Abstract
In 1967, newborn intensive care centers were developed within two community hospitals having a combined delivery rate >8000 births/year. Two hundred twelve neonates were transported from rural hospitals to these centers between July, 1967 and June, 1970 by specially trained nurses from the centers under direction of a neonatologist. Characteristics of the infants, distance travelled and morbidity and mortality were compared according to a modification of Lubchenko's method. Mortality associated with IRDS was compared between infants transported from and infants remaining in hospitals of birth.
85% of transported infants had birth weights <2500 g. Observed morbidity (86%) and mortality (28%) exceeded predicted morbidity (65%) and mortality (23%) in these infants. Predicted mortality was the same in transported infants with IRDS remaining in their hospitals of birth (59%) exceeded mortality in transported infants with IRDS (32%). Infants originating within or beyond a 60-mile radius of the center had identical mortality (28%).
This transport system has made necessary care available to sick neonates born outside newborn intensive care centers with minimal compromise resulting from transport. Mortality has been independent of distance travelled.
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Meyer, H., Wagner, L., Dorson, W. et al. A regional system for transport for transport of sick neonates in Arizona. Pediatr Res 5, 376 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197108000-00022
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197108000-00022