Care of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Graduate after Discharge

Ricki F Goldstein; William F Malcolm

doi:10.1016/j.pcl.2018.12.014

Care of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Graduate after Discharge

Pediatr Clin North Am. 2019 Apr;66(2):489-508. doi: 10.1016/j.pcl.2018.12.014. Epub 2019 Feb 1.

Authors

Ricki F Goldstein¹, William F Malcolm²

Affiliations

¹ Pediatric Complex Care Program for Infants and Children, NICU Graduate Clinic, Department of Pediatrics/Neonatology, Kentucky Children's Hospital/University of Kentucky, 138 Leader Avenue, Lexington, KY 40508, USA. Electronic address: ricki.goldstein@uky.edu.
² Special Infant Care Follow-up Program, Department of Pediatrics/Neonatology, Duke University Medical Center, Box 2739, Durham, NC 27710, USA.

PMID: 30819350
DOI: 10.1016/j.pcl.2018.12.014

Abstract

Premature and critically ill term infants are often discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with ongoing medical problems, including respiratory problems; growth, nutrition and feeding problems; and neurologic injury. At discharge, they may also be dependent on technology such as supplemental oxygen, tracheostomy, mechanical ventilation, feeding tube, and monitors. Primary care physicians must have special knowledge and understanding of the medical complications of NICU graduates to coordinate post-discharge care. We examine the most common post-discharge medical problems in premature and critically ill term infants and inform the primary care provider about expected outcomes and possible new problems.

Keywords: Complex care; Follow-up; Infant, newborn; Infant, premature; Medical complexity; Neonatal intensive care; Pediatric care.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Aftercare / methods*
Critical Illness / therapy*
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature
Infant, Premature, Diseases / therapy*
Intensive Care Units, Neonatal
Intensive Care, Neonatal / methods*
Patient Discharge
Physicians, Primary Care