Evaluation of Survival ability of Extramural neonates by TOPS scoring in Tertiary care hospital

Abstract

Transport of neonates from peripheral health centres to advanced neonatal intensive care units which are concentrated in urban areas is a necessity in India. The transport of newborn baby by a skilled and organised team reduces neonatal mortality and morbidity. Among the various pretransport and posttransport neonatal assessment scores, TOPS score, a bedside score to assess acute physiological parameters was chosen for the study. AIMS: To study the correlation of TOPS Score with survival rate among referred neonates. MATERIALS AND METHODS : TOPS score was assessed for 101 outborn neonates referred to tertiary teaching hospital during the study period. RESULTS : Among the study population, 67% were male, 57% were term, 60% had normal birth weight. At time of admission, 38% neonates had hypoxia, 12% had hypoperfusion, 10% had hypothermia, 2% had hypoglycaemia. TOPS score <2 was associated with survival and >2 was associated with significant mortality. CONCLUSION : TOPS score is a simple, bedside test to determine prognosis of referred neonates. It also helps to monitor care received by the neonates during transport. Appropriate care during transport is essential to decrease neonatal mortality