Effectiveness of neonatal transport systems.
In order to assess the effectiveness of neonatal transport systems, morbidity on admission and early neonatal mortality of low birth weight infants below 2000 gm were studied. All infants referred to a neonatal department in Munich or Southern Bavaria from 1979 to 1981 were included. The data of infants born in Munich perinatal centers were compared to those of infants delivered in hospitals in the Munich area (radius 30 km) and in other hospitals in Southern Bavaria. Ninety-four percent of 248 LBW neonates born in the Munich perinatal centers, 87.5% of 736 infants and 84.4% of 681 LBW infants from the Munich area and Southern Bavaria respectively survived the first week of life although the morbidity risks of inborn infants were higher than those of the outborn. The presence of a pediatrician at birth and during neonatal transport to an NICU did not improve survival rates of infants delivered outside the perinatal centers. The effectiveness of neonatal transport systems is limited. They should be complemented by a maternal transport system, i.e., an infant transport in utero for cases in which the necessity for intensive neonatal care is expected.
Saule
H
H
2nd Children's Hospital, Augsburg, West Germany.
Riegel
K
K
Beltinger
C
C
D005860:Germany, West; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D014187:Transportation of Patients