Comparison of Early Versus Very Early Postnatal Discharge on Hospital Readmissions in Newborns

Comparison of Early Versus Very Early Postnatal Discharge on Hospital Readmissions in Newborns: A Prospective Study

This study compared hospital readmission and complications between very early discharge and early discharge in healthy newborn patients.

Introduction. Very early postnatal discharge is defined as a hospital stay of the mother-child dyad of less than 24 hours. It is usually performed in public institutions of low-income countries due to high birth rates; it has not been associated to a higher proportion of neonatal admissions, however, very early discharge might increase this risk. The objective of this study was to compare the rate hospital readmission in patients with very early vs early postnatal discharge.

Methods A prospective, randomized clinical study was performed with healthy term infants born in a hospital in Mexico from July 2016 to June 2018. Sample was randomized into two groups, a very early discharge group (<24 hours) and an early discharge group (24-48 hours). Hospital readmission rate was analyzed in both groups.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy newborns that were born from vaginal delivery in primiparous or multiparous women where both the mother and the newborn were deemed as eligible for early discharge according to the American Association of Pediatrics criteria and by a clinical obstetric mother evaluation.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Placenta praevia, abnormal bleeding during vaginal delivery (considered as greater than 500mL), inhability to deambulate, medical complications from previous a previous pregnancy, 3rd or 4th degree perineal laceration as well as medical conditions that required any monitorization for more than 24 hours after delivery.