title: Short-term outcomes of late preterms: an institutional experience.
abstract: This article describes the short-term outcomes of late preterm neonates born between 34 and 36 (6/7) weeks gestational age (GA) in a 4-year period. A total of 1381/ 20554 (6.7%) births were between 34 and 36 weeks of GA and were predominantly Caucasian (87%). In all, 697/1381 (51%) were admitted to nursery whereas 684/1381 (49%) remained with their mothers. Of the babies born at 34, 35, and 36 weeks GA, 97%, 53%, and 32%, respectively, required admission and of these 30%, 33%, and 23%, respectively, required respiratory support. Air leaks developed in <4% infants. Median length of stay and age at full enteral feeds were 11, 6, and 4 days and 10, 6, and 3 days for 34, 35, and 36 weeks GA, respectively. It is concluded that late preterms have significant morbidity in the neonatal period.
authors.affiliation: Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. vachharajani@kids.wustl.edu
authors.forename: Akshaya J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Vachharajani
authors.forename: Jeffrey G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Dawson
mesh_terms: D005865:Gestational Age; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D009725:Nurseries, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors