title: Short-term outcomes of very low birth weight infants born at a tertiary care hospital, istanbul, Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate mortality and short-term outcomes in very low birth weight infants admitted to the tertiary neonatal intensive care unit, Istanbul, Turkey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study data were recorded prospectively from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2010. The clinical findings in neonates with birth weights <1000g were compared with infants with birth weights of between 1000g and 1499g.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the present study, survival rates were 40% and 86.2% for infants weighing <1000g and 1000g to 1499g, respectively. There was no difference between males and females with respect to mortality (P>0.05). The mean (±standard deviation) birth weight was 985.6±150.15 g and mean gestational age was 27.5±2.04 weeks. The antenatal steroid rate was 37.2%, and the Cesarean section rate was 73%. Respiratory distress syndrome was diagnosed in 89% of the infants, with a 69% surfactant administration rate. Severe intracranial hemorrhage (IVH) (grade >II) was 14%. Grade 4 periventricular leukomalacia was 10%. Twelve (24%) infants had evidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Retinopathy of prematurity (stage >II) was 4%. The correlation between ROP rate and need for ventilation therapy was present (r=0.52). Proven necrotizing enterocolitis (stage >2) was not observed. Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) was diagnosed in 67% of the neonates. BPD, IVH, and PDA were statistically higher in neonates with a birth weight <1000g.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Survival rate of VLBW infants increased with increasing BW. Sex was not a risk factor for mortality. The need for ventilatory therapy may be an important risk factor for ROP in infants <1500g.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Bakırkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Deniz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Atalay
authors.forename: Ozgül
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Salihoğlu
authors.forename: Emrah
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Can
authors.forename: Ayşegül
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beşkardeş
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hatipoğlu
keywords: Morbidity; Mortality; Neonate; Very Low Birth Weight