

The unadjusted probability of maternal transfer was 28% lower among women enrolled in MMC vs those with Medicaid Fee-for-Service (MFFS) (odds ratio (OR)=0.72; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.63 to 0.82). When adjusted for clinical variables influencing maternal transfer and hospital level, women in managed care were 44% less likely to be transferred (OR=0.56; 95% CI: 0.36 to 0.86). Newborns were transferred at similar rates regardless of managed care status.

CONCLUSIONS

MMC status remains a significant independent predictor for maternal transfer in upstate New York (NY). Despite a well-regionalized organization for perinatal care where pre-existing written protocols for transfer between institutions are established independent of insurance status, managed care may influence decisions on nature and location of care delivery.

Regionalization of perinatal care in Europe

This review describes European health policies related to the place of birth of very preterm babies, and the organizational context in which these policies were enacted using data from two European studies. It also compiles available information on the place of birth of very preterm babies from the published literature. In Europe, there is significant diversity in approaches to the provision of intensive care services for the small proportion of pregnant women and babies that need it, both in terms of health policies and the supply and characteristics of maternity and neonatal units. These diverse models in countries with similar levels of development and medical technology could offer an opportunity to understand how different organizational characteristics affect access to care, health outcomes and resource use.

Survival and long-term neurodevelopmental outcome of extremely premature infants born at 23-26 weeks' gestational age at a tertiary center

OBJECTIVE

Long-term outcome, including school-age function, has been infrequently reported in infants born at ages as young as 23-26 weeks' gestation. The objective of this study is to report outcome on a large cohort of these infants to understand better the risks and factors that affect survival and long-term prognosis.

METHODS

Records from 1036 infants who were born between January 1, 1986, and December 31, 2000, were analyzed retrospectively by logistic regression to correlate multiple factors with both survival and long-term outcome. A total of 675 surviving infants were analyzed at a mean age of 47.5 months for developmental outcome. A subset of 147 surviving infants who were born before 1991 were followed through school-age years using the University of Vermont Achenbach Child Behavioral Checklist and Teachers Report Form. Longitudinal follow-up was performed comparing 1-year outcome with school-age performance.

RESULTS

Gestational age and recent year of birth correlated highly with survival. Maternal nonwhite race, female sex, inborn status, surfactant therapy, single gestation, and secondary sepsis also correlated positively with survival. Normal cranial ultrasound results, absence of chronic lung disease, female sex, cesarean delivery, and increased birth weight correlated favorably with long-term outcome. Infants who were born at 23 weeks were more likely to have severe impairments compared with those who were born at 24-26 weeks. Early follow-up identified most subsequent physical impairments but correlated poorly with school-age function.

CONCLUSIONS

Survival continues to improve for infants who are born at extremely early gestational ages, but long-term developmental concerns continue to be prevalent. Early outcomes do not reliably predict school-age performance. Strategies that reduce severe intraventricular hemorrhage and chronic lung disease will likely yield the best chances to improve long-term outlook.

The effect of birth hospital type on the outcome of very low birth weight infants

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that the likelihood of death or major morbidity is reduced for very low birth weight (VLBW; <1500 g) infants who are born at hospitals with subspecialty perinatal and neonatal care compared with other available birth sites.

METHODS

A population-based cohort study was conducted of all live births of 500 to 1499 g at the 19 hospitals in the greater Cincinnati region from September 1, 1995, through December 31, 1997 (N = 848). Primary outcome was the risk-adjusted, predischarge mortality or morbidity, including bronchopulmonary dysplasia, severe intracranial hemorrhage, severe retinopathy of prematurity, or necrotizing enterocolitis for VLBW infants who were born at subspecialty perinatal centers compared with those who were born at nonsubspecialty centers.

RESULTS

The odds of death or major morbidity for VLBW infants who are born at nonsubspecialty perinatal centers is twice that of infants who are born at subspecialty centers despite controlling for demographic (odds ratio [OR]: 2.64; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.7-4.2) and practice characteristics (OR: 1.96; 95% CI: 1.2-3.2). The effect of birth hospital type on death or major morbidity was greater for infants of 1000 to 1499 g birth weight (OR: 3.42; 95% CI: 2.0-6.1) than for infants of 500 to 999 g birth weight (OR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.0-4.8).

CONCLUSION

The current study lends strong support to existing Academy of Pediatrics and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommendations that deliveries at <32 weeks' gestational age occur at subspecialty perinatal centers.

Intrauterine versus postnatal transport of the preterm infant: a short-distance experience

AIM

The purpose of this study was to compare neonatal outcome (mortality, respiratory distress syndrome, intraventricular hemorrhage, necrotising enterocolitis, persisting ductus arteriosus, and septicaemia) after intrauterine transport versus neonatal transport in an area where short-distance transport is the rule.

METHODS

The study was retrospective in nature. The files of all neonates delivered between 24 and 34 weeks from 1994 to 1998 and transported intrauterine or postnatally to the Antwerp University Hospital were reviewed. Cases of intrauterine fetal death and mothers discharged before delivery were excluded, as were infants with lethal congenital anomalies.

RESULTS

A total of 328 deliveries after intrauterine transport, resulting in 416 neonates and 187 neonates transported postnatally were included. The maximum distance patients had to be transported was 40 km. Placental abruption was more frequent in the mothers of the neonatal transport group (13 vs. 5%, P=0.001). Corticosteroids were administered significantly less in the neonatal transport group (67 vs. 13%, P<0.0001). Preterm rupture of the membranes (36 vs. 20%, P<0.0001), preterm labour (73 vs. 36%, P<0.0001), and pre-eclampsia (10 vs. 7%, P<0.0001) were more frequent in the intrauterine transport group and this group had a lower mean birthweight and gestational age. There was no significant difference for overall neonatal mortality, respiratory distress syndrome, intraventricular hemorrhage, necrotising enterocolitis, persisting ductus arteriosus or septicaemia.

Does parity affect the neonatal outcome of very-low-birth-weight infants ?

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the impact of parity on the neonatal outcome (survival, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and severe intraventricular hemorrhage) of very-low-birth-weight infants, accounting for sociodemographic, obstetric and perinatal variables.

STUDY DESIGN

One hundred and eleven singleton premature infants with birth weights of 750--1250 grams, delivered between 1990 and 1994 and treated in the Hadassah University Hospitals in Jerusalem, were evaluated. In the analyses, variables with statistically significant association with the outcome variables were identified and entered together with parity as explanatory variables in a logistic regression. The results were analyzed with and without the inclusion of respiratory distress syndrome, representing an index of initial illness severity, in the multivariate model.

RESULTS

Neonatal mortality was higher in the 2--11 parity group when compared with first born infants. This association was of borderline statistical significance (OR=3.3; P=0.09), and was evident only upon exclusion of respiratory distress syndrome from the equation. There was no association between parity and the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The risk for developing severe intraventricular hemorrhage was higher in offsprings of multiparous women (OR=4.6; P=0,08 for parity 2-4, and OR=7.6; P=0.03 for parity 5--11). Respiratory distress syndrome was significantly associated with all the outcome variables and, to some extent, masked the relevance of pregnancy duration. A short hospitalization period before delivery was associated with increased mortality and with higher incidence of severe intraventricular hemorrhage. High initial Apgar scores appeared protective against severe intraventricular hemorrhage and bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrate a trend for increased survival of first born premature infants when compared with offsprings of subsequent deliveries, and an association between advanced parity and the development of severe intraventricular hemorrhage. Confirmation of these data by other studies is required before resultant implications are considered.