PREVALÊNCIA DE REINTERNAÇÃO DE CRIANÇAS NASCIDAS PREMATURAS EM UM HOSPITAL DE SÃO PAULO

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The evolution of neonatal care led to the survival of premature newborn, but with a high rate of morbidity. Extreme prematures show respiratory system immaturity with prolonged use of mechanical ventilation and oxygen therapy, developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia and increasing the rate of morbidities after hospital discharge. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the rate of readmission of children, who were born prematurely, report the main causes of readmission and compare it with the rate of readmission at term. METHOD: A retrospective observational study, realized in a pediatric unit of a public hospital in São Paulo, from January/2015 to June/2018. Hospital admission records were collected in the neonatal intensive care unit (ICU) database. After readmission was detected, searches for variables of interest were performed in electronic medical records. RESULTS: The sample was 78 readmitted children (59 premature and 19 terms). Readmission was 14.5% premature and 7.8% terms. Readmissions varied from 1 to 8 times, mostly in preterm infants, and more frequently in the <1 year age group. The main cause of rehospitalization of premature babies was due to respiratory problems and other reasons in full-term children. The need for ICU and mechanical ventilation was frequent among premature babies (28.8 versus 15.8% and 32.2 versus 15.8%, respectively). Mortality rate: 2.6%. . CONCLUSION: The readmission of premature infants was high, with respiratory problems as the main cause. A special attention to the planning of hospital discharge for preterm infants is perceptible, with guidance to mothers for prevention and interdisciplinary monitoring, attending the needs of this population.