In-utero transfer, survival-focused care and survival to 28-days at 22-24 weeks’ gestation pre- and post- implementation of an extreme prematurity management guideline in Victoria, Australia

Background Care for infants born at 22–24 weeks’ gestation varies globally, with an increasing willingness to provide survival-focused (‘active’) care for infants born at 22 weeks’ gestation in recent years. This study aims to report changes in care for infants born at 22–24 weeks before and after t...

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Main Authors: Jeanie LY Cheong, Alexis Shub, Calum T Roberts, Rosemarie A Boland, Michael J Stewart, Hannah G Gordon, Stefan C Kane, James Holberton
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2024-11-01
Series:BMJ Paediatrics Open
Online Access:https://bmjpaedsopen.bmj.com/content/8/1/e002462.full
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author Jeanie LY Cheong
Alexis Shub
Calum T Roberts
Rosemarie A Boland
Michael J Stewart
Hannah G Gordon
Stefan C Kane
James Holberton
author_facet Jeanie LY Cheong
Alexis Shub
Calum T Roberts
Rosemarie A Boland
Michael J Stewart
Hannah G Gordon
Stefan C Kane
James Holberton
author_sort Jeanie LY Cheong
collection DOAJ
description Background Care for infants born at 22–24 weeks’ gestation varies globally, with an increasing willingness to provide survival-focused (‘active’) care for infants born at 22 weeks’ gestation in recent years. This study aims to report changes in care for infants born at 22–24 weeks before and after the introduction of a statewide guideline for extreme prematurity (EP).Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted, including all live births at 22–24 weeks in tertiary perinatal centres from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2022 in Victoria, Australia. Medical records were reviewed to obtain antenatal history and perinatal outcomes. Data on in utero referral and transfer to tertiary perinatal centres were sourced from the statewide perinatal emergency retrieval service (Paediatric Infant Perinatal Emergency Retrieval, PIPER) database. Changes in PIPER referrals and transfers, survival-focused care and survival at 28 days preguideline and postguideline were assessed using logistic regression.Results Following the guideline, at 22 weeks’ gestation, there was an increase in referrals to PIPER and a 3.31 (95% CI 1.84 to 5.95) higher likelihood of in utero transfer to tertiary centres.Following the guideline, infants had a 6.67 (95% CI 1.40 to 31.72) higher likelihood of receiving survival-focused care at 22 weeks, and a 5.57 (95% CI 1.22 to 25.44) higher likelihood at 23 weeks. All 24-week live births received survival-focused care at birth. The 28-day survival for infants who received survival-focused care was unchanged preguideline and postguideline.Conclusion Following the publication of the EP guideline in Victoria, in utero referrals and transfers at 22 weeks’ gestation have increased, as has survival-focused management of inborn live births at 22–24 weeks.
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spelling doaj-art-929991689fc24d0fa6aa6234d8f012902025-08-20T03:10:03ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Paediatrics Open2399-97722024-11-018110.1136/bmjpo-2023-002462In-utero transfer, survival-focused care and survival to 28-days at 22-24 weeks’ gestation pre- and post- implementation of an extreme prematurity management guideline in Victoria, AustraliaJeanie LY Cheong0Alexis Shub1Calum T Roberts2Rosemarie A Boland3Michael J Stewart4Hannah G Gordon5Stefan C Kane6James Holberton7Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia39 Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia8 The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaDepartment of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Newborn Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, AustraliaPaediatric Infant Perinatal Emergency Retrieval, Royal Children`s Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaDepartment of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Newborn Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, AustraliaPaediatric Infant Perinatal Emergency Retrieval, Royal Children`s Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaDepartment of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Newborn Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, AustraliaBackground Care for infants born at 22–24 weeks’ gestation varies globally, with an increasing willingness to provide survival-focused (‘active’) care for infants born at 22 weeks’ gestation in recent years. This study aims to report changes in care for infants born at 22–24 weeks before and after the introduction of a statewide guideline for extreme prematurity (EP).Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted, including all live births at 22–24 weeks in tertiary perinatal centres from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2022 in Victoria, Australia. Medical records were reviewed to obtain antenatal history and perinatal outcomes. Data on in utero referral and transfer to tertiary perinatal centres were sourced from the statewide perinatal emergency retrieval service (Paediatric Infant Perinatal Emergency Retrieval, PIPER) database. Changes in PIPER referrals and transfers, survival-focused care and survival at 28 days preguideline and postguideline were assessed using logistic regression.Results Following the guideline, at 22 weeks’ gestation, there was an increase in referrals to PIPER and a 3.31 (95% CI 1.84 to 5.95) higher likelihood of in utero transfer to tertiary centres.Following the guideline, infants had a 6.67 (95% CI 1.40 to 31.72) higher likelihood of receiving survival-focused care at 22 weeks, and a 5.57 (95% CI 1.22 to 25.44) higher likelihood at 23 weeks. All 24-week live births received survival-focused care at birth. The 28-day survival for infants who received survival-focused care was unchanged preguideline and postguideline.Conclusion Following the publication of the EP guideline in Victoria, in utero referrals and transfers at 22 weeks’ gestation have increased, as has survival-focused management of inborn live births at 22–24 weeks.https://bmjpaedsopen.bmj.com/content/8/1/e002462.full
spellingShingle Jeanie LY Cheong
Alexis Shub
Calum T Roberts
Rosemarie A Boland
Michael J Stewart
Hannah G Gordon
Stefan C Kane
James Holberton
In-utero transfer, survival-focused care and survival to 28-days at 22-24 weeks’ gestation pre- and post- implementation of an extreme prematurity management guideline in Victoria, Australia
BMJ Paediatrics Open
title In-utero transfer, survival-focused care and survival to 28-days at 22-24 weeks’ gestation pre- and post- implementation of an extreme prematurity management guideline in Victoria, Australia
title_full In-utero transfer, survival-focused care and survival to 28-days at 22-24 weeks’ gestation pre- and post- implementation of an extreme prematurity management guideline in Victoria, Australia
title_fullStr In-utero transfer, survival-focused care and survival to 28-days at 22-24 weeks’ gestation pre- and post- implementation of an extreme prematurity management guideline in Victoria, Australia
title_full_unstemmed In-utero transfer, survival-focused care and survival to 28-days at 22-24 weeks’ gestation pre- and post- implementation of an extreme prematurity management guideline in Victoria, Australia
title_short In-utero transfer, survival-focused care and survival to 28-days at 22-24 weeks’ gestation pre- and post- implementation of an extreme prematurity management guideline in Victoria, Australia
title_sort in utero transfer survival focused care and survival to 28 days at 22 24 weeks gestation pre and post implementation of an extreme prematurity management guideline in victoria australia
url https://bmjpaedsopen.bmj.com/content/8/1/e002462.full
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