Unified approach helps preemies thrive
Reported December 03, 2009
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 3 (UPI) — A unified approach — implementing small baby guidelines — for premature infants improved outcomes, U.S. researchers found.
The study, published in Acta Paediatrica, found 37 infants born prematurely — before 27 weeks gestation age — cared for using this approach were discharged an average of 13 days earlier than the 40 infants given usual care.
The unified approach infants also showed a higher survival rate for two common complications of premature birth — bronchopulmonary dysplasia and severe intraventricular hemorrhage.
Doctors, nurses, therapists, nutritionists, pharmacists and social workers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, developed the unified approach by meeting together to create small baby guidelines for 11 different focus areas and agreeing to use these guidelines to treat the infants.
“There is a wide variety of attitudes and feelings about the care of these premature babies,” study author Dr. Leif Nelin of Nationwide Children’s Hospital said in a statement. “Getting everyone on the same page was the most important aspect of this approach.”
Source : United Press International
