Related Experiment Videos
Malformations in infants of very low birth weight
Insights
Malformations occurred in very low birth weight infants, with serious defects impacting survival. Improved intensive care could increase survival rates for malformed infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatalogy
- Pediatric Surgery
- Medical Malformations
Background:
- Congenital malformations pose significant risks to infants, particularly those with very low birth weight.
- Assessing the incidence and impact of malformations is crucial for understanding neonatal outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of lethal, serious, and trivial malformations in very low birth weight infants.
- To evaluate the long-term outcomes and survival rates of these infants.
Main Methods:
- A consecutive series of 675 very low birth weight infants (≤1500 g) were studied.
- Survivors were followed for at least five years, with malformations assessed.
- Autopsy findings were used to confirm malformations in deceased infants.
Main Results:
- Of 675 infants, 51 deceased infants had confirmed malformations; death was inevitable in 30.
- Among survivors, 15 had trivial malformations and 5 had significant residual defects.
- Only 2.0% of perinatal deaths involved serious malformations compatible with survival.
Conclusions:
- Malformations are a significant factor in mortality and morbidity among very low birth weight infants.
- The evolving standards of intensive care during the study period (1966-1970) may have influenced survival rates.
- Early diagnosis and intervention are critical for improving outcomes in malformed infants.
Abstract:
The incidence of lethal, serious and trivial malformations was determined in a consecutive series of 675 infants who weightd 1500 g or less (very low birth weight infants). All patients were born in one maternity hospital. Most of the 169 survivors were followed until at least five years of age. Of these children, 15 had a trivial malformation that either disappeared spontaneously or was corrected surgically. A further five children have a significant or serious residual defect. There were 506 perinatal and infant deaths and 51 of the babies who died had malformations confirmed at necropsy. In 30 of these, death was inevitable. There were 10 seriously malformed infants for whom survival was possible, but in six cases, the diagnosis was obvious at birth. The patients were treated between 1966 and 1970 when techniques of intensive care were evolving. Consequently, some of the infants who died would have survived with the treatment now available. Amongst the perinatal deaths in this report, only 2.0% had a serious malformation compatible with survival.