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What

The NICU Database contains detailed information on two distinct populations of live born infants – Small Babies and Big Babies. Stillborn babies are not eligible for entry into the database. Live-born babies that die within 12 hours of birth, prior to admission into the NICU, are entered into the NICU Database as a “delivery room death.” 

Small Babies

An infant is considered a “small baby” if they:​

  • Were born less than or equal to 31 weeks, 6 days gestation, OR
  • Had a birthweight ≤ 1,500 grams

All small babies are eligible for entry into the NICU Database, regardless of whether they were born at your hospital (“inborn”) or were born at a different hospital (“outborn”) but were acutely transferred to your hospital for care by any service (not just the NICU), as long as the transfer occurred before the baby’s 28th day of life.

Big Babies

Several factors determine whether “big babies,” or those with birth weights > 1,500 grams, are eligible for entry into the database. They must either have been born at your hospital or have been transferred in within 28 days of their birth. In addition, they must have been admitted into the NICU or cared for by the NICU service team and meet one of the following criteria:

  1. Death
  2. Acute transport into your NICU
  3. Acute transport out of your NICU
  4. Noninvasive ventilation (Nasal IMV or SIMV or any other form of non-intubated assisted ventilation) for more than four continuous hours
  5. Intubated assisted ventilation for greater than four continuous hours
  6. Early bacterial sepsis
  7. Major surgery requiring anesthesia
  8. Previously discharged home and then readmitted for a total serum bilirubin of greater than or equal to 25 mg/dl (427 micromols/liter) and/or exchange transfusion. Babies readmitted for hyperbilirubinemia are eligible whether they are readmitted directly to the NICU or elsewhere in the hospital.
  9. Suspected encephalopathy or perinatal asphyxia
  10. Active therapeutic hypothermia
  11. Seizures (Babies born in 2019 or later)

Confused? Use the flow-chart below to determine if a baby is eligible for entry into the NICU Database.  

Is This Baby Eligible?

Was the baby born alive?
Yes
No
Start Again

Did the baby die within 12 hours of birth, before being admitted to the NICU?     

Yes
No
Start Again

The baby is NOT eligible for entry into the NICU Database .

Was the baby born less than or equal to 31 weeks, 6 days gestation (for 2021 and earlier only infants born between 22 weeks, 0 days and 31 weeks, 6 days of gestation OR with a birth weight ≤ 1,500 grams? (For 2021 and earlier, only infants born between 401-1,500 grams are eligible as a small baby.)  

Yes
No
Start Again

The baby qualifies as a “Delivery Room Death” and is eligible for entry into the NICU Database.

Did the baby weigh > 1,500 grams at birth?

Yes
No
Start Again

The baby qualifies as a “Small Baby” and is eligible for entry into the NICU Database.

Was the baby admitted into the NICU on or before day 28 of life?

Yes
No
Start Again

Babies with a birth weight of ≤ 400 grams are NOT eligible for entry into the NICU Database. Babies weighing between 401-1,500 grams qualify for entry as a “Small Baby” (for 2021 and earlier).

Did the baby experience any of the following while in the hospital?

  1. Death
  2. Acute transport into your NICU
  3. Acute transport out of your NICU
  4. Noninvasive ventilation (Nasal IMV or SIMV or any other form of non-intubated assisted ventilation) for more than four continuous hours
  5. Intubated assisted ventilation for greater than four continuous hours
  6. Early bacterial sepsis
  7. Major surgery requiring anesthesia
  8. Previously discharged home and then readmitted for a total serum bilirubin of greater than or equal to 25 mg/dl (247 micromols/liter) and or/exchange transfusion. Babies readmitted for hyperbilirubinemia are eligible whether they are readmitted directly to the NICU or elsewhere in your hospital.
  9. Suspected encephalopathy or perinatal asphyxia
  10. Active therapeutic hypothermia
  11. Seizures (new for 2019)
Yes
No
Start Again

Was the baby discharged home and then readmitted to the hospital (somewhere other than the NICU) for a total serum bilirubin of greater than or equal to 25 mg/dl (427 micromols/liter) and/or exchange transfusion?

Yes
No
Start Again

The baby is NOT eligible for entry into the NICU Database.

The infant qualifies as a “Big Baby” and is eligible for entry into the NICU Database.

Download Flowchart

 

Changes to the NICU Database, including to the Small and Big Baby eligibility criteria, are made only at the beginning of each birth year and are guided by the Data Committee and Data Committee Advisory Group.  Free, face to face training sessions are held each October to orient you to the changes for the upcoming year.  Visit our FAQs page to dive into how these changes are implemented.