Prognosis of intensively treated newborns: psychomotor development during the first years of life
Bossi, E.; Stamm, B.
Schweizerische Medizinische Wochenschrift 109(7): 215-219
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-7672 PMID: 432608 Document Number: 147749
330 out of 616 surviving newborns treated in the neonatal ICU of Berne University Children's Hospital from 1.1 1974 to 31.12. 1976 were considered, on the basis of strict criteria, to be especially at risk for the development of abnormal cerebromotor symptoms, 287 were followed up. At age 3--42 (mean 15) months, 10% of these especially endangered children showed clear-cut, and 24% slightly abnormal, symptoms. If related to the total number of surviving patients, all of whom were either ill or at risk for disturbed neonatal adaptation, this corresponds to 5 and 11% respectively. Based on this population, an approximate incidence of cerebral palsy of 5% at age 15 months can be calculated for the whole pediatric population. This value is comparable to the 2% actually found in the total pediatric population. Furthermore, a statistically significant decrease in abnormal symptoms with increasing postnatal age was found. Newborns with convulsions, however, do not have this favourable prognosis.