EFFECTIVENESS OF NEONATAL TRANSPORT

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 118  (6) , 646-649
Abstract
The condition of 259 infants transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the Montreal Children''s Hospital [Canada] for a 6-mo. period was evaluated. Their transport was provided by personnel and equipment from the hospital. When the transport team arrived at the referring hospital hypothermia (temperature of less than 36.degree. C) was present in 25.2% of the 163 infants for whom complete temperature measurements were available. Most (77.3%) of the infants were warmed during transport and only 3.1% arrived at the NICU with a temperature of less than 35.degree. C. The mortality was significantly higher in babies of all birth weight groups whose core temperature was below the optimal temperature for survival (36-37.degree. C). The use of appropriate equipment and trained personnel can reduce the incidence of hypothermia and the mortality in infants requiring transfer.