[Maternal transport to the Bordeaux University Hospital: a retrospective study of 263 cases (1996-1998)].

OBJECTIVES: To describe a population of high risk pregnancies transported to a regional perinatal care centre (level III) and to analyze the advantages and limitations of the organization of this perinatal care network.

METHODS: Retrospective study of 263 patients transported to the University Hospital of Bordeaux between September 1996 and September 1998.

RESULTS: Maternal transport mainly came from the Gironde department (53%) and from level I care hospitals (66%). The rate of multiple pregnancies was 17%. Principal indications were preterm labor with or without rupture of fetal membranes (52%) and preeclampsia with or without intrauterine growth restriction (28%). The rate of returns to the referring care centre was 2%. The mean term at delivery was 32 WA. Forty-one percent of patients delivered within 24 hours of transport. The rate of caesarean sections was 55%. There were 303 live births. The mean duration of hospitalization of the neonates was 28 days. The rate of perinatal mortality was 6.2%. Among the 96 pregnancies beyond 32 WA, 17 (6.5%) could have been transported to some level IIb care hospitals, nearby the patient's residence, without changing maternal and neonatal prognosis. Neonatal mortality was not significantly different for maternel transport (18%) or neonatal transport (14%) in the group of premature infants born prior to 31 WA in our study.

CONCLUSION: Our organization is currently trying to improve transport management (non-emergency situations, collaboration of level II care hospitals) and to increase the rate of returns to the referring care centres.