In utero versus neonatal transportation of high-risk perinates: a comparison.

This study compares the results of in utero (fetal) and neonatal transfer of high-risk perinates to The University of Alabama Hospitals for the years 1975 through 1977. Both the percentage and total number of fetal referrals have increased. The neonatal mortality among 1061 referred cases (776 neonatal and 285 fetal) was significantly lower among those referred before delivery. Infants surviving after intrauterine transportation required continuous positive airway pressure and intermittent positive pressure ventilation less frequently than did those transported after delivery. There were significantly fewer deaths of infants transported in utero for 3 of 8 categories of mortality risk. Moreover, the length of hospital stay was significantly shorter among infants surviving after in utero transportation than among survivors of neonatal transportation.