Table 2.
Basic patient data and risk factors for IVH.
| Before Implementing the NCB to Prevent IVH (n = 122) |
After Implementing the NCB to Prevent IVH (n = 107) |
p-Value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gestational age; mean (weeks) | 27.9 ± 2.5 | 27.8 ± 2.8 | 0.67 |
| Gestational age; median (weeks) | 28.1 (21.9–32.9) | 28.0 (22.0–36.1) | |
| Birth weight; mean (g) | 952.3 ± 268.5 | 907.8 ± 285.6 | 0.23 |
| Birth weight; median (g) | 968 (320–1490) | 920 (360–1480) | |
| Male | 56/122 (45.9%) | 53/107 (49.5%) | 0.58 |
| Small for gestational age | 32/122 (26.2%) | 31/107 (29.0%) | 0.64 |
| Multiple births | 42/122 (34.4%) | 39/107 (36.5%) | 0.75 |
| Caesarean section | 112/122 (91.8%) | 98/107 (91.6%) | 0.95 |
| Chest compression during resuscitation | 1/122 (0.8%) | 1/107 (0.9%) | 0.93 |
| Apgar 1; median | 5 (1–9) | 6 (1–10) | 0.47 |
| Apgar 5; median | 8 (2–10) | 7 (2–10) | <0.01 |
| Apgar 10; median | 9 (0–10) | 8 (2–10) | 0.04 |
| pH at birth; median | 7.32 (6.95–7.46) | 7.32 (7.0–7.45) | 0.59 |
| Endotracheal intubation within 72 h of life | 53/122 (43.4%) | 61/107 (57.0%) | 0.04 |
| Overall intubation rate | 62/122 (50.8%) | 64/107 (59.8%) | 0.17 |
| Use of nCPAP during first 72 h of life | 105/122 (86.1%) | 92/107 (85.9%) | 0.99 |
| Treatment with Vancomycin/Cefotaxime | 60 (49.2%) | 41 (38.3%) | 0.10 |
| Treatment with Vancomycin/Meropenem | 47 (38.5%) | 40 (37.4%) | 0.86 |
| NEC ≥ 2 Bell stage | 4/122 (3.3%) | 1/107 (0.9%) | 0.23 |
| PVL | 2/122 (1.6%) | 1/107 (0.9%) | 0.64 |
| Prophylactic indomethacin for PDA | 18/122 (14.8%) | 2/107 (1.9%) | <0.01 |
| Pharmacological PDA treatment | 18/122 (14.8%) | 21/107 (19.6%) | 0.33 |
| PDA ligation | 5/122 (4.1%) | 1/107 (0.9%) | 0.14 |
| ROP treatment | 10/122 (8.2%) | 6/107 (5.6%) | 0.43 |
| Discharge with supplemental oxygen | 11/122 (9.0%) | 13/107 (12.0%) | 0.45 |
| Length of NICU stay (days) | 67 (1–164) | 62 (1–160) | 0.15 |
| Mortality | 12/122 (9.8%) | 10/107 (9.4%) | 0.90 |
| (Additional) risk factors for IVH | |||
| No antenatal corticosteroid therapy | 15/122 (12.3%) | 15/107 (14.0%) | 0.47 |
| Amnion infection syndrome | 46/122 (37.7%) | 22/107 (20.6%) | <0.01 |
| Arterial hypotension | 82/122 (67.2%) | 66/107 (61.7%) | 0.38 |
| Use of inotropic agents | 46/122 (37.7%) | 39/107 (36.5%) | 0.84 |
| Pneumothorax | 14/122 (11.5%) | 11/107 (10.3%) | 0.79 |
| Neonatal transport | 1/122 (0.8%) | 2/107 (1.9%) | 0.49 |
Data are presented as mean (± standard deviation); median (minimum and maximum) or as the number of patients with percentages in parenthesis. NCB — neonatal care bundle; IVH—germinal matrix intraventricular hemorrhage; nCPAP—nasal continuous positive airway pressure; NEC—necrotizing enterocolitis; PDA—patent ductus arteriosus; PVL—periventricular leukomalacia; ROP—retinopathy of prematurity; amnion infection syndrome—defined by presence of: (i) maternal fever >39 °C or >38 °C on repeated measurements and (ii) fetal tachycardia, (iii) maternal leukocytosis, (iv) purulent or malodorous discharge.