title: Outcomes of Preterm Neonates Transferred Between Tertiary Perinatal Centers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To verify if preterm neonates transferred between tertiary referral centers have worse outcomes than matched untransferred infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cohort study with a historically matched control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two tertiary-level neonatal ICUs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-five neonates per group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Transfer between tertiary-level neonatal ICUs carried out by a fully equipped transportation team.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We measured in-hospital mortality, frequency of intraventricular hemorrhage greater than 2nd grade, periventricular leukomalacia, necrotizing enterocolitis greater than or equal to grade 2, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, composite outcomes (in-hospital mortality/bronchopulmonary dysplasia, in-hospital mortality/intraventricular hemorrhage > 2nd grade, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia/periventricular leukomalacia/intraventricular hemorrhage > 2nd grade), length of neonatal ICU stay, weight at discharge, and time spent on ventilatory support. Seventy-five similar (except for antenatal steroids administration) neonates were enrolled in each cohort. Cohorts did not differ in mortality, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, intraventricular hemorrhage greater than 2nd grade, periventricular leukomalacia, necrotizing enterocolitis greater than or equal to grade 2, any composite outcomes, neonatal ICU stay, weight at discharge, and duration of respiratory support. Results were unchanged adjusting for antenatal steroids.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neonatal transfer between tertiary-level centers does not impact on clinical outcomes, if performed under optimal conditions.
authors.affiliation: 1Division of Pediatrics and Neonatal Critical Care, FAME Department, South Paris University Hospitals, "A.Beclere" Medical Center-APHP, Paris, France. 2Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Sant'Andrea Hospital, ASL VC, Vercelli, Italy. 3Division of Paediatric Critical Care and Neonatal Medicine, FAME Department, South Paris University Hospitals, "Kremlin-Bicetre" Medical Center-APHP, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Longhini
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jourdain
authors.forename: Fatme
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ammar
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mokthari
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boithias
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Romain
authors.forename: Emmanuelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Letamendia
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tissieres
authors.forename: Jean Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Chabernaud
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Luca
mesh_terms: D001034:Apgar Score; D001724:Birth Weight; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D010360:Patient Transfer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*