Mobile model of ophthalmological care for children with retinopathy of prematurity in the southern region of Ukraine

Aim of the study
was to develop a mobile model of ophthalmological care for children with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in the Southern region of Ukraine, taking into account the available medical technologies, and study the effectiveness of its implementation.

Material and methods
A mobile model of care for premature infants for timely detection and treatment of ROP was developed. Its essence is to provide care at the child’s location.

Results
In the period 2009-2021, in the framework of the mobile model, 5,516 preterm children were examined (15,450 screening examinations) and 711 telemedicine consultations were conducted. Between 2009 and 2021, 423 children received laser treatment. Regression of the disease due to retinal laser photocoagulation was observed in 407 children (96.2%). Over the whole period of observation, different stages of ROP were diagnosed in 1,440 among 5,516 children (26.1%). During the whole period of study, 1631 visits of the mobile group were carried out.

Conclusions
The developed mobile model of ophthalmological care for premature babies in the Southern region of Ukraine makes it possible to provide a complete course of diagnostic and therapeutic measures for premature babies with ROP in various stages of the disease, due to the continuity of the organizational stages of ophthalmological care. High efficiency of the mobile model of ophthalmological care has been established due to an increase of percentage of early ROP detection in premature infants and achieving in them good functional results after laser photocoagulation – the percentage of ROP among premature infants was 261%; frequency of ROP requiring treatment – 7.6%; general efficiency of treatment – 96.2%. For the first time in ophthalmological care for premature infants with ROP or with risk of its development, a multidisciplinary and family-oriented approach was introduced into practice, which provided comprehensive multidisciplinary care for the child and his/her family due to regulation of interactions between neonatology, intensive care and ophthalmology services and compliance with the continuity of stages of medical care for premature infants.