[Efficacy of a specialized transport service for newborn infants]

To test the efficacy of a specialized transport service for sick newborns, changs in pH, Dextrostix values, and rectal temperature during transportation are compared in newborns transported by a specialized team and newborns referred by personnel of obstetric clinics to a neonatal intensive care unit. From January 1, 1974 to December 31, 1977 487 newborns below the age of 48 hours were transported by a specialized team and 336 were referred. The percentage of acidotic and hypothermic infants decreased significantly during transport by a specialized team, and there was a slight decrease in the percentage of hypoglycemic infants. In contrast, the percentage of referred newborns with acidosis and hypoglycemia increased and there was no decrease in the percentage of hypothermic newborns in this group. The advantage of specialized transportation is further underlined by the fact that these newborns were more severely ill than those brought by personnel of the referring clinics. The financial and administrative efforts involved in running a specialized transport system for newborns are justified.