The mortality index for neonatal transportation score: a new mortality prediction model for retrieved neonates

Objective. To develop a mortality prediction score for retrieved neonates based on the information given at the first telephone contact with a retrieval service. Methods. Data from the New South Wales Newborn and Pediatric Emergency Transport Service database were examined. Analysis was performed with the results for 2504 infants (median gestational age: 36 weeks; range: 24-43 weeks) who were Results. A 7-variable (Apgar score at 1 minute, birth weight, presence of a congenital anomaly, and infant's age, pH, arterial partial pressure of oxygen, and heart rate at the time of the call) model was constructed that generated areas under ROC curves of 0.82 and 0.83 for the derivation and validation cohorts, respectively. The 7 variables were then used to generate the MINT score, which gave areas under ROC curves of 0.80 for both neonatal and perinatal death. Conclusion. Data collected at the first telephone contact by the referring hospital with a regionalized transport service can identify neonates at the greatest risk of dying. Pediatrics 2004;U4:e424-e428. URL: http://www. pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/114/4/e424; neonatal mortality, retrieval, neonatal transport.