Effects of active inter-hospital transfer on the clinical outcomes of neonatal acute respiratory distress syndrome / 中国新生儿科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To study the effects of active inter-hospital transfer on the clinical outcomes of neonatal acute respiratory distress syndrome (nARDS).Methods:From September 2018 to December 2020, neonates with nARDS transferred by ground ambulance to NICU of our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. The neonates were assigned into active transfer group and passive transfer group. Their general status, severity of nARDS, incidences of complications, duration of oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation and hospital stay were analyzed.Results:A total of 78 neonates were enrolled in the study, including 45 cases in active transfer group and 33 cases in passive transfer group. No significant differences existed in gestational age, body weight, severity of nARDS, transfer distance and transfer duration between the two groups ( P>0.05). Active transfer group had significantly lower incidence of pneumothorax (3/45, 6.7%) than passive transfer group (6/33, 18.2%) ( P<0.05). No significant differences existed in the incidences of pulmonary hemorrhage, persistent pulmonary hypertension of newborn, intraventricular hemorrhage, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and length of hospital stay between the two groups ( P>0.05). Active transfer group had significantly shorter duration of oxygen therapy [(9.7±2.9) d vs. (11.3±4.0) d], non-invasive[(2.7±1.0) d vs. (3.7±1.4) d] and invasive ventilation [(5.0±1.9) d vs. (6.2±2.3) d] than passive transfer group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Active inter-hospital transfer may reduce the incidence of pneumothorax in neonates with nARDS, shorten the duration of oxygen therapy, non-invasive and invasive ventilation during hospitalization without affecting the length of hospital stay.