Abstract

FURZAN, Jaime A  and  CUMARE, María. Early newborn discharge in a rooming-in area. Arch Venez Puer Ped [online]. 2012, vol.75, n.3, pp.84-88. ISSN 0004-0649.

Background: Early newborn discharge has progressively become a common clinical practice in many institutions, despite the fact of potential complications when it is applied collectively. Objective: To define demographic variables associated with early discharge of newborn infants in a rooming-in area. Methods: The design of the study was descriptive, observational and cross-sectional.1557 infants between 35 and 40 weeks’ gestational age were included. Overall, 60% of the total sample was discharged before 48 hours, including 38 (35.2%) out of 108 low-birth-weight infants. Incidence of early discharge was inversely related to gestational age; 24.2%, 45.6% and 65.6% for late preterm, early term and late term newborns, respectively. Nevertheless, 188 (46,3%) out of 406 infants below 39 weeks, including 8 late preterm newborns, were discharged before 48 hours. Conclusions: early newborn discharge is highly prevalent in our institution. This policy seems to be routinely applied regardless of high risk situations defined by low birth weight or short gestational age. Formulation of particular criteria adjusted to the demographic and behavioral characteristics of this population seems mandatory.

Keywords : newborn infant; early discharge.

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