title: Survival and morbidity of very low birth weight infant in a South American neonatal network.
abstract: To analyze survival and relevant morbidity by gestational age (GA) in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants (<1500 g) and, based on these data, develop a fact sheet to provide information to perinatal healthcare providers and very low birth weight preterm infants' parents.
  
  
  
  Data were prospectively collected in relation to newborn infants with a birth weight between 500 g and 1500 g admitted to 45 sites of the Neocosur Neonatal Network (Red Neonatal Neocosur) between January 2001 and December 2011.
  
  
  
  Data on 8234 VLBW with a GA between 24+0 and 31+6 weeks were analyzed. Overall mortality was 26% (95% CI: 25.0-26.9), including 2.6% of deaths in the delivery room. Fact sheets for survival and morbidity for each week of gestation were developed based on collected data. Survival at discharge increased from 29% at 24 weeks of GA to 91% at 31 weeks of GA (p < 0.001). The incidence of relevant neonatal morbidity was inversely related to GA (p < 0.001). Overall, 30.8% had retinopathy of prematurity, 25% bronchopulmonary dysplasia, 10.9% necrotizing enterocolitis, 7.2% severe intraventricular hemorrhage, and 4.6% periventricular leukomalacia. Among survivors, 47.3% had none of these five conditions.
  
  
  
  A tool for use in a clinical setting was developed based on updated regional data for establishing week-to-week survival and morbidity of newborn infants born between 24+0 and 31+6 weeks of GA. This information could be used to make decisions related to perinatal care and for counseling parents.
authors.affiliation: División de Pediatría, Hospital Dr. Sótero Del Río.
authors.forename: Rocío
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.affiliation: Sección de Neonatología, Hospital Dr. Sótero Del Río.
authors.forename: Ivonne
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: D'Apremont
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica de Chile.
authors.forename: Angélica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Domínguez
authors.affiliation: Hospital Clínico Pontificia, Hospital Clínico Pontificia, Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Tapia
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000401:mortality*; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013020:South America; D015996:Survival Rate