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Short‐term outcome of mechanically ventilated infants weighing more than 2499 g at birth: A population based study *
Author(s) -
SUTTON L.,
BAJUK B.,
DUFFY B.,
ALEXANDER I.,
ARNOLD J.,
LESLIE G.,
HENDERSONSMART D.,
JOHN E.,
ROBERTS V.,
BERRY A.,
GILL A.,
GARVEY P.,
CARTER G.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1754.1993.tb03012.x
Subject(s) - medicine , apgar score , caesarean section , population , pediatrics , asphyxia , mechanical ventilation , intensive care , perinatal asphyxia , birth weight , pregnancy , obstetrics , intensive care medicine , anesthesia , genetics , environmental health , biology
Abstract: Very little data exist describing the neonatal outcome of infants of birthweight 2500 g or more who require mechanical ventilation. Our aim was to collect population‐based data on such infants in New South Wales (NSW), and to monitor their neonatal morbidity, mortality to 1 year of age and the associated risk factors. The study group (NICUS infants) comprised all 341 infants weighing >2499 g who were admitted to the seven neonatal intensive care units in New South Wales and mechanically ventilated for 4 h or more between 1 January and 31 December, 1987. Two groups of infants emerged: those who were preterm and mostly had hyaline membrane disease, and term and post‐term infants for whom the most common problem was ‘perinatal asphyxia’. The most important factors associated with dying were a birthweight of over 3499 g (OR = 2.6; CI 1.03–6.6) and a 1 min Apgar score <4 (OR = 4.8; C11.4–16.9). Study group mothers were significantly more likely than all NSW mothers to have had a spontaneous abortion in the previous pregnancy (P<0.01), a pre‐existing medical condition or an obstetric complication in this pregnancy, or a Caesarean section for this delivery (P<0.001). This is the first population‐based study of high‐risk neonates without congenital anomalies to clearly document the worsening prognosis associated with a birthweight over 3499 g. Further research should be directed towards identifying prenatal and perinatal factors which might minimize the morbidity and mortality in this group of babies.