Abstract
26/31(84%) surviving NICU infants with birthweights ≤950 g.born 4/74-1/77 were evaluated by an interdisciplinary team including pediatricians(2), psychologist, audiologist, optometrist, developmentalist, social worker, nutritionist and R.N. The study began in 1/76 with evaluations performed at ages 6, 12, 18, 24 and 36 mos. Mean age at last evaluation was 18 mos.(range 6-38 mos.). Population characteristics included mean birth weight 889 g.(range 650-940 g.); mean gestational age 28.4 wks.(range 24-33 wks., 7/26 small for gestational age); male:female 10:16; inborn:outborn 5:21; and Black:White:Other 13:12:1. Results were corrected for gestational age.
Significant major morbidity was found in 9/26(34.6%)including stage V retrolental fibroplasia (RLF)(1); developmental delay (7 with DQ≥70); cerebral palsy(6); acquired hydrocephalus(2); extreme failure to thrive (FTT)(3). 6/9(67%) affected infants had multiple major handicaps. 11/17 infants without major handicaps had one or more minor disabilities including stage II RLF(1); recurrent lower respiratory disease(4); serous otitis media(11); mild conductive hearing loss(8); mild FTT(2); visual disorders(4) arrested hydrocephalus(3) and scoliosis(1). Although longitudinal followup may alter some of the results reported, it appears that survival without major morbidity is occurring in 65% of surviving infants with birthweights ≥950 g.
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Nelson, K., Setzer, E., Saxon, S. et al. 64 INTERDISCIPLINARY ASSESSMENT OF MORBIDITY OF INFANTS WITH BIRTHWEIGHTS ≤ 950 GRAMS. Pediatr Res 12 (Suppl 4), 374 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00069
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00069