Comparative mortality and morbidity of infants transferred in utero or postnatally

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Abstract
The outcome of 212 [human] infants transferred in utero and delivered in the regional neonatal intensive care center is compared with 166 infants born elsewhere and transferred neonatally to the same unit, during the same period of time. The mean birthweight (.+-. 1 SD) was 1391 g (.+-. 415 g) for the infants transferred in utero, and 1398 g (.+-. 415 g) for the infants transferred neonatally. The mean gestational age of the 2 groups was 29.9 completed weeks for both groups. Survival was defined as discharge from the neonatal unit and intraventricular hemoorrhage was diagnosed ultrasonically. The survival rate was 83% for the group transferred in utero and 70% for the group transferred postnatally (P = < 0.01). Incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage was 30 and 45%, respectively (P = < 0.01). Using birthweight, specific perinatal mortality rates and intraventricular hemorrhage rates of the neonatally transferred group for standardization, it can be calculated that 27 infants survived and 31 were protected from intraventricular hemorrhage because of in-utero transfer. Infants likely to require neonatal intensive care have decreased mortality and morbidity if transferred in utero to a center with these facilities rather than being transferred neonatally.