Improved survival and neurodevelopmental outcome for infants less than 801 grams birthweight

We reviewed the perinatal management and subsequent outcome of infants 401 to 800 gm birthweight delivered in 1983 to 1985 compared with those born in 1980 to 1982. Intrapartum fetal heart rate monitoring, cesarean section delivery, attempted delivery room resuscitation, and 5-minute Apgar scores greater than 5 were more frequent in 1983 to 1985. Significantly greater neonatal survival was evident for infants 500 to 700 gm birthweight (31%) and 24 to 27 weeks' gestation (45%) in 1983 to 1985, p less than 0.005. Infant birthweight, gestational age, gender, and 5-minute Apgar score, in addition to intrapartum tocolysis use, were predictors of higher survival by stepwise discriminant analysis. At a mean follow-up of 27 months, 13% (6 of 46) born in 1983 to 1985 had major disability compared with 67% (6 of 9) of infants born in 1980 to 1982. There has been a significant increase in survival and improvement in neurodevelopmental follow-up status for infants less than 801 gm birthweight. These improved outcome data should be considered by caregivers providing perinatal management and counseling parents regarding extremely low birthweight infants.