Title

Post-resuscitation complications in term neonates

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-2007

Abstract

Objective: It has been recommended that all newborn babies who have received substantial resuscitation be cared for in an environment where post-resuscitation care can be provided. To test this recommendation, we examined whether infants who received delivery room resuscitation and seemingly recovered by 5 min age are at increased risk of short-term morbidity.

Study design: We undertook a retrospective analysis of the outcomes of babies who received delivery room resuscitation, and who had seemingly recovered by 5 min age, over a 1 year time period at a single academic institution. The 33 babies were compared with outcomes of 33 controls who received no resuscitation with normal 1 and 5 min Apgar scores. Complication rates and admissions to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) were compared between the two groups using the 2 test.

Results: Fifty-two percent of the study group and three percent of the control group were admitted to the NICU (P<0.01). Short-term complications were noted in 61% of the study group and three percent of the control group (P<0.01).

Conclusion: Increased short-term morbidity is demonstrated in neonates who receive delivery room resuscitation and are seemingly recovered at 5 min, when compared to a group of infants with normal Apgar scores at one and 5 min; and these infants should be cared for in an environment where ongoing evaluation can be provided.

Comments

This article first appeared in the February 2007 issue of Journal of Perinatology, and is reprinted with permission.

© 2007 Nature Publishing Group, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited. All Rights Reserved.

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