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

Jonathan Reiss
1   Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, California
,
Pavan S. Upadhyayula
2   University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California
,
Hyeri You
3   University of California San Diego Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute, Biostatistics Unit, La Jolla, California
,
Ronghui Xu
4   Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
5   Department of Mathematics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
,
Lisa M. Stellwagen
6   Division of Academic General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
› Author Affiliations

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 366/7 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.



Publication History

Received: 15 May 2019

Accepted: 09 July 2019

Article published online:
20 August 2019

© 2019. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA

 
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