title: [Methods in neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS): results of a nationwide survey in Austria].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) occurs in neonates whose mothers have taken addictive drugs or were under substitution therapy during pregnancy. Incidence numbers of NAS are on the rise globally, even in Austria NAS is not rare anymore. The aim of our survey was to reveal the status quo of dealing with NAS in Austria.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was sent to 20 neonatology departments all over Austria, items included questions on scoring, therapy, breast-feeding and follow-up procedures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 95%, of which 94.7% had written guidelines concerning NAS. The median number of children being treated per year for NAS was 4. Finnegan scoring system is used in 100% of the responding departments. Morphine is being used most often, in opiate abuse (100%) as well as in multiple substance abuse (44.4%). The most frequent forms of morphine preparation are morphine and diluted tincture of opium. Frequency as well as dosage of medication vary broadly. 61.1% of the departments supported breast-feeding, regulations concerned participation in a substitution programme and general contraindications (HIV, HCV, HBV). Our results revealed that there is a big west-east gradient in patients being treated per year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NAS is not a rare entity anymore in Austria (up to 50 cases per year in Vienna). Our survey showed that most neonatology departments in Austria treat their patients following written guidelines. Although all of them base these guidelines on international recommendations there is no national consensus.
authors.affiliation: Klinische Abteilung für Allgemeine Pädiatrie, Universitätsklinik für Kinder- und Jugendheilkunde, Medizinische Universität Graz, Österreich.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bauchinger
authors.affiliation: Klinische Abteilung für Neonatologie, Universitätsklinik für Kinder- und Jugendheilkunde, Medizinische Universität Graz, Österreich.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sapetschnig
authors.affiliation: Klinische Abteilung für Neonatologie, Universitätsklinik für Kinder- und Jugendheilkunde, Medizinische Universität Graz, Österreich.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Danda
authors.affiliation: Klinische Abteilung für Neonatologie, Universitätsklinik für Kinder- und Jugendheilkunde, Medizinische Universität Graz, Österreich.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sommer
authors.affiliation: Klinische Abteilung für Neonatologie, Universitätsklinik für Kinder- und Jugendheilkunde, Medizinische Universität Graz, Österreich.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Resch
authors.affiliation: Klinische Abteilung für Neonatologie, Universitätsklinik für Kinder- und Jugendheilkunde, Medizinische Universität Graz, Österreich.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Urlesberger
authors.affiliation: Klinische Abteilung für Neonatologie, Universitätsklinik für Kinder- und Jugendheilkunde, Medizinische Universität Graz, Österreich.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Raith
mesh_terms: D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D009357:Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors