[Perinatal risk factors for mortality in the high-risk newborn]

This study was to determine the risk factors for mortality in a cohort of neonates in a neonatal intensive care unit. Comparative study of the perinatal antecedents between lives and deaths, calculating risk factors for mortality by the chi square test, with Mantel and Haenzel corrected and bivariate analysis. We studied 425 neonates with, weight and age of gestation 1640 +/- 359 gr. and 32 +/- 2 weeks (X and SD), all required assisted mechanical ventilation during 10 +/- 12 days, and stayed in NICU 13 +/- 12 days. The risk factor for mortality were (p < 0.05); gesta IV, < 1 abortion previously, premature rupture of placenta, premature rupture of membranes with chorioamnionitis, pelvic delivery for vaginal via, age of gestation < 28 weeks, birth weight < 1,000 gr., septic shock, metabolic acidosis, acute renal failure, neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis and air leak. In this group of high risk neonates, for the prenatal, neonatal and postnatal antecedents, we find 12 risk factors for mortality; four attributed to the pregnancy, on to the delivery and seven for problems of the neonate.