Abstract
Objective: Early discharge is to be pursued in preterm infants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of an earlier weaning from incubator in preterm infants, and its impact on an earlier discharge.
Methods: This prospective randomized study included preterm infants with birth weight < 1600 grams admitted in our Neonatal Sub-Intensive Ward. 47 infants transferred from incubator to an open crib at > 1600 grams (ET Early Transition group) were compared with 47 infants transferred from incubator to an open crib at > 1800 grams (ST Standard Transition group). The primary outcome of the study was the length of stay (LOS). Secondary outcomes were the number of infants returned to incubator, growth velocity (GV) in open crib and during the first week at home, the proportion of breastfeeding at discharge and during the first week at home, and the hospital readmission rate.
Results: LOS was significantly shorter in ET than in ST (26 ± 9 vs 35 ± 12 days; p = 0.0001). No infants required to be transferred back to the incubator. Only one infants from ST group was readmitted to the hospital during the first week after discharge. GV and breastfeeding rate were similar between the two groups.
Conclusions: This randomized clinical study demonstrates that weaning preterm infants from incubators to an open crib at weight as low as 1600 g is associated with an early discharge home without apparent adverse effects.
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Corsello, M., Zecca, E., Priolo, F. et al. 67 Early Weaning From Incubator and Early Discharge of Preterm Infants: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Pediatr Res 68 (Suppl 1), 37 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-201011001-00067
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-201011001-00067