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Retinopathy of prematurity practices: a national survey of Canadian Neonatal Intensive Care Units

Journal of Perinatology volume 38, pages 381–385 (2018)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective

To examine current level three Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) practices related to ROP screening and treatment.

Study design

A cross-sectional survey was sent to 29 level three NICU’s across Canada to survey current screening inclusion criteria, treatment options, supportive care and post-screening events for ROP.

Result

22/29 (76%) level three NICU’s responded. Ten different ROP screening inclusion criteria were found to be in use with significant variation in gestational age and birth weight criteria. Many other national variations also exist regarding the supportive and procedural protocols surrounding ROP screening as well as mode of treatment for ROP.

Conclusion

Despite national guidelines, significant variation in ROP screening inclusion criteria practices exist among neonatal units in Canada. Therefore, there is an urgent need for better evidence-based screening guidelines as well as a need to standardize supportive measures surrounding ROP screening and treatment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

    Kourosh Sabri

  2. McMaster Paediatric Eye Research Group, Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

    Kourosh Sabri

  3. McMaster Pediatric Surgery Research Collaborative, Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

    Kourosh Sabri & Bethany Easterbrook

  4. Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

    Mary Angela Woodward & Sandesh Shivananda

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  1. Kourosh Sabri
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  2. Mary Angela Woodward
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  3. Bethany Easterbrook
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  4. Sandesh Shivananda
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on behalf of the Canadian Neonatal Network

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kourosh Sabri.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Sabri, K., Woodward, M.A., Easterbrook, B. et al. Retinopathy of prematurity practices: a national survey of Canadian Neonatal Intensive Care Units. J Perinatol 38, 381–385 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-017-0030-6

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