To assess the major causes leading to admissions in our SNCU and their causes of death in relation to their conditions: an observational study

Abstract

Aim:To assess the major causes leading to admissions in our NICU and their causes of death in relation to their conditions.Materials and Method: This was anobservational study done in SNCU at Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital Darbhanga, Bihar, India Data of all admitted neonates were analyzed with regard to age of babies, sex, weight, cause of admissions and their outcome.Results: During study period a total of 320 neonates were analyzed. Male were predominant over female with maleto female ratio 1.42:1. Majority of newborns were to belong to low birth weight (48.44%) followed bynormal birth weight (28.43%), very low birth weight (17.18 %) and ELBW babies. Maximum number of babies were preterm 165 (51.56%), more than half of all the babies, followed by sepsis 42 (13.12%), birth asphyxia 31 (9.68%), neonatal jaundice 24 (7.5%), Meconium aspiration syndrome. 35 (10.93%. Out of 320 admitted babies 58 were died with a mortality rate of 18.12%. Maximum number of death was observed with preterm, 38 out of 58 with 65.51%, their various complications followed by birth asphyxia (18.96%). Third commonest cause of mortality was sepsis (8.62%) which is followed by MAS (6.89%).Conclusion: Prematurity, neonatal sepsis, birth asphyxia and meconium aspiration syndrome were the major indications of admissions. Prematurity, birth asphyxia and neonatal sepsis were major causes of mortality in my study. These mortalities can be reduced with improved management of antenatal and perinatal period, early recognition of conditions, timely intervention and early referral to higher centre.