Table 2.
Questionnaire and responses othe the centers with bedside practice
| Questions | Choices | Answer (Total n = 27) n (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Practices on surgery | ||
| 2002How many newborns per year are treated with surgery in NICU? | □ < 5 | 12 (44.44) |
| □ 5–10 | 11 (40.74) | |
| □ > 10 | 4 (14.81) | |
| Does the institute where you work receive babies from other centers for urgent surgical treatment? | □ Yes | 27 (100) |
| Is the NICU, or part of the premises of which it is constituted, equipped with positive pressure? | □ Yes | 19 (70.37) |
| □ No | 8 (29.62) | |
| Bedside selection criteria | ||
| Which patients are most likely to be considered for surgical interventions in NICU according to weight and gestational age? | □ Preterm neonates with birthweight < 1200 g | 24 (88.89) |
| □ Preterm neonates with birthweight < 1500 g | 23 (85.18) | |
| □ Term neonates | 17 (62.96) | |
| What are the general criteria for selecting candidates for surgery in NICU? | □ Cardiorespiratory instability | 27 (100) |
| □ Ventilatory dependance | 17 (62.96) | |
| □ Weight | 17 (62.96) | |
| □ Gestational age | 13 (48.14) | |
| □ Other | 6 (22.22) | |
| What are the procedures and pathologies that may be considered as indications to surgery in NICU? | □ Pneumothorax drenage | 25 (92.60) |
| □ Pneumoperitoneum treatment | 24 (88.89) | |
| □ Pleural effusion drenage | 23 (85.18) | |
| □ Pericardial effusion drenage | 23 (85.18) | |
| □ CVC positioning | 22 (81.48) | |
| □ Patent ductus arteriosus ligation | 18 (66.67) | |
| □ Congenital diaphragmatic hernia repair | 18 (66.67) | |
| □ NEC treatment | 17 (62.96) | |
| □ Dialysis catheter positioning | 14 (51.85) | |
| □ Thoracic surgery | 2 (7.40) | |
| □ Other | 2 (7.40) | |
| Is bedside surgery performed via thoracic or laparoscopic approach in your unit? | □ No | 27 (100) |
| Practices on perioperative monitoring | ||
| What kind of anesthetic procedure is implemented at surgery in the NICU? | □ Endovenous | 25 (92.60) |
| □ Inhaled | 16 (59.25) | |
| □ Locoregional | 12 (44.45) | |
| Who monitors the newborn during the surgical procedure? | □ Neonatologist | 5 (18.51) |
| □ Anesthesiologist | 2 (7.40) | |
| □ Both | 20 (74.07) | |
| Who manages sedation and pain control procedures after surgery? | □ Multidisciplinary management | 21 (77.78) |
| □ Neonatologist | 5 (18.51) | |
| □ Pediatric surgeon | 4 (14.81) | |
| □ Anesthesiologist | 2 (7.40) | |
| Organizative procedures | ||
| Is there a specific reference to surgery being conducted at the bedside in the informed consent? | □ Yes | 9 (33.33) |
| □ No | 18 (66.67) | |
| Is there an official pathway or institutional protocol for surgery in the NICU? | □ Yes | 8 (29.62) |
| □ No | 19 (70.37) | |
| Do you refer to specific literature sources to support the practice of NICU surgical procedures? | □ Yes | 15 (55.56) |
| □ No | 12 (44.44) | |
| Do you consider it important, for the purpose of quality of assistance in this fragile category, to reach a uniform vision on the appropriacy of proceeding with selected surgical procedures within the NICU? | □ Yes | 25 (92.60) |
| □ No | 2 (7.40) | |