[Neonatal mortality and morbidity in gestational age shorter than 30 weeks for babies treated primarily in a central hospital. Follow-up studies of an unselected, consecutive patient group].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to investigate the mortality and morbidity of very premature babies treated at a Danish county hospital in the mid-1990s.


METHODS
The 62 survivors of 70 consecutive babies born in 1993-1997 were given a neuropaediatric follow-up examination at a corrected mean age of 49 (22-69) months. The mean gestational age was 27 (24-29) weeks and the mean birth weight was 1012 (550-1374) g.


RESULTS
Eight babies (11%) died within 28 days of birth. Four (6%) had an intracerebral haemorrhage, grade 3-4; four (6%) had retinopathy of prematurity; and three (4%) had bronchopulmonary dysplasia at 36 weeks of gestation. Four of the survivors developed cerebral palsy. Two of these babies and a neurologically normal baby had visual impairments. None developed epilepsy.


CONCLUSIONS
Thus, our babies had a low mortality and only a few complications at long-term follow-up. Early nasal continuous positive airway pressure and early supplementation with a surfactant seem to be essential for these positive results in our most premature babies.
Balling
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K
Børneafdelingen, Centralsygehuset i Holbaek.
Eschen
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CC
Verder
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H
D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal; D011247:Pregnancy