Long-Distance Transport of Neonatal Emergency Cases.

概要

論文の詳細を見る
Background and Aim : In recent years, several neonatal emergency patients born in Gunma prefecture have been transported out of the prefecture because of the lack of neonatal intensive care beds. The aim of this study was to elucidate the effects of long-distance transport on these patients.<BR>Patients and Methods : Between January 1999 and December 2001, nine sick or premature neonates born in Gunma prefecture were transported out of the prefecture by an ambulance belonging to the Gunma Children's Medical Center. We studied the clinical features and outcomes of these patients.<BR>Results : The diagnoses of the patients were as follows : six patients had a very low birth weight, two patients had congenital cardiac defects, and one patient had neonatal asphyxia. Between 40 minutes and 1 hour, 20 minutes were required to transport the patients a distance of between 47 and 105 km. Two patients died at one and two days of age. One of the seven patients who was discharged, an extremely low birth weight infant, suffered from severe neurological sequela from a massive parenchymal hemorrhage of the brain.<BR>Conclusions : The poor outcomes of the patients in this study may be partially due to the long-distance transport of these patients. The number of neonatal intensive care beds in Gunma prefecture must be increased to avoid the necessity of transporting neonatal emergency patients.
北関東医学会の論文