Back transport of infants from neonatal intensive care units for convalescent care: is it safe?

This retrospective study compared the clinical courses of 55 back-transported infants with those of 49 infants who remained within regional perinatal center for convalescent care. Although the mean birth weight and mean gestational age of the back-transported infants were significantly less than that of the nontransported infants (£ <0.05), the two groups did not differ in the incidence of respiratory disease, infectious complications, hyperbilirubinemia, patent ductus arteriosus, intraventricular hemorrhage, or necrotizing enterocolitis. The mean daily weight gain of the back-transported infants was significantly greater than that of the nontransported infants (£ <.001). The back-transported infants exhibited a significantly greater number (j) <.05) of new cardiovascular problems after transport. Following transfer, the back-transported infants did not demonstrate increased oxygen needs, increased incidence of feeding intolerance, or change in the frequency or nature of episodes of apnea and bradycardia. A comparison of the incidence of new respiratory, gastrointestinal, metabolic, neurologic, infectious, and miscellaneous problems revealed no statistical difference between the two groups.