Stanford University network for diagnosis of retinopathy of prematurity (SUNDROP): 36-month experience with telemedicine screening.
OBJECTIVE
to report the 36-month experience of the Stanford University Network for Diagnosis of Retinopathy of Prematurity (SUNDROP) telemedicine initiative.


METHODS
retrospective analysis of the SUNDROP archival data between December 1, 2005, and November 30, 2008, to evaluate this diagnostic technology for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening. A total of 230 consecutively enrolled infants meeting ROP examination criteria were screened with the Ret-Cam II (Clarity Medical Systems, Pleasanton, CA) and evaluated by the SUNDROP reading center at Stanford University. Outcomes included referral-warranted ROP, treatment-warranted ROP, and anatomic outcomes.


RESULTS
in the initial 36-month period, the SUNDROP telemedicine initiative did not miss any treatment-warranted ROP. A total of 230 infants (460 eyes) were imaged, resulting in 1,059 examinations and 10,921 unique images. Ten infants were identified with referral-warranted ROP: nine underwent laser photocoagulation and one regressed spontaneously. The sensitivity was 100% with a specificity of 99.5%. No patient progressed to retinal detachment or other adverse outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
the SUNDROP telemedicine screening initiative for ROP has demonstrated high reliability for identification of treatment-warranted disease. All cases of treatment-warranted disease were captured. There were no adverse outcomes.
Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94025, USA.
Ruwan A
RA
Silva
Yohko
Y
Murakami
Eleonora M
EM
Lad
Darius M
DM
Moshfeghi
D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000458:organization & administration; D001724:Birth Weight; D002140:California; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological / Q000592:standards*; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D010781:Photography / Q000592:standards*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*