Management of newborn life-threatening distress at birth. Study of the experience at a university maternity ward
Dubos, J.P.; Truffert, P.; Dehouck, M.B.; Depoortere, M.H.; Thomas, D.; Duvaux, C.; Valat, A.S.; Lequien, P.; Puech, F.
Journal de Gynecologie Obstetrique et Biologie de la Reproduction 23(3): 330-335
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0368-2315 PMID: 8051359 Document Number: 430851
Care given to 1,425 consecutive new-born infants in a University Maternity Ward was screened for high-risk pregnancies. The characteristics of the new-borns retained for study resulted from this choice. Life-threatening distress, defined as the need for respiratory assistance beyond the third minute of life, was observed in 6% of cases. Distress had been predicted 30 minutes before birth in only 42% of cases. In 56.5%, the signs of distress occurred outside "normal" working hours and immediate care was given by the mid-wife in 36% of cases. Despite progress in fetal medicine, these findings would suggest that life-threatening distress at birth is often unpredicted and occurs at a non-negligible rate. This would emphasize the need of training the entire obstetrical team, especially the mid-wives in care the for new-borns.