Neonatal outcome of extremely small low birthweight liveborn infants below 901 g in a Swedish population.
In a regional population of 32,120 liveborn newborn infants 65 (0.2%) had a birthweight less than or equal to 900 g (extremely small low birthweight = ESLBW) with mean gestational age 26.4 (range 22-31) completed weeks of gestation. The total 0-1 year survival rate was 48%. For the 42 infants treated in the Level III regional neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) the 0-1 year survival rate was 55% versus 34% for 23 infants not transferred to the Level III unit. In the ESLBW infants treated in the regional NICU the major complications were respiratory disorders requiring artificial ventilation (73%), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (26%), intracranial haemorrhages (40%), symptomatic persistent ductus arteriosus (36%) and sepsis (14%), persistent retinopathy of prematurity (8%). Duration of NICU treatment was 51 days (range 10-95) for survivors. Mode of delivery and rate of perinatal complications did not differ between survivors and non-survivors. Previous legal abortion occurred in 24%, fertility problems in 29% and 21% of the mothers were immigrants. Otherwise no significant abnormalities were found in maternal or socioeconomic conditions. Factors deciding neonatal outcome in the tiniest babies seem to be a combination of prenatal circumstances and neonatal minute fine care procedures.
Svenningsen
N W
NW
Department of Paediatrics, University of Lund, Sweden.
Stjernqvist
K
K
Stavenow
S
S
Hellström-Westas
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002657:Child Development; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013548:Sweden