Treatment and outcomes of 81 extremely low birth weight infants

Objective To summarize the characteristics of treatment and outcomes of extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWI).Methods The clinical data of 81 cases of ELBWI admitted to Bayi Children's Hospital Affiliated to General Hospital of Beijing Military Command from October 1st.2008 to August 31st.2011 were retrospectively analyzed.The survival rate and mortality of ELBWI with different gestational age and birth weight were compared with Chi-square test.Results Of 81 ELBWI,43 were male and 38 were female; the mean gestational age at birth was (28.4 ±2.1) weeks; the average birth weight was (903.5 ± 95.4) g.Complications of them included respiratory distress syndrome (68/81,84.0％),patent ductus arteriosus (47/81,58.0％),retinopathy of prematurity (41/81,50.6％),intraventricular hemorrhage (23/81,28.4％),bronchopulmonary dysplasia (17/81,21.0％),sepsis (15/81,18.5％),periventricular leukomalacia (2/81,2.5％) and necrotizing enterocolitis (1/81,1.2％).Among 81 infants,96.3％ (n =78)received oxygen inhalation with the average time was 19.1 d (median 11 d,0-121 d) ; 70.4％ (n=57)received pulmonary surfactant; 27.2％ (n =22) received nasal continuous positive airway pressure;34.6％ (n =28) received normal frequency mechanicalfrequency ventilation.All 47 ELBWI with patent ductus arteriosus received ibuprofen treatment,among which 6 cases received arterial canal ligation after failure of ibuprofen treatment.20 out of 41 cases of retinopathy of prematurity received laser surgery.Total parenteral nutrition was required in 74 infants(91.4％),the average age of beginning enteral feeding was 5.2 d (median 6 d,0-17 d)and achieved full gastrointestinal feeding time was 31 d (median 28 d,7-65 d).The survival rate of ELBWI with gestational age of ≤26,-28 and ＞28 weeks was 25.0％ (4/16),72.0％ (18/25) and 77.5％ (31/40),respectively; the corresponding mortality was 12.5％ (2/16),8.0％ (2/25) and 2.5％ (1/40),respectively.The survival rate of ELBWI with birth weight ≤800,-900 and ＞900 g was 33.3％ (4/12),58.3％ (14/24) and 77.8％ (35/45),respectively; and corresponding mortality of them was 16.7％ (2/12),8.3％ (2/24) and 2.2％ (1/45),respectively.Conclusions The outcome of ELBWI is closely related to gestational age and birth weight.Professional and sophisticated treatment might improve the survival rate and general outcome of ELBWI. Key words: Infant, extremely low birth weight; Infant, premature; Treatment outcome; Retrospective studies