title: Outcome of infants with birthweight 2000 g or less who undergo major cardiac surgery.
abstract: A retrospective study of all neonates with birthweight 2000 g or less undergoing major cardiac surgery at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne over the last 5 years was performed in order to determine outcome and identify subgroups within this population that may have a poor prognosis. The mean length of stay in intensive care following surgery was 32 days, with non-survivors having a significantly longer duration of stay than survivors. Overall mortality was 43%, and for children with congenital heart disease as part of a recognizable syndrome the mortality was 100%. None of the survivors suffered incapacitating cardiac, neurological or respiratory handicap. These children in general have a poor prognosis and utilize significant resources; results of cardiac surgery in this group need to be closely followed in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Numa
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Butt
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Mee
mesh_terms: D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome