Fallah Shafagh, Chen Xi-Kuan, Lefebvre Derek, Kurji Jacqueline, Hader Joanne, Leeb Kira
Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Healthc Q. 2011;14(2):16-20. doi: 10.12927/hcq.2013.22376.
Neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and intensive care units (ICUs) provide care for newborns in need of specialized medical attention. Across Canada, rates of NICU/ICU admission vary. Due to the high cost of monitoring and interventions these admissions cost more than general newborn stays - whether the newborn is in a specialized NICU or in an ICU in those facilities without specialized units for newborns. This study explores the variation in NICU/ICU admissions and the characteristics of mothers and newborns associated with an increased likelihood of NICU/ICU admission. We focus further on the association between NICU/ICU admission and Caesarean section (C-section). After excluding multiple births, preterm births, small for gestational age births and those delivered by women with select complications, we find an increased risk for NICU/ICU admission for babies born by C-section as their only indication. NICU/ICU admission following C-section alone may not represent the most desirable pathway of care for these newborns.
新生儿重症监护病房（NICU）和重症监护病房（ICU）为需要特殊医疗护理的新生儿提供护理。在加拿大各地，NICU/ICU的收治率各不相同。由于监测和干预成本高昂，这些新生儿的住院费用高于一般新生儿住院费用——无论新生儿是在专门的NICU，还是在没有新生儿专门病房的设施中的ICU。本研究探讨了NICU/ICU收治情况的差异以及与NICU/ICU收治可能性增加相关的母亲和新生儿特征。我们进一步关注NICU/ICU收治与剖宫产（C-section）之间的关联。在排除多胞胎、早产、小于胎龄儿出生以及有特定并发症的女性所分娩的情况后，我们发现仅以剖宫产为唯一指征出生的婴儿入住NICU/ICU的风险增加。仅因剖宫产而入住NICU/ICU可能并非这些新生儿最理想的护理途径。
