OBJECTIVETo study the application of the regional critical neonatal emergency transport system (NETS) to provide evidence for the optimization of NETS in Beijing.

METHODSAll the transported neonates in four hospitals in Haidian District, Beijing, between January 2009 and September 2010 were enrolled. The relevant clinical information of two referral hospitals was analyzed.

RESULTSThe top three conditions requiring transport were pre-term delivery, diseases requiring surgical treatment, and respiratory diseases, which accounted for 33.1%, 18.3%, and 14.8%, respectively. Active transport was performed in 95 cases (66.9%) and passive transport in 47 cases (33.1%). The age distribution of the neonates requiring transport was as follows: <6 hrs after birth (24.1%); 6-12 hrs (9.3%); 12-24 hrs (25.9%); and >24 hrs (40.8%). The mean time for transport from the hospital to a referral ward by ambulance was 28.0±11.1 minutes. Diseases requiring emergency surgical treatment were the leading cause of death, accounting for 53.8% of total deaths. The mortality rate was not significantly different between the neonates aged <6 hrs and ≥6 hrs groups.

CONCLUSIONSActive transport remains the main transport pattern among these four hospitals. Neonates requiring surgical treatment have a high mortality rate, and thus special attention should be paid to their transport.