Methods of resuscitation in low-Apgar-score newborn infants--a national survey.
The incidence, treatment and immediate course in infants with postnatal apnoea were studied. Information on all infants born in Sweden in 1985 with a low Apgar score (3 or less at 1 min or 6 or less at 5 min) was collected from the midwife and from the baby's chart. Of the 97,648 live births, 1633 (1.7%) had a low Apgar score. The risk increased with decreasing birthweight and with severe malformations. Before delivery, 19% of the low-Apgar-score infants were not expected to require resuscitation. Eighty percent of the ventilated infants were satisfactorily ventilated by bag and mask; the remainder were intubated. Of the ventilated infants, 78% developed spontaneous breathing within 10 min after birth and 89% within 20 min. Routine intubation or administration of buffer in cases of postnatal asphyxia had no influence on the time to onset of regular spontaneous breathing.
Palme-Kilander
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Department of Paediatrics, Huddinge Hospital, Sweden.
D001034:Apgar Score; D001049:Apnea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D001719:Birth Certificates; D001724:Birth Weight; D002985:Clinical Protocols / Q000592:standards; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000503:physiopathology; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012042:Registries; D012151:Resuscitation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D012307:Risk Factors; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome