Continued assessment of Long Term Outcome is necessary to evaluate ongoing obstetrical and neonatal interventions, as well as to be able to share this information with prospective parents and the perinatal team. Recently introduced interventions include Antenatal Steroids and Surfactant administration. St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center is a recently awarded Perinatal Tertiary Care facility which serves part of Northwest Ohio and Southern Michigan. The study period included January 1, 1993, to June 30, 1996. There were 1,216 admissions to our NICU. For the birth weight between 501-800 grams, there were 72 births. Forty-four survived to be discharged from the NICU and remain alive to date, (61% survival). All but two have reached the adjusted age of 18 months. Eight were lost to follow-up (81% follow-up rate). Twenty-six did not survive. The mean gestational age and birth weight with 1 SD for the survivors were 25.9±1.7 weeks and 686±74 g, compared with non-survivors 23.9±1.7, and 618±63 g, respectively. Among the survivors 50% (n=18) did not receive Antenatal Steroids, 22% (n=8) received only one dose, and 28% (n=10) received a full course. Surfactant was given to 78% (n=28), BPD - 36 weeks on 36%, IVH>2 on 11%, ROP >2 in 50% and Post-Natal Steroids on 83%. Combined Bayley II Mental Developmental Index (MDI) and Neuromuscular Evaluation resulted in 47% survivors to be normal (n=17), 28% (n=10) to be suspect, and 25% (n=9) show severe handicap.

Conclusion: We found a significant number of fetuses without the benefit of Antenatal Glucocorticoid, high use of surfactant, low rate of BPD-36, significant low rate of severe IVH, but a high rate of severe ROP. Neuromotor dysfunction among <800 gram birth weight was found to be severe in 9% (n=7) which is significantly low, suspect 8.3% (n=3) and 72% (26) were normal. Table

Table 1 No caption available.
Full size table

Log in or create a free account to read this content

Gain free access to this article, as well as selected content from this journal and more on nature.com

Access through your institution

or

Sign in or create an account
Continue with Google
Continue with ORCiD