REHOSPITALIZATION AND EARLY DISCHARGE IN NEONATOLOGY - A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

This retrospective study compared discharge summary data in neonates d ischarged from the Brest Teaching Hospital Neonatology Unit between Ma y 1, 1980 and April 30, 1981 (Period I) or between May 1, 1990 and Apr il 30, 1991 (Period II). Birth weight, gestational age, duration of ho spitalization, corrected age at discharge and rehospitalization rate w ere compared. Among infants with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR ) with or without prematurity, weight at discharge was 2 500 g or less in none of Period I patients (n = 144) versus 67.8 % of Period II pat ients (n = 87). Four Period II infants weighed 2 000 g or less at disc harge (1 850, 1 930, 1 960, and 2 000 g). Among premature infants with out growth retardation, weight at discharge was 2 500 g or less in 2.2 % of Period I infants versus 52.5 % of Period II infants (p < 0.0001) . Period II infants were not rehospitalized more often or earlier than Period I infants. Early discharge reduces the duration of separation of the child from his or her parents without increasing the rehospital ization rate.