Single-centre prospective observational study on postdelivery room care.

Area of Science:

• Neonatal Medicine
• Pediatric Critical Care
• Perinatal Research

Background:

• Delivery room care guidelines for preterm infants are established, but postdelivery room care and transfer to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) lack evidence-based protocols.
• The postdelivery room period is critical for preterm infant outcomes, yet processes during this phase are poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify processes during postdelivery room care and NICU admission that may impact preterm infant outcomes.
• To investigate factors influencing the duration of postdelivery room care and NICU admission procedures.

Main Methods:

• Prospective observational study conducted at a single-center German tertiary NICU.
• Included 40 inborn preterm infants undergoing postdelivery room care.
• Assessed duration of postdelivery room care, ventilator disconnections, and infant positioning.

Main Results:

• Transport incubator use was associated with shorter postdelivery room care and NICU admission durations compared to NICU care stations.
• Extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants spent significantly less time in the prone position (8%) than non-ELBW infants (39%).
• Ventilator disconnections were longer for infants on nasal CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) versus those intratracheally intubated, particularly for infants >1000g or transferred via transport incubator.

Conclusions:

• Birth weight and transport method are key parameters influencing neonatal care during the postdelivery room period.
• Further prospective studies are necessary to identify and optimize parameters affecting long-term outcomes in preterm infants during this transitional phase.