European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

The advancement of modern Neonatology has led to more and more survival of babies at lower gestation age. Late preterm babies (born between 33 completed weeks of gestation and before beginning of 38 week of gestation) are the largest growing set of babies among premature babies. They look developmentally and physically more mature and hence often overlooked. They constitute one of the largest subsets of babies requiring hospitalization. This study was conducted to look at the readmission rates of late and early preterm babies in the first month of life with aim to look at various determinants of readmissions.
Aim: A study on readmission of late-preterm and early-term neonates in the first month of life following normal hospital discharge
Materials: Hospital based prospective observational study from Apr 2016 to Oct 2017 in a tertiary care hospital in western India to study the readmission rate of late-preterm and early-term neonates in the first month of life following normal hospital discharge.
Result: There were total 22 (7.1%) admissions among the study population, of which 13 (9.3%) were late preterm neonates and 9 (5.3%) early term neonates. Common causes of readmission were Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in 12(55%) followed by feeding issues in 8 (36%), hypernatremic dehydration in 5 (23%) and late onset sepsis in 2 (9%) neonates.
Conclusion: Late preterm babies are vulnerable group of population as highlighted by their high rates of readmission. Jaundice and feeding problems were the most common diagnoses associated with readmission.