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Does earlier arrival of the retrieval team improve short‐term outcomes in outborn extremely premature infants?
Author(s) -
Sharpe Janet B,
Davies Mark W
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/jpc.14064
Subject(s) - medicine , retrospective cohort study , logistic regression , univariate analysis , gestation , pediatrics , gestational age , neonatal intensive care unit , multivariate analysis , pregnancy , surgery , biology , genetics
Aim The risk of mortality and morbidity is increased in outborn, extremely premature infants. We aim to determine whether earlier arrival of the retrieval team after the birth of infants less than 29 weeks gestation improves short‐term mortality and morbidity. Methods This is a retrospective analysis of a cohort of infants less than 29 weeks gestation who were retrieved to the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (RBWH) over a 5‐year period. Demographic information regarding the infant and mother, retrieval team arrival time and outcome data was collected. Primary outcomes investigated were mortality prior to discharge from hospital or a composite of mortality or severe intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH). Results Data on 105 infants were analysed; 88 infants (83.8%) survived to discharge home, and 79 (75.2%) survived to discharge without severe IVH. On univariate analysis, there was no significant association between age at arrival of the retrieval team and death prior to discharge ( P = 0.94) or death prior to discharge or severe IVH ( P = 0.83). On logistic regression analysis, age at arrival of retrieval team remained non‐significant for a reduction in death prior to discharge and composite of death or severe IVH ( P = 0.70 and P = 0.99, respectively). Conclusion The earlier arrival of the retrieval team is not associated with improved short‐term outcomes in outborn, extremely preterm infants who are retrieved and admitted to a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit – for infants where the retrieval team arrived within about 8 h of birth.