Feasibility of bedside operation for premature infants in laminar flow clean neonatal intensive care unit

Abstract:

Objective To explore the effect and feasibility of bedside operation for premature infants in laminar flow clean neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods Clinical data of critically ill neonates who underwent bedside ligation of patent ductus arteriosis (PDA) and exploratory laparotomy in NICU of a tertiary first-class army general hospital from September 2017 to October 2020 were analyzed retrospectively, neonates who underwent bedside operation in NICU were classified as NICU group and those who transferred to operating room were classified as operating room group (OR group), differences in post-operative body temperature, incisional infection rate and mortality between two groups of neonates were compared. Results A total of 258 neonates were included, 166 in NICU group and 92 in OR group. Gestational age, birth weight, body weight during operation and neonatal critical illness score in neonates in NICU group were all lower than those in OR group; the proportion of ventilation through ventilator in neonates in NICU group was higher than that in OR group, differences were both statistically significant (both P < 0.05). There were no significant difference in microbial colony count of air culture of intra-operative air samples, pre-operative body temperature, constitute ratio of PDA and exploratory laparotomy, as well as incidence of post-operative incisional infection and mortality between NICU group and OR group (all P>0.05), but the post-operative average body temperature of neonates in OR group was lower than that in NICU group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Premature neonates in laminar flow clean NICU undergoing bedside PDA and abdominal operation is clinically feasible, and bedside operation is more conducive to reducing the occurrence of post-operative hypothermia. Routine standardized maintenance of laminar flow clean ward can effectively ensure the safety of bedside operation for critically ill premature neonates.

Key words:laminar flow clean;neonatal intensive care unit;premature infant;bedside operation