New architectural design of delivery room reduces morbidity in preterm neonates: a prospective cohort study

Table 1 Main clinical characteristics and resuscitation interventions at birth of study population

	Cohort 1 (conventional delivery room)^a	Cohort 2 (new concept of delivery room)^{a, b}	p
Number of neonates	56	50	-
Clinical characteristics
Body birth weight, g	1114 ± 285	1033 ± 315	0.066
Gestational age, w	28 ± 0.3	28 ± 0.5	0.480
Caesarean section, n (%)	50 (89)	46 (92)	0.746
Twins, n (%)	14 (25)	18 (36)	0.192
Male, n (%)	29 (52)	22 (44)	0.423
Apgar at 1 min	5 ± 0.2	5 ± 0.1	0.850
Apgar at 5 min	7 ± 0.1	7 ± 0.2	0.430
Prenatal corticosteroids, n (%)	32 (58)	22 (44)	0.146
Surfactant therapy, n (%)	40 (71)	42 (84)	0.123
Indications for preterm delivery
Spontaneous preterm labour	40	37	0.767
Preterm premature rupture of membranes	8	6	0.422
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy	6	5	0.904
Intrauterine growth restriction	2	2	0.908
Resuscitation interventions at birth
Oxygen therapy, n (%)	53 (95)	45 (90)	0.471
Positive pressure ventilation with face mask, n (%)	23 (41)	25 (50)	0.357
Intubation, n (%)	34 (61)	29 (58)	0.776
Drug administration, n (%)	1 (2)	2 (4)	0.610
Chest compression, n (%)	4 (7)	2 (4)	0.679
Nasal-CPAP in delivery room	10 (17.9)	9 (18.0)	0.985
Nasal-CPAP without interruption during the first 30’ after birth^c	0 (0.0)	9 (18)	0.001

^aData expressed as mean ± standard deviation, when not specified
^bDR directly connected to the NICU according to architectural standards, as described in the text.
^cIn the Cohort 1 nasal-CPAP administered by infant-flow system with heated and humidified gas, started in delivery room, was discontinued during transportation from point of delivery to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) located at different floor of the same Hospital. During the transportation to the NICU, neonates in the Cohort 1, were ventilated with nasal-CPAP without infant-flow system, heated and humidified gas

ISSN: 1471-2393