[Effectiveness assessment of a neonatal intensive care program for very low birth weight infants. Impact of surfactant administration].
BACKGROUND
Although many therapeutic interventions have proven efficacy through randomized control trials (RCT) with extensive use in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) for Very Low Birth Weight Infants (VLBWI), doubts remain about its overall effectiveness.


OBJECTIVE
To determine changes in the effectiveness of NICU practices on VLBWI over 14 years in the quality of neonatal survival in a General Hospital, with emphasis in the change in reanimation practices by the introduction of the spread use of surfactant.


METHODS
We included all consecutive VLBWI admitted in our NICU during a period of 14 years: 1989-1992 (n= 145); 1993-2002 (n= 342). All survivors were included in our follow-up program; 80% and 85% were available for assessment at two years of corrected age. The patients were assigned to 4 groups by weight in 250 g categories, between 500 and 1500 g.


METHODS
Survival and adjusted quality of survival (QS). The QS was expressed in life-years gained. We create categories for the estimation of disabilities. We also analyzed time of NICU stay by weight and mortality categories during the 2 periods.


RESULTS
The survival rate improved significantly between the 2 periods (23%) from 52% to 75%. The actuarial survival showed a significant increase in all weight groups (p <0.001), especially between 500-749 g (4% vs. 33%). The life-years gained showed differences in the BW <750 g (p <0.002, 3.6 vs. 23.4) y 750-999 g (p <0.001, 22.3 vs. 48); no differences were found in the others groups. The time of stay showed an increase of 30 days in the <750 g group (p <0.01) and decreased 8 days in the> or =1250 g group (p <0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The effectiveness of neonatal intensive care for VLBWI improved in the period 1993-2002, after surfactant introduction, especially in the group <1000 g.
Servicio de Neonatología, Departamento de Pediatría, Hospital Italiano, Buenos Aires. carlos.fustinana@hospitalitaliano.org.ar
Carlos A
CA
Fustiñana
Gustavo
G
Izbizky
Diana
D
Rodríguez
Gonzalo
G
Mariani
José M
JM
Ceriani Cernadas
D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000592:standards*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015996:Survival Rate
D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants