Evidence · Systematic review or meta-analysis
Association between transfer for surgery and mortality and disability among neonates in high income countries-A systematic review with meta-analysis.
- Abdominal wall defects
- Bowel obstruction
- Cardiovascular
- Congenital diaphragmatic hernia
- Congenital heart disease
- Medical
- Necrotising enterocolitis
- Neonatal transport
- Neurodevelopmental follow-up
- Nursing
- Nutrition and gastrointestinal
- Oesophageal atresia
- Surgical conditions
- Transport
Summary
This systematic review and meta-analysis of 61 observational studies from 20 high-income countries compared outcomes for neonates with surgical conditions transferred from their birth hospital to a surgical centre versus those born and operated on in co-located care. Conditions included congenital diaphragmatic hernia, critical congenital heart disease, surgical necrotising enterocolitis, gastroschisis, tracheo-oesophageal fistula and intestinal conditions. Transfer for surgery was not associated with increased mortality, and neurodevelopmental outcomes were comparable in the few studies reporting them. Certainty of evidence was very low owing to observational design and heterogeneity, but findings inform service planning, parental counselling and policy.
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- Open (Creative Commons)
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