Infants with birth weight under 1500 g: physical, neurological, and developmental outcome
Teberg, A.J.; Wu, P.Y.; Hodgman, J.E.; Mich, C.; Garfinkle, J.; Azen, S.; Wingert, W.A.
Critical Care Medicine 10(1): 10-14
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0090-3493 PMID: 7056048 Document Number: 186855
One hundred and seventy-eight infants with birth weights less than or equal to 1500 g born in 1973-1975 were followed for a period of 1-3 years, and the physical, neurological, and developmental outcome evaluated. Although there was a high incidence of maternal problems, these did not correlate with outcome. Asphyxia at birth followed by neonatal complications leading to ventilatory assistance was significantly correlated with poor outcome. Over 50% of infants less than 100 g birth weight required assisted ventilation, but the outcome in small ventilated infants was comparable to that of ventilated infants of 1001-1500 g birth weight. Infants with neurological abnormality showed a high incidence of associated abnormalities in growth, vision, hearing, and development. Spastic quadriplegia emerged as the most common neurological diagnosis. Despite the many perinatal problems, 82% of the group were normal neurologically and 66% developmentally. The overall outcome was generally favorable in these infants even for those requiring ventilation.