Main PageMethodologyResultsDiscussion
At baseline, the m-FNASS group (N=23) and ESC group (N=26) were comparable (see Table 1). Pharmacologic intervention with morphine was nearly eliminated in the ESC group (see Fig 1). For those admitted to the Level 2 NICU, length of stay was significantly shorter in the ESC group. Overall length of stay was also significantly shorter in the ESC group when compared to the m-FNASS (LOS ESC=5.77 days versus LOSc=9.65). 30-day readmission rates for NAS-related issues were very low, with only one infant in each group readmitted, both for feeding issues.
In terms of pharmacologic management, morphine was used with 52.2% of the m-FNASS neonates and reduced to 7.75% of the ESC neonates, demonstrating a significant difference (χ2(1)=11.83, p=.001), and there was a higher mean total dose of morphine for m-FNASS compared to ESC participants (XC=83.67 mg (SD=32.1) versus XESC=2.00 mg (SD=.00), t(12)=3.48, p=.005) for the ESC infants (see Fig 2).
Overall length of stay was longer in the m-FNASS group compared to the ESC group (LOSc=9.65 (SD=5.52) versus LOSESC=5.77(SD=2.16) respectively, (t(47)=3.16, p=.002)). After discharge, significant adverse events (SAE) were tracked, with comparable rates of readmission in the two groups (17.4% of the m-FNASS and 15.4% of the ESC infants were readmitted for SAEs, p=NS).