[Transport of infants at risk (author's transl)].

We report upon a two-years experience with transportation of prematures, newborn infants and children up to two years of age. Most patients were prematures and newborn infants (1.38% of lifeborns in 1976 and 1.83% in 1977) out of the region of Aachen. They were transferred to the intensive care unit of the children's hospital (primary transport). 21.2% of them died. The mortality rate of all neonates, treated in the children's hospital, was reduced by 3.68% in comparison to the period before organized transportation system three years ago. The number of deceased was diminished by more than 40%. Some of the newborns remained in the maternity hospitals after first providing by the "transport-team". We also transported children up to two years of age with the mobile intensive care unit. Diagnostical and therapeutical procedures in other departments of the hospital of Aachen and other specialized centres became possible because of diminished risk.