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[Survival capacity of children with severe perinatal risk]
Insights
Neonatal intensive care outcomes show that infants with birthweights below 1500g had a 54% survival rate, while those above 1500g had an 89% survival rate. Long-term follow-up revealed most survivors had normal development, but some required ongoing special care.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Pediatric Development
- High-Risk Newborn Care
Context:
- Study conducted at Children's Hospital, Aarau, Switzerland (July 1971-June 1972).
- Focused on 138 high-risk newborns admitted to the neonatal ward.
- Included infants with birthweights below 1500g (Group I) and above 1500g (Group II).
Purpose:
- To evaluate survival rates and long-term developmental outcomes of high-risk newborns.
- To identify major causes of mortality in this cohort.
- To assess the need for ongoing medical and educational support for survivors.
Summary:
- Group I (birthweight < 1500g): 37 infants, 54% survival. Group II (birthweight > 1500g): 101 infants, 89% survival.
- Primary causes of death included extreme prematurity, hyaline membrane disease, and cerebral hemorrhage.
- Of 80 survivors assessed at 5 years, 76% were normal, 94% had IQ > 80, and 82.5% had no neurological deficits.
Impact:
- 11% of examined survivors (19 children) exhibited handicaps, ranging from mild (minimal brain dysfunction, cerebral palsy) to severe.
- 9 children required significant long-term medical care and special education.
- Highlights the critical need for specialized neonatal care and developmental follow-up for high-risk infants.
Abstract:
From July 1971 to June 1972 485 infants were admitted to the neonatal ward of the Children's Hospital, Aarau, Switzerland. Out of these, 138 newborns with the most severe complications and risk factors were selected. Group I consisted of 37 infants with a birthweight below 1500 g; 20 of these survived (54%). Group II consisted of 101 infants above 1500 g, 90 of whom survived (89%). The main causes of death were extreme prematurity (less than or equal to 27 weeks' gestation), hyaline membrane disease and cerebral hemorrhage. Somatic and mental development were investigated in 80 of the surviving infants at an average age of 5 years: 61 children (76%) were entirely normal, 94% had an IQ above 80, and 82.5% had no neurological deficits. Of the 19 handicapped children, 3 in group II were severely affected, 6 others were affected to a lesser degree. These 9 children (11% of all those examined) will need medical care and special education for many years to come. More than half, i.e. 10 children, were only mildly handicapped, exhibiting either minimal brain dysfunction or minimal cerebral palsy.