Do transport factors increase the risk of severe brain injury in outborn infants <33 weeks gestational age?

J Perinatol. 2020 Mar;40(3):385-393. doi: 10.1038/s41372-019-0447-1. Epub 2019 Aug 19.

Abstract

Objective: We evaluated transport factors and postnatal practices to identify modifiable risk factors for SBI.

Study design: Retrospective review of Canadian Neonatal Transport Network data linked to Canadian Neonatal Network data for outborns <33 weeks gestational age (GA), during January 2014 to December 2015. SBI was defined as grade 3 or 4 intraventricular hemorrhage or parenchymal echogenicity, including hemorrhagic and/or ischemic lesions.

Result: Among 781 infants, 115 (14.7%) had SBI with range 5.6-40% among transport teams. In multivariable analysis, SBI was associated with GA [0.77 (0.71, 0.85)] per week, receipt of chest compressions and/or epinephrine at delivery [1.81 (1.08, 3.05)] and receipt of fluid boluses [1.61 (1.00, 2.58)].

Conclusions: Risk factors for SBI were related to the condition at birth and immediate postnatal management and not related to transport factors. These results highlight the importance of maternal transfer to perinatal centers to allow optimization of perinatal management.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Brain / pathology
  • Canada
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / etiology*
  • Cerebral Intraventricular Hemorrhage / etiology
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Premature*
  • Infant, Premature, Diseases*
  • Logistic Models
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Transportation of Patients*

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