Prevention of severe brain injury in very preterm neonates: A quality improvement initiative.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the impact of neuroprotection interventions bundle on the incidence of severe brain injury or early death (intraventricular hemorrhage grade 3/4 or death by 7 days or ventriculomegaly or cystic periventricular leukomalacia on 1-month head ultrasound, primary composite outcome) in very preterm (27 to ≤ 29 weeks gestational age) infants.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective quality improvement initiative, from April 2017-September 2019, with neuroprotection interventions bundle including cerebral NIRS, TcCO, and HeRO monitoring-based management algorithm, indomethacin prophylaxis, protocolized bicarbonate and inotropes use, noise reduction, and neutral positioning.

RESULT

There was a decrease in the incidence of the primary composite outcome in the intervention period on unadjusted (N = 11/99, pre-intervention to N = 0/127, intervention period, p < 0.001) and adjusted analysis (adjusted for birthweight and Apgar score <5 at 5 min, aOR = 0.042, 95% CI = 0.003-0.670, p = 0.024).

CONCLUSIONS

Neuroprotection interventions bundle was associated with significant decrease in severe brain injury or early death in very preterm infants.