[Life threatening conditions in premature infants]

The aim of the study was to analyze life-threatening conditions of the premature neonates who required hospitalization in The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Postnatal mortality was also taken into consideration.

The study group consisted of the neonates born prematurely in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic of Medical University in Warsaw in the period from 1st January, 2002 to 31st December, 2002. Birth weight, gestational age, reasons of respiratory insufficiency, co-existing diseases, complications and causes of postnatal death were analyzed.

44 out of 174 prematures were admitted to NICU because of the necessity of mechanical ventilation. There were several main pulmonary reasons of respiratory insufficiency: respiratory distress syndrome, primary pneumonia, and transient tachypnoe of neonates. Primary infection was the most frequent co-existing problem. The serious complications of the prematurity included retinopathy and persistent arterial duct (requiring surgical procedures). All deaths in the study group were noted in infants with birth weight below 1250 g.

Prematurity and its complications were the main causes of life-threatening conditions in newborns that lead to hospitalization in NICU. The postnatal mortality rate was the highest in premature neonates with birth weight below 1000 g (33.3%).