Abstract
RLF with a reported incidence as high as 20-25% remains the single most important complication among survivors weighing<1500 qms. From Jan. 1978 to June 1983, 206 infants (101:M, 105:F)<1500 gms were examined by the same ophthalmologist at discharge and on follow-up visits. 41 of them were infants<1000 gms. 20 infants had Gr.1-V RLF at the moment of discharge (9.7%); 15 infants(7.5%) had Gr. 1-II RLF (12=Gr.I; 3=Gr.II) and all of these had a normal eye examination by 3 months of age. 5 infants developed Gr.III-V RLF (2.5%) and 2 of them are blind (1%). One child needs glasses and the other 2 have completely recovered. All 3 cicatricially affected infants were<1000gms and all required prolonged ventilation rendering the incidence of cicatricial RLF for<1000gms 7.3% and for>1000gms 0%. Factors found to have an influence on RLF were: 1/. Gest.age:29.8 vs 26.8 wks. 2/. BW:1196 vs 1013 gms. 3/. Length of O2 therapy: 20.8 vs 48.8 d. 4/.Length of ventilation: 3.6 vs 12.8 d. 5/. Highest FiO2:27.1 vs 68.1% 6/. Highest pCO2 58.5 vs 71 mmHq. 7/. Lowest pCO2:30.8 vs 26.4 mmHg. All p values were at <.005. Angar scores and highest pO2 values were found not to be statistically significant factors. On Griffith Score at 24 mos of age no significant difference was found between infants with or without RLF when correction was made for eye motor-coordination. Whether this very low incidence of RLF is due to the careful control of all ventilation parameters or to the extensive use of antenatal steroids remains to be proven.
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Chemtob, S., Papageorgiou, A., Kunos, I. et al. R.L.F.: NOT UNIFORMALLY FREOUENT AND/OR SEVERE. Pediatr Res 18 (Suppl 4), 338 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-01473
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-01473