Pattern and outcome of admissions to neonatal unit of tertiary care hospital Nawabshah

ABSTRACT

To determine the number, disease pattern and outcome of admitted patients in neonatal unit of tertiary care hospital Nawabshah. Retrospective, descriptive study. This study was conducted at NICU pediatrics ward People's Medical College Hospital, People's University of Medical and Health Sciences for women, Nawabshah, Sindh from 1[st] January 2010 to 31[st] December 2010. Data was retrieved from file record regarding sex, gestational age [term and preterm], reason for admission and outcome [discharge, expired]. 2584 neonates were admitted during study period, among them 1776 [68.73%] were males and 808 [31.27%] were females, majority of patient 1657 [64.12%] were admitted during first 24 hours with the clinical diagnosis of birth asphyxia, 489 [15.85%] having neonatal sepsis, 312 [10.67%] because of prematurity, 117 [8.63%] admissions were due to neonatal jaundice and 19 [0.73%] having various conditions like hydrocephalus associated with meningomyelocele, prune belly syndrome, down syndrome, Icthyosis, HDN and TORCH infection. Birth asphysia, Pre-maturity, neonatal infection, neonatal jaundice were the main causes of neonatal admissions. Regular antenatal visits and timely referral to tertiary care hospitals will hopefully result in better outcome: