Reducing Re-Admission of Premature Infants for Cardiopulmonary Complications

When you child is born prematurely, there are many health complications that may arise. While many pre-term infants overcome obstacles with support of the neonatal intensive care unit, there are many that carry those health complications into the home life following discharge. If your infant has been born prematurely, it is important to become familiar with the variety of health complications that may arise, especially those involving cardiopulmonary health risks.

Cardiopulmonary health risks are not uncommon in pre-term infants. Often developing in the days after birth, most pediatricians and neonatal healthcare specialists prefer to keep your preemie in the NICU for this specific reason. Because these same cardiopulmonary health complications lead to significant health risks as adults, early management, even in NICU, is important.

As a new parent, you can expect that your pre-term infant will require surfactant and corticosteroid administration in the days following a premature birth. Even with these healthcare supportive services, it is also not uncommon for your infant to require oxygen therapy during the days and weeks after a premature birth. Still, even with the best of healthcare, many premature babies who experience cardiopulmonary health complications after birth, are at-risk for readmission to the hospital in the two years after birth. In fact, the rate for re-admission is nearly 50 percent for premature babies with this health complication.

As you work with your baby at home, you will want to be sure that your infant is not exposed to any additional health hazards that may exacerbate the cardiopulmonary health risks. In particular, it will be important that your infant reside in a home that is mold-free, free of dust and pet dander and a home in which there is little to no smoking or tobacco use. In following up with your child's pediatrician it may be necessary to obtain regular airway trapping and airflow testing to ensure your child's cardiopulmonary development is continuing to progress in a positive manner.