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Aeromedical transfer of women at risk of preterm delivery in remote and rural W estern A ustralia: Why are there no births in flight?
Author(s) -
AKL Natalie,
Coghlan Edwina A.,
Nathan Elizabeth A.,
Langford Stephen A.,
Newnham John P.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.734
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1479-828X
pISSN - 0004-8666
DOI - 10.1111/j.1479-828x.2012.01426.x
Subject(s) - medicine , gestational age , altitude (triangle) , rupture of membranes , preterm delivery , obstetrics , pregnancy , pediatrics , gestation , genetics , geometry , mathematics , biology
Objective For more than three decades, women at imminent risk of preterm birth ( PTB ) in W estern A ustralia have been transferred by small aircraft over long distances to the single tertiary level perinatal centre in P erth, with no known case of birth during the flight. We aimed to review recent experience to understand how aircraft travel may delay PTB . Design and setting Retrospective observational study of 500 consecutive R oyal F lying D octor S ervice ( RFDS ) transfers of women at risk of preterm labour to the tertiary referral centre, from S eptember 2007 to D ecember 31, 2009. Main outcome measures In‐flight delivery, complications associated with transfer and factors associated with delay in preterm delivery. Results There were no in‐flight deliveries or serious complications associated with the aeromedical transfer of these patients. In a multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, clinical factors in the presentation that were associated with a shorter time from landing to subsequent delivery included cervical dilatation ≥4 cm, ruptured membranes, gestational age > 32 weeks and nulliparity. The aircraft reaching an ambient altitude > 14,000 feet, or cabin altitude above zero (sea level), was associated with a delay in time from landing to delivery for women who were not in spontaneous preterm labour. Conclusions Our findings add to a 30‐year experience that women at risk of preterm labour do not deliver during aeromedical transfer. Ambient and cabin altitude of the aircraft were associated with an extension in the time to delivery after arrival. The mechanisms underpinning this effect warrant further investigation.