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Discharge outcomes of extremely low birth weight infants with spontaneous intestinal perforations

Journal of Perinatology volume 26, pages 49–54 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To examine discharge outcomes of extremely low birth weight infants (ELBW) with spontaneous intestinal perforation (SIP).

Study design:

A single-center retrospective cohort study of all ELBW infants admitted to the University of Virginia neonatal intensive care unit between July 1996 and June 2004.

Results:

We found 35 patients with SIP (incidence 8.4%). The median gestational age was 25 weeks, median birth weight was 722 g, and 71% of the infants were male. Most infants (n=28) with SIP were diagnosed secondary to pneumoperitoneum; however, one-third (7) of infants <25 weeks had occult presentations without pneumoperitoneum. When controlled for gestational age, gender, multiple gestation, indomethacin, and glucocorticoid exposure, infants with SIP have a higher risk of PVL and death than infants without perforation.

Summary:

Periventricular leukomalacia and death are significantly associated with SIP in ELBW after adjusting for gestational age, multiple gestation, indomethacin, and glucocorticoid exposure.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr John Kattwinkel for his editorial comments, and Jessica Paxton for her technical editing of the manuscript. Dr Gordon received support from NIH Grant 1KO8DK/HD61553-01.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    J T Attridge, M P Griffin & P V Gordon

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC, USA

    A C Herman

  3. Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    M J Gurka

  4. Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    E D McGahren

Authors
  1. J T Attridge
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  2. A C Herman
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  3. M J Gurka
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  4. M P Griffin
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  5. E D McGahren
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  6. P V Gordon
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Correspondence to P V Gordon.

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Attridge, J., Herman, A., Gurka, M. et al. Discharge outcomes of extremely low birth weight infants with spontaneous intestinal perforations. J Perinatol 26, 49–54 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7211407

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