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[Bioethical aspects in the care of extremely preterm infants]

Mario Sebastiani1, José María Ceriani Cernadas

  • 1Servicio de Obstetricia, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires. mario.sebastiani@hospitalitaliano.org.ar

Archivos Argentinos De Pediatria
|August 13, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Survival rates for extremely preterm infants have improved due to better prenatal and neonatal care. However, this progress has not reduced infant morbidity, raising bioethical concerns in perinatal care.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatalogy
  • Perinatal Medicine
  • Bioethics

Context:

  • Improved survival rates in extremely preterm infants over recent years.
  • Advances in prenatal and neonatal care, including antenatal steroids, delivery room management, surfactant therapy, and assisted ventilation.

Purpose:

  • To examine bioethical aspects of perinatal care at the threshold of viability.
  • To address the rising morbidity despite improved survival rates in extremely preterm infants.

Summary:

  • Enhanced neonatal care has increased survival for extremely preterm infants.
  • Morbidity rates, including bronchopulmonary dysplasia, sepsis, poor growth, and neurological disorders, have not decreased and may be increasing.
  • This article explores the bioethical considerations surrounding these outcomes.

Impact:

  • Highlights the ethical challenges in balancing improved survival with reduced morbidity in extremely preterm infants.
  • Informs discussions on optimizing perinatal care strategies and resource allocation.
  • Promotes a deeper understanding of the long-term health implications for vulnerable neonates.

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