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Management and outcomes of periviable neonates born at 22 weeks of gestation: a single-center experience in Japan

Abstract

Objective

We aimed to present the active management and outcomes of infants born at 22 weeks of gestation.

Study design

This retrospective observational study presented the resuscitation methods, management during hospitalization, and outcomes of 29 infants born at 22 weeks of gestation who were actively resuscitated and admitted to our center during 2013–2020.

Results

The survival rate was 82.8% (24/29). Tracheal intubation was performed in all patients, and surfactant was administered for 27 (93.1%). Conventional mechanical ventilation was introduced in 27 (93.1%), and this was changed to high-frequency oscillatory ventilation in more than half by day 4. Surgical treatments of patent ductus arteriosus, necrotizing enterocolitis, and retinopathy of prematurity were required in 4 (13.7%), 3 (10.3%), and 15 (51.7%) patients, respectively. No patient required a tracheostomy or ventriculoperitoneal shunt.

Conclusions

The overall survival rate and survival rate without morbidities were high among infants born at 22 weeks of gestation.

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Fig. 1: Respiratory and circulatory management.
Fig. 2: Nutritional support, neuroprotective care, and infection protection and control.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

FN contributed to the conception and design, YM, and EN and FN acquired, analyzed, and interpreted the data, YM and FN drafted the article, EN and KK revised the article for intellectual content. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fumihiko Namba.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Motojima, Y., Nishimura, E., Kabe, K. et al. Management and outcomes of periviable neonates born at 22 weeks of gestation: a single-center experience in Japan. J Perinatol 43, 1385–1391 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-023-01706-4

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