Development of premature children below a birth weight of 1,500 g
Frisch, H.; Luz, O.; Pastner, E.; Haberfellner, H.
Monatsschrift Kinderheilkunde Organ der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Kinderheilkunde 133(2): 86-92
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0026-9298 PMID: 3982426 Document Number: 244192
5,928 newborn infants were admitted between the years 1974 and 81 to the University of Innsbruck, Department of Pediatrics. 418 (7%) of them were premature infants with a birthweight of less than 1,500 g. 21 (18%) of the premature infants with a birthweight below 1,000 g survived (21 of 117). Among those 21 surviving infants only 7 (33%) had an appropriate birthweight, 14 (67%) were too small for their gestational age. Survival in the weight range between 1,000-1,500 g was 71% (213 of 301). The percentage of dystrophic infants was 23% (49 of 213). The place of birth has a significant influence on the survival of these very small immature infants. 24% (n = 84) of patients delivered in the nearby Clinic of Obstetrics survived in contrast to only 3% (n = 33) of those born in peripheral hospitals. This is reemphasized by the evaluation of psychomotor development of surviving infants; of 14 patients with normal psychomotor milestones 13 were delivered at our obstetric department. 157 patients were regularly followed up during their first year of life. 43% can be considered normal by all parameters. 57% show some abnormalities in their development during the first years of life. During their second year of life only 13% showed psychomotor problems and this number decreased to 5% in the third year. All these children show varying degrees of hemi- or diplegia and/or seizure activities. A routine check up at 12 month of life seems important as all patients with permanent retardation can be correctly diagnosed at this age.