Emphasis on follow-ups of discharged neonates from neonatal intensive care units

Abstract

During the first few months of life, preterm infants and critically ill term infants may be admitted to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and require various treatments and support. The rapid development of Neonatology in the last decade allowed more of these infants to survive and could be discharged. Therefore, this group of babies are also name as "NICU graduates". Considering that NICU graduates may encounter a variety of ongoing medical problems including growth, nutrition, feeding problems, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and neurologic injury which might take days, months or even years to recover. The follow-up doctors must equip with relevant knowledge of possible complications and rehabilitations in order to provide comprehensive post-discharge management, because prompt and proactive management and interventions can improve the long-term outcome of these babies. Key words: Intensive care units, neonatal; Patient discharge; Continuity of patient care; Follow-up studies