Abstract
A prospective study of 14 outborn infants <800g at birth and transferred <24 hrs of age to a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit was conducted to determine neurologic and developmental outcome. Mean birthweight was 750g ± 69g and mean gestational age was 28 ± 2 wks. 8/14 were small for gestational age and 6 were male. 5/14 infants required ventilatory support for ≥ 30 days and 3/14 had moderate or severe intracranial hemorrhage. Mean age at follow-up was 39 ± 10 mos (range 18–48). Growth measurements were <5 percentile in 3/14 for weight, 1/14 for height, and 4/14 for head circumference. There were no significant differences in growth between AGA and SGA infants.
The mean Bayley mental score for 3 infants <30 months was 85 and the mean motor score was 87. The mean score on the General Cognitive Index on the McCarthy scale for 8 infants was 84 ± 14.7. Subtest means were: verbal 40 ± 8, perceptual 44 ± 7.4, quantitative 40 ± 10.5, memory 40 ± 6.1, and motor 44.5 ± 6.1. Two infants with visual deficits were not tested. Neurologic sequelae were present in 2 infants, one with generalized hypotonia and one with a left hemiparesis. Visual deficits occurred in 2 patients, impaired hearing in 1, and impaired speech in 3. Neurologic outcome was not related to the duration of mechanical ventilation, severity of intracranial hemorrhage or intrauterine growth.
This study indicates that outcomes of infants with birth weight <800g who are outborn is much improved.
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Shankaran, S., Bedard, M., Woldt, E. et al. 58 OUTCOME OF INFANTS WITH BIRTHWEIGHTS <800 GRAMS. Pediatr Res 19, 120 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-00088
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-00088