Summary and Critical Appraisal of Evidence for Intrahospital Neonatal Transport

To systematically review and analyze the literature on intrahospital neonatal transport and synthesize the available evidence to inform the development of standardized transport procedures.

Following the "6S" evidence model, a systematic search was conducted across multiple databases from inception to August 31, 2025. Eligible documents were appraised for methodological quality, and relevant recommendations and evidence statements were extracted and synthesized narratively. The level of evidence and strength of recommendations were graded according to the 2014 JBI evidence pre-grading system.

A total of 10 documents were included, comprising 7 guidelines, 2 evidence summaries, and 1 systematic review. A total of 35 evidence statements were synthesized and grouped into 7 themes: transport team; pre-transport assessment and decision-making; preparation of healthcare providers and neonates; preparation of supplies and medications; transport equipment; monitoring and care during transport; and handover and quality management. The evidence base was primarily derived from guideline recommendations, evidence summaries, and expert consensus.

This review provides a structured synthesis and critical appraisal of the available evidence and recommendations for intrahospital neonatal transport. The synthesized recommendations may help inform standardized transport procedures; however, they should be interpreted with caution because a substantial proportion of the evidence base is derived from guidelines or expert consensus. Further high-quality prospective, multicenter studies are warranted to evaluate the effectiveness, feasibility, and generalizability of these recommendations across diverse clinical settings.