Abstract
Background and Aim : Gunma information system for perinatal medicine was established in April 2006. Since the establishment, we have been collecting data on maternal and neonatal emergency transports. The aim of this study is to analyze the data on neonatal emergency transports in Gunma prefecture. Method : We investigated clinical features of newborn infants transported from April 2006 through March 2007. The number of days when premature infants could not be received by the neonatal intensive care units in Gunma prefecture during the period was also reviewed. Results : Two hundred twenty-five newborn infants were transported. Their gestational ages were between 23 and 41 weeks and the birth weights were between 512 and 4,165 g. Seventy-four infants had respiratory distress and 72 infants had low birth weights. Fourteen infants were transported from other prefectures to Gunma prefecture and three infants were from Gunma prefecture to others. Infants with birth weights less than 1,000 g could not be received by neonatal intensive care units in Gunma prefecture in a total of 55 days during the investigated year. Conclusion : The information system for perinatal medicine have made possible to reveal problems on neonatal emergency transport in Gunma prefecture. It should be discussed how we elevate the collection rate of the data on transported infants, especially those who are transported from and to other prefectures.
