Abstract
From 1961-76, 229 VLBW infants (750-1000 gm) were admitted to the Stanford Intensive Care Nursery . Of these, 144 (63%) died at < 28 days of age; there were 11 late deaths, including 4 post-discharge. The overall mortality was 68%. Of 74 survivors, 60 with a mean BW of 928±67 (S.D.) gm were followed for 3 years. Thirty-eight % of those followed had a history of mechanical ventilation; none requiring this prior to 1967 survived. Psychometric testing of 48 children at 3 years of age resulted in a mean IQ of 92±20 (S.D.); using matched-pair analysis, the mean IQ 90±20 (S.D.), of 28 children was not different from that, 96±18 (S.D.), of their siblings. Seventy-two % of all survivors followed were completely normal at 3 years of age. Of 17 with late morbidity, 10 have moderate handicaps (IQ 60-80, neuromuscular disability requiring physical or orthopedic therapy but not compromising functional independence, or remediable visual or hearing deficits), and 7 have severe handicaps (IQ < 60, neuromuscular disability compromising functional independence, blindness, or deafness). From 1977-79, the mean yearly admission rate of VLBW infants was > 2-fold that from 1961-76; this fact was associated with a 76% (75/99) overall survival which was > that, 32% (74/229), prior to 1977 (p < .001). Our improved survival rate for more infants yearly and our low incidence of severe late morbidity (12%) are encouraging results of intensive care for VLBW infants.
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Cohen, R., Stevenson, D., Malachowski, N. et al. 1274 OUTCOME OF VERY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT (VLBW) INFANTS. Pediatr Res 15 (Suppl 4), 655 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-01303
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-01303