Publication:

Profile of newborns discharged from the intensive neonatal care unit submitted to the kangaroo ward

Background Describe the profile of newborns discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) sent to a kangaroo ward and their neonatal variables.

Methods Retrospective and documentary study with a quantitative approach, performed at the General Hospital César Cals, whose sample consisted of 30 charts. The following variables were analyzed: weight, gestational age, Apgar score, gender, race, adequacy of the pregnancy and assistance provided in the NICU and kangaroo ward. The variables were analyzed using Microsoft Excel® 2010 program to obtain percentages.

Results There was a prevalence of extremely premature infants with high underweight and small size for the gestational age, male gender and browns, with Apgar score at 1st and 5th minutes more than 7, born by cesarean section, who used mechanical ventilation and surfactant, with prevalence of respiratory distress syndrome, with admission weight in Kangaroo ward less than 1.250g, making use of exclusive breast milk, who were attended by physiotherapy and with weight less than 1.600g at discharge, of the variables studied.

Conclusions Kangaroo care is an excellent cost-effective model for the newborn coming from the neonatal intensive care unit.