Short-Term Outcomes following Standardized Admission of Late Preterm Infants to Family-Centered Care

Jonathan Reiss; Pavan S. Upadhyayula; Hyeri You; Ronghui Xu; Lisa M. Stellwagen

doi:10.1055/s-0039-1694981

American Journal of Perinatology, Table of Contents

Am J Perinatol 2021; 38(02): 131-139
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1694981

Original Article

Short-Term Outcomes following Standardized Admission of Late Preterm Infants to Family-Centered Care

Authors

Jonathan Reiss

¹Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, California
Pavan S. Upadhyayula

²University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California
Hyeri You

³University of California San Diego Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute, Biostatistics Unit, La Jolla, California
Ronghui Xu

⁴Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California

⁵Department of Mathematics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
Lisa M. Stellwagen

⁶Division of Academic General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California

Abstract

Objective The study compares the short-term outcomes of late preterm infants (LPI) at an academic center in San Diego, California after a change in protocol that eliminated a previously mandatory 12-hour neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) observation period after birth.

Study Design This is a retrospective observational study examining all LPI born with gestational age 35 to 36^6/7 weeks between October 1, 2016 and October 31, 2017. A total of 189 infants were included in the review. Short-term outcomes were analyzed before and after the protocol change.

Results Transfers to the NICU from family-centered care (FCC) were considerably higher (23.2%) following the protocol change, compared to before (8.2%). More infants were transferred to the NICU for failed car seat tests postprotocol compared to preprotocol. Length of stay before the protocol change was 5.13 days compared to 4.80 days after.

Conclusion LPI are vulnerable to morbidities after delivery and through discharge. We found an increase in failed car seat tests in LPI cared for in FCC after elimination of a mandatory NICU observation after birth. The transitions of care from delivery to discharge are key checkpoints in minimizing complications.

Keywords

late preterm infant - neonatal intensive care unit admission - car seat test - transitions of care - baby friendly hospital

Full Text

References

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