Early weaning from incubator and early discharge of preterm infants: randomized clinical trial.
OBJECTIVE
The goal was to assess the feasibility of earlier weaning from the incubator for preterm infants.


METHODS
This was a prospective, randomized study with preterm infants with birth weights of <1600 g who were admitted to a neonatal subintensive ward. Findings for 47 infants who were transferred from an incubator to an open crib at >1600 g (early transition group) were compared with those for 47 infants who were transferred from an incubator to an open crib at >1800 g (standard transition [ST] group). The primary outcome of the study was length of stay. Secondary outcomes were the number of infants returned to an incubator, the growth velocity in an open crib and during the first week at home, the proportions of breastfeeding at discharge and during the first week at home, and the hospital readmission rate.


RESULTS
The length of stay was significantly shorter in the early transition group than in the standard transition group (23.5 vs 33 days; P=.0002). No infants required transfer back to the incubator. Only 1 infant in the standard transition group was readmitted to the hospital during the first week after discharge. Growth velocities and individual amounts of breastfeeding were similar between the 2 groups.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, weaning of moderately preterm infants from incubators to open cribs at 1600 g was safe and resulted in earlier discharge.
Zecca
Enrico
E
University Hospital A. Gemelli, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy. enrizecca@rm.unicatt.it
Corsello
Mirta
M
Priolo
Francesca
F
Tiberi
Eloisa
E
Barone
Giovanni
G
Romagnoli
Costantino
C
D000367:Age Factors; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007186:Incubators, Infant / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies