Adverse effects of neonatal transport between level III centres

The effect of neonatal transport between level III intensive care nurseries was studied by comparing the outcome of 40 infants inborn at a regional level III centre but transported to other level III nurseries for intensive care, with 80 matched inborn controls. Transport appeared to affect respiratory status adversely but transiently. However, transported infants grew less well than control infants (32% were below 3rd centile for weight at 36 weeks vs 15% of controls), were more likely to suffer periventricular haemorrhage (40 vs 21% of controls) and had a worse neurodevelopmental outcome (70% normal at follow up vs 83% of controls). It can be concluded that for infants inborn at the National Women's Hospital, Auckland, transport to another level III centre for intensive care is associated with an increased risk of adverse outcome.