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Improved Outcome for Infants Weighing Less then 750 Grams at Birth: Effects of Advances in Perinatal Care, Infection Prevention and Maternal Transport for Fetus
Author(s) -
Kukita Johji,
Yamashita Hironori,
Minami Taketsugu,
Fujita Ichiro,
Koyanagi Takashi,
Ueda Kohji
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
pediatrics international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.49
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1442-200X
pISSN - 1328-8067
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-200x.1990.tb00896.x
Subject(s) - medicine , pediatrics , psychomotor learning , neonatal intensive care unit , head circumference , birth weight , low birth weight , intensive care , fetus , obstetrics , pregnancy , intensive care medicine , cognition , psychiatry , biology , genetics
Between 1980 and 1987, we investigated the outcome for 20 infants with birth weights <750 g, admitted to the neonatal unit of Kyushu University Hospital. All infants were delivered at the hospital. Seven infants (35%) survived and were discharged. Comparing the first and second 4 year periods, the survival rate improved from 17% (1 of 6 infants) to 43% (6 of 14 infants). Intensive perinatal care, prevention of infection and early transport of mothers of high‐risk babies improved the outcome. In the long‐term, among the 7 survivors, 1 had psychomotor retardation, 1 had epilepsy and the other 5 were normal neurologically. Growth in height and weight of these children remained below the ‐2SD levels until 2 years of age, thereafter they began to catch up. Growth in head circumference increased to a level above the ‐2SD value from 2 years of age. With intensive perinatal care, the outcome for infants weighing <750 g is improving, and good results may be expected.