Background: Transferring in utero children with high perinatal risk has been widely recommended in France over the last few years. The purpose of this study is to describe the different transfer modes for children less than 32 weeks GA or less than 1,500 g birthweight and analyse their impact on death and severe neurological lesion.
Population and methods: This retrospective study concerned live births in a definite geographic area (Lorraine, France). Four hundred and twenty-seven children born alive between 1989 and 1992 and hospitalized in eight neonatology units were recruited. Multivariate analysis (logistic regressions) were performed to assess the influence of transfer mode on death or severe neurological lesion.
Results: Sixty-two percent of the children were born in the level 3 maternity, 19% in a level 1 maternity and 19% in a level 2 maternity. One hundred and twenty-one children (28%) were transferred in utero and 116 (27%) were transferred extra muros. Thirty children died during the hospital stay. Multivariate analysis does show that neonatal extra muros transfer plays a significative role on neonatal death after adjustment for other risks factors (OR = 3.3 (1.1-9.91). Thirty-one children presented a severe neurological lesion. In comparison with neonates born in the level 3 maternity without transfer, extra muros transfer appears to be a very significant risk factor (P = 0.0008): OR for transfer from level 2 and level 1 maternity is 15.8 (3.8-66.5), and 5.6 (1.3-24) respectively. There is no significant increased risk for children born after maternal transfer or born in a level 2 maternity without transfer.
Conclusion: These data are consistent with data from the literature and confirm the risk related to extra muros transfer in premature babies less than 32 weeks GA or less than 1,500 g birthweight.