Preterm outcome table (POT): a simple tool to aid counselling parents of very preterm infants.
BACKGROUND
Outcome figures published in scientific journals are often cumbersome and difficult to understand by parents during counselling before or immediately after a very premature birth.


OBJECTIVE
To provide simplified up-to-date outcome information in a table for ease of counselling.


METHODS
Regional perinatal mortality rates for very premature births (23-31 weeks gestation) and incidence of significant neonatal events for those admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICU) were obtained from the NSW Midwives Data Collection, ACT Maternal and Perinatal Data Collection and the NSW and ACT NICUS Data Collection for 2000 and 2001. Neurodevelopmental outcome was obtained for the same cohort at 2-3 years of age, corrected for prematurity. The percentage outcomes were rounded off to the closest conservative multiple of 5 for each data point in a table.


RESULTS
The preterm outcome table (POT) for each gestational week was constructed from a total of 2315 births. Of these, 401 (17.3%) were reported as stillborn and were predominantly of 23 to 25 weeks gestation. Of those admitted to NICU, hospital survival rates were 30, 50, 65, 75, 80, 90 and > 95% for 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28-29 and 30-31 weeks, respectively. Neurodevelopmental outcome was available for 470 (75%) children, of whom 15% had a moderate to severe functional disability at 2-3 years of age, corrected for prematurity. Simplified data on survival to discharge and outcome were tabulated.


CONCLUSIONS
POT appears simple and easy to use but also provides realistic data to assist clinicians in the counselling process.
Bolisetty
Srinivas
S
Department of Newborn Care, Royal Hospital for Women, New South Wales, Australia. srinivas.bolisetty@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au
Bajuk
Barbara
B
Abdel-Latif
M E
ME
Me
Abdel-Latif
AL
Vincent
Trina
T
Sutton
Lee
L
Lui
Kei
K
D020958:Australian Capital Territory / Q000453:epidemiology; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D050497:Stillbirth / Q000453:epidemiology*