BACK TRANSPORT OF INFANTS FROM NEWBORN INTENSIVE CARE UNITS (NICUS) FOR CONVALESCENT CARE. IS IT SAFE?

The clinical course of 55 back-transported (BT) infants was compared with that of 49 infants who remained at a regional peri natal center for convalescent care (NT). Although the mean birth-weight and mean gestational age of the BT infants was significantly less than that of NT infants (BT = 1614±522 gms and 32±2.7 wks, NT = 1902±626 and 33.1±2.5; p <0.05), the two groups did not differ in the incidence of respiratory disease, infectious complications, hyperbilirubinemia, patent ductus arteriosus, intraventricular hemorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis, or days of assisted ventilation. The mean daily weight gain of the BT infants was significantly greater than that of the NT infants (BT=26±11 gms, NT=16.6±12, p<.001). Four BT infants were retransferred to NICUs prior to discharge. The BT infants exhibited a significantly greater number (p<.05) of new cardiovascular problems after transport. Following transfer, the BT infants did not demonstrate increased oxygen needs or increased incidence of feeding intolerance (emesis, abdominal distention, gastric residuals). No change in the frequency or nature of episodes of apnea and bradycardia occurred among the BT group. A comparison of the incidence of new respiratory, GI, metabolic, neurologic, infectious, and miscellaneous problems revealed no statistical difference between the two groups. We concluded that, when practiced within our regional perinatal system, back transport was safe.