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Number of women requiring care at a tertiary hospital equipped with a neonatal intensive care unit at night in an area with a population of 2 million
Author(s) -
Yamada Takahiro,
Cho Kazutoshi,
Morikawa Mamoru,
Yamada Takashi,
Akaishi Rina,
Ishikawa Satoshi,
Minakami Hisanori
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1447-0756
pISSN - 1341-8076
DOI - 10.1111/jog.12113
Subject(s) - medicine , neonatal intensive care unit , tertiary care , population , morning , labour ward , pediatrics , emergency medicine , pregnancy , environmental health , biology , genetics
Aim Women with imminent premature labor ( IPL ) are transported to a tertiary hospital equipped with neonatal intensive care unit ( NICU ) even during the night. However, there have been no extensive studies of the occurrence rate of night IPL . The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence rate of night IPL in an area with a population of 2 million. Materials and Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted using data collected by the S apporo O bstetric S ystem for E mergency P atients launched in O ctober 2008, in which women, physicians, and ambulance staff who sought appropriate obstetric/gynecological facilities available in the night (19.00–06.00 hours) were informed of candidate hospitals by coordinators through telephone consultation. This system covered the S apporo area, which has a population of 2 000 000 and 17 000 births annually. Approximately 14% and 86% of women received antenatal care at six and 35 obstetric facilities with and without NICU , respectively, in this area. Night IPL was defined as a threatened premature labor and transport to one of six tertiary hospitals with NICU between 19.00 and 06.00 hours the next morning. Results During a 4‐year period from 1 O ctober 2008 to 30 S eptember 2012, the S apporo O bstetric S ystem for E mergency P atients received 158 ± 23 (mean ± standard deviation) monthly telephone consultations (range 114–218 per month). The monthly number of patients with night IPL was 3.0 ± 2.2 (range 0–9 per month). Conclusions The monthly number of cases of night IPL was around three among women who received antenatal care at obstetrics facilities without NICU in an area with a population of 2 000 000.