Impact of Interhospital Transport on the Physiologic Status of Very Low-Birth-Weight Infants

Prem Arora; Monika Bajaj; Girija Natarajan; Natasha Purai Arora; Vaneet Kumar Kalra; Marwan Zidan; Seetha Shankaran

doi:10.1055/s-0033-1345259

American Journal of Perinatology, Table of Contents

Am J Perinatol 2014; 31(03): 237-244
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1345259

Original Article

Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Impact of Interhospital Transport on the Physiologic Status of Very Low-Birth-Weight Infants

Prem Arora

¹Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, The Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit Medical Center, Children's Hospital of Michigan and Hutzel Women's Hospital, Detroit, Michigan

,

Monika Bajaj

¹Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, The Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit Medical Center, Children's Hospital of Michigan and Hutzel Women's Hospital, Detroit, Michigan

,

Girija Natarajan

¹Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, The Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit Medical Center, Children's Hospital of Michigan and Hutzel Women's Hospital, Detroit, Michigan

,

Natasha Purai Arora

²Department of Internal Medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan

,

Vaneet Kumar Kalra

¹Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, The Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit Medical Center, Children's Hospital of Michigan and Hutzel Women's Hospital, Detroit, Michigan

,

Marwan Zidan

³The Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, Michigan

,

Seetha Shankaran

¹Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, The Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit Medical Center, Children's Hospital of Michigan and Hutzel Women's Hospital, Detroit, Michigan

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Objectives To evaluate the change in physiologic stability of very low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants following transport using TRIPS (transport risk index of physiologic stability) score as a measure of physiologic stability and compare changes in TRIPS score in groups of VLBW infants who underwent shorter versus longer transport.

Study Design Retrospective chart review.

Results Our cohort of 106 infants, 44 (41%) of whom were females, had a mean birth weight of 777 g (standard deviation [SD] 159) and median gestational age of 26 weeks (range 23 to 32 weeks). Mean weight at transfer was 1,610 g (SD 924) and mean postnatal age at transfer was 56 days (SD 45). Median time on transport was 15 minutes (range 10 to 85 minutes). All 106 transports were ground transports. Of the 106 infants, 57 (54%) had deterioration, 20 (19%) had improvement, and 29 (27%) had no change in their physiologic status during transport. Comparison of the two transport duration groups based on median transport time as a cutoff point (i.e., ≤ 15 minutes and > 15 minutes) revealed a higher proportion of infants with deterioration in their physiologic status in the prolonged transport (>15 minutes) group (65% versus 45%; p = 0.03). Temperature change, either alone or in combination with other indices, was responsible for change in TRIPS score (deterioration or improvement) in 79% of these infants.

Conclusions Interhospital transport of VLBW infants may cause deterioration in their physiologic status, the likelihood of which is increased with longer duration of transport. Better temperature regulation during interhospital transport may decrease the chances of deterioration in physiologic status of VLBW infants.

Keywords

neonatal transport - TRIPS score - transport duration

Full Text

References

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