[Very preterm birth less than 33 weeks' gestation: how setting-up of a perinatal network does influence the activity of the neonatal tertiary care unit? The experience of the Poitou-Charentes region, France].

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of regional perinatal network setting on very preterm neonates (gestational age<33 weeks) referral and activity of regional level 3 NCIU, and short-term outcome of infants cared for. POPULATION AND METHODS: Comparison of data from medical records of hospital days and hospital outcome of very preterm neonates born before and after the setting-up of regional perinatal network (2002-2005).
RESULTS: The setting-up of the Poitou-Charentes perinatal network has led to a 45% rise in number of very preterm neonates admitted to the level 3 neonatal care (114 in 2002, 166 in 2005), number of hospitalisation days has also increased by 31% in neonatology unit (2181 days in 2002, 2864 days in 2005) but remained stable in intensive care unit. A transient rise in neonatal mortality was observed, although the incidence of severe ultrasonographic cerebral abnormalities and that of bronchopulmonary dysplasia were lowered.
CONCLUSION: Setting-up of perinatal network in Poitou-Charentes (France) has led to improved access to level 3 neonatal care, with rise in very preterm neonates survival and low incidence of short-term sequelae.