[Fate of infants weighting less than 1,500 grams]

Between 1981 and 1983, 251 premature infants with a birth weight of less than 1 500 grams were admitted to the Neonatal Pathology Unit of the E. Herriot hospital (malformations excluded). Forty two (17%) died during the neonatal period. These premature births resulted essentially from pathological pregnancies: multiple pregnancies (1/5 cases), renal pathology (1/3 cases), placental abnormalities (10%) and fetoplacental infections (10%). In half of all cases delivery was by cesarian section, indicated in 85% of cases because of acute or chronic fetal distress. These premature infants suffered from respiratory (including 40% hyaline membrane disease), neurological (abnormal cerebral echotomography with dilatation or intracranial haemorrhage in 35% of cases), infectious (6%) and digestive (6% necrosing enterocolitis) pathology. Of the 208 surviving children, 12 (i.e. 6% of the survivors) had major sequelae (with follow-up of one year or more).