Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain
the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in
Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles
and JavaScript.
Continued assessment of Long Term Outcome is necessary to evaluate ongong 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. Therewere 1,216 admissions to our NICU. For the birth weight between 501- 800 grams there were 72 births. Forty-four (44) survived to be discharged from the NICU and remain alive to date (61% survival). All but two (2) have reached the adjusted age of 18 months. Eight (8) were lost to follow-up (81% follow-up rate), and twenty-six (26) did not survive. The mean gestational age and birth weight with 1 SD for the survivors were 25.9 +/- 1.7 weeks and 686+/- 74g, compared with non-survivors at 239 +/- 1.7 and 618 +/- 63g, respectively. Among the survivors 50% (n=8) did not receive Antenatal Steroids, 22% (n=8) received only 1 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 a 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. MDI among<800g birth weight was 44% of normal, and only 16% of severe. Table
Urrutia, J., Gupta, U. & Kuch, H. Improved Long Term Outcome for the Micropreemies (<800 grams) 1164.
Pediatr Res43
(Suppl 4), 200 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199804001-01185