Neonatal head and torso vibration exposure during inter-hospital transfer.

ABSTRACT: Inter-hospital transport of premature infants is increasingly common, given the centralisation of neonatal intensive care. However, it is known to be associated with anomalously increased morbidity, most notably brain injury, and with increased mortality from multifactorial causes. Surprisingly, there have been relatively few previous studies investigating the levels of mechanical shock and vibration hazard present during this vehicular transport pathway. Using a custom inertial datalogger, and analysis software, we quantify vibration and linear head acceleration. Mounting multiple inertial sensing units on the forehead and torso of neonatal patients and a preterm manikin, and on the chassis of transport incubators over the duration of inter-site transfers, we find that the resonant freque

SUBMITTER: Blaxter L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5315199 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature