Exploring physiological stability of infants in Kangaroo Mother Care position versus placed in transport incubator during neonatal ground ambulance transport in Sweden.

Background: The positive effects of Kangaroo mother care in NICU's are well documented but, to a lesser extent, explored during inter-hospital neonatal transport. Inter-hospital transport, with the infant placed in a transport incubator, increases the risk of separation while infants in Kangaroo mother care position implies that the parents accompany the transport. There exists limited knowledge if physiological stability differs when transported in Kangaroo mother care position compared to transport in a transport incubator.

Aims: The aim of this study was to compare physiological stability of infants transported via ground ambulance in either Kangaroo mother care position or positioned in a transport incubator.

Method: In total, 24 infants were recruited to be transported between hospitals in either a Kangaroo mother care position (n = 16) or in a transport incubator (n = 8). Inclusion criteria were; current weight >1500 g; current gestational age above 31  weeks; no central catheter; no respiratory support and no planed painful or distressing interventions during the 48-h follow-up period post-transport. Exclusion criteria were; infants whose parents did not speak or understand Swedish or English and infants with a current weight above 4500 g for the KMC group. Physiological stability was obtained during transport and for a 48-h follow-up period by measuring body temperature, respiratory and heart rate, oxygen saturation, pain score, transport risk assessment and number of interventions during transport and 48-h post-transport. Cost-effectiveness and adverse events were also evaluated.

Results: Both groups had comparable background characteristics and physiological stability during transport and for the 48-h follow-up period after transport. Transporting in Kangaroo mother care position was more cost-effective.

Study Limitation: A small sample size in both groups.

Conclusion: Transporting an infant in Kangaroo mother care position can be regarded as a choice of transport mode when the infant fulfils the set criteria.