In utero transport - maternity ward Virovitica General Hospital
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.13112/pc.1113Keywords:
Patient transfer; Croatia; Perinatal CareAbstract
Introduction: In utero transport refers to the medical transfer and relocation of a pregnant woman or parturient with a fetus in utero from a lower-level maternity unit to a higher-level facility. The purpose is to continue clinical monitoring and diagnostics of the pregnancy, ensure delivery under better conditions, and provide neonatal care in a well-equipped and staffed neonatal intensive care unit.
Objective: A retrospective analysis was conducted on in utero transports from the maternity ward of the General Hospital Virovitica during the period from 2016 to 2024. to assess and confirm the advantages of in utero transport.
Method: The study examined the number of births, the number of in utero transports, and the institutions to which pregnant women were transferred. It also analyzed the criteria for transport, maternal age and parity, gestational age, and ultrasound-estimated fetal weight. Additionally, the time elapsed from admission to transport, and the use of tocolytics, corticosteroids, and antibiotics were investigated.
Results: During the study period, there were 5,319 births and 74 in utero transports (1.4% of total births). The majority of transports were to the University Hospital Center (UHC) Osijek, followed by UHC Zagreb- Petrova, University Hospital Sveti Duh, and UHC Sestre milosrdnice. Most transports occurred at 29-32 weeks and 33-34 weeks of gestation. In more than half of the cases, the transfer was performed within 24 hours, with the administration of tocolytics and fetal lung maturation prophylaxis. The most common indications for transport were threatened or initiated preterm labor and an estimated fetal weight of less than 2000 grams.
Conclusions: The study confirms the justification for implementing in utero transport and the regional organization of perinatal care as a whole. Medically appropriate procedures, accurate assessments, and collaboration between institutions, both lower and higher-level maternity units, ensure positive outcomes in perinatal care and the in utero transport program.
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