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Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Neonatal abstinence syndrome--postnatal ward versus neonatal unit management
Tolulope Saiki1, Silke Lee, Simon Hannam
1Division of Asthma, Allergy and Lung Biology, King's College London, MRC, Asthma Centre, King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RS, UK.
Aim:
The aim of this cohort study was to test the hypothesis that caring for infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) with their mothers on the postnatal ward rather than admit them to the neonatal unit would reduce treatment duration and length of hospital stay.
Results:
The outcomes of infants with NAS cared for in 2002-2005 (Group A, n = 42) and 2006-2007 (Group B, n = 18) were compared. Group A infants were admitted to the neonatal unit for assessment and treatment as necessary, but Group B infants remained on the postnatal ward with their mother. Sixty infants (median gestational age 39, range 26-42 weeks) were included in the study. The proportion of infants in Group B compared to Group A requiring treatment for NAS was lower (45% versus 11%, p = 0.012) and the durations of treatment (mean 12.7 versus 7.3 days, p = 0.05) and hospital stay (mean 19.8 versus 15.9 days, p = 0.012) were shorter in Group B. No infant in either group was readmitted within the next 2 months.
Conclusions:
These results suggest caring for infants with NAS on the postnatal ward rather than the neonatal unit reduces the need for treatment and duration of hospital stay.
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