Neonatology Department

The Neonatology Department at Bulovka University Hospital is a modern neonatal unit. The medical team consists of experienced neonatologists with long experience in the ICU of perinatology centres. 

The department has new medical technology. The premises are largely renovated and newly furnished.

The Neonatology Department was established by decision of the FNB management as early as in 2006. However, only 2007 was a breakthrough year. Until 2007, only physiological newborns were cared for at the Bulovka University Hospital.The Intensive Care Unit was a new capacity at the time.

"We love our work. We look forward to seeing you"

Primary  
MUDr. Martin Čihař

In 2006, the Committee of the Czech Neonatology Society and the Ministry of Health declared the need for a completely new neonatology unit at the Bulovka University Hospital. Our department, together with the Gynaecology and Obstetrics Clinic, was included among the Intermediate Perinatology Centres in 2014.

 

Neonatology Department Structure:

  • Intensive Care Unit
  • Physiological Neonatal Unit
  • Ambulance

 

About Neonatology

Neonatology is a separate medical specialty based on pediatrics. Its scope is the care of newborns. A neonatologist primarily cares for healthy babies (neonatal physiology unit), which is a beautiful, upbeat job. The goal of the neonatologist is first and foremost that the mother learns to care for her baby and that she leaves the hospital calm and happy.

Even a healthy baby, however, must be cared for properly by a doctor after birth. Sometimes, however, it can be difficult to detect, for example, ailments such as incipient infections or hidden congenital developmental defects. Unfortunately, not all babies are born healthy. The spectrum of neonatal diseases is wide. First and foremost, these are premature babies.

Our other patients include babies after a difficult birth that required crossbreeding, babies with infections or birth defects. However, a newborn may also have a metabolic disorder, endocrine disease,  congenital tumor,  hematopoietic disorder, immunity etc.

There are wards for physiological newborns in every hospital where there is a maternity ward. Sick babies are cared for in the, intensive and intermediate care units, which are part of the so-called

We use the word perinatology to mean, that the baby is cared for "around the birth". That is, in pregnancy, during labour and after birth. The obstetrician and the neonatologist work closely together. They solve various problems even before the baby is born. Some conditions can be well treated before birth. For example, cardiac arrhythmias, blood incompatibility caused by Rh factor or some congenital defects. Congenital infections (including HIV) are another serious and solvable problem.

For example, we also discuss when to deliver a sick baby. Whether it is more beneficial for the baby to still be "in mommy" at that moment or to deliver and treat the baby in the neonatal unit. So it is a team effort between neonatologists and obstetricians.

Care for sick babies has made tremendous progress in recent decades. Thirty years ago, it was a big problem to save a baby with a birth weight of 1.0 to 1.5 kilograms. More than 30% of these babies died. Those that survived often faced permanent consequences. Today, we can treat these babies well, the mortality rate in this weight group has dropped below 5% - and most importantly - these babies rarely have any permanent problems. That is the most important thing. Our goal is for the baby to be healthy, to bring joy to the family. The most at-risk group today remains babies with a birth weight below one kilogram, specifically below 750 grams. However, even here the results in recent years have been very promising. Children in this weight category are not treated in our department. Their care is concentrated in perinatology centres. Great progress has also been made in the treatment of neonatal infections and congenital developmental defects.

The Czech Republic has a very low neonatal mortality rate. However, we more often talk about so-called perinatal mortality. This reflects how many babies are stillborn or die within 7 days after birth. This mortality rate was about 20 per cent in our country in the 1970s, but now it is about 4 per cent, which is world-leading.

The success is due to the quality of care and its good organisation. Practically all mothers go to pregnancy counselling centres (which is not common in the world). So problems are usually solved in the embryo. In addition, the so-called "transport in the womb" system is well organised - where mothers with serious problems are hospitalised in centres, where experts and the necessary technology are concentrated.

By this technology we mean incubators, ventilators, infusion pumps, vital signs monitors, diagnostic equipment.