Can Regionalization Improve the Outcomes of Neonates With Surgical Diseases?

Abstract

We have organized a co-operative system for neonatal surgical care to facilitate regionalization in Osaka since September 1993 The activities included promoting prenatal diagnosis and transportation of patients to appropriate facilities according to the severity of the disease. A review of patients' data for six years from 1995 revealed increased prenatally diagnosed patients and an improvement in outcome. Regionalization of pediatric surgery, including neonatal surgery, may improve patient outcome and should be considered for other regions in Japan.