[Regionalization of neonatal intensive care. Results and experience at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Rijeka University Hospital].
OBJECTIVE
To analyse mortality of extremely low (ELBW) and very low (VLBW) birth weight nawborns at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Rijeka University Hospital, before, during and after implementing a model of regionalization of perinatal care. In Croatia this model is still not established so the results can help us evaluate whether the suggested model is practicable and whether its appliance decrease newborns' mortality.


METHODS
We compared early neonatal mortality (RNM), neonatal mortality (NM) and intrahospital mortality (MOB) of ELBW and VLBW newborns at the pediods before (1997-2000), during (2000-2001) and after (2003-2006) the implemented changes.


RESULTS
RNM was significantly lowered for both weight groups, but NM and MOB only for VLBW newborns.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show that appliance of regionalization of perinatal care is possible and unquestionable on local level, so it should be implemented on national level too.
Prpić
Igor
I
Klinika za ginekologiju i porodnistvo, KBC Rijeka.
Haller
Herman
H
Petrović
Oleg
O
Krajina
Robert
R
Vukelić
Petar
P
Vukelić-Sarunić
Alenka
A
D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012041:Regional Medical Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*