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Outcome of neonatal intensive care: obstetric implications for a regional service
Author(s) -
Watkinson Michael,
Mcintosh Neil
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1986.tb08056.x
Subject(s) - medicine , in utero , neonatal intensive care unit , birth weight , intensive care , resuscitation , pediatrics , low birth weight , obstetrics , gestation , neonatal mortality , neonatal resuscitation , pregnancy , infant mortality , emergency medicine , fetus , intensive care medicine , population , environmental health , genetics , biology
Summary. Data from 634 newborn babies with birthweights ≤2000 g admitted to the South West Thames Regional Neonatal Unit in St George's Hospital since its opening in 1980 were analysed. Only 271 (43%) of the pregnancies were booked there; 200 (32%) of the babies were transferred in utero and 162 (26%) after delivery. Weight‐specific neonatal survival rates, calculated after exclusion of lethal abnormalities showed that between 1001 and 1500 g, 79 (96%) of the 82 babies transferred in utero survived in 1981–1984, compared with only 57 (79%) of the 72 postnatal transfers (P<0·02). Under 1000 g, no such differences were found, possibly because paediatricians transferred only the fitter babies in this weight range. The birth of very‐low‐birthweight babies of short gestation in units unable to provide immediate resuscitation, adequate stabilization and full neonatal intensive care is a major risk factor for increased neonatal mortality. These findings support the role of regional perinatal centres as service units for antenatal transfer and neonatal intensive care, and as teaching centres.