RESUMO
Objective: To determine the frequency of hypoglycemia in small for gestational age neonates based on gestational age, gender, birth weight and mode of delivery
Study Design: Cross sectional study
Place and Duration of Study: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit [NICU], Military Hospital Rawalpindi, from Dec 2011 to Jul 2012
Material and Methods: We included 383 small for gestational age [SGA] neonates admitted in NICU. Blood glucose levels were checked in all neonates. Variables included in study were gestational age, gender, birth weight and mode of delivery
Results: Out of 383 SGA neonates enrolled by non-probability consecutive sampling, 191 [49.87%] were males and 192 [50.13%] were females. Out of these 203 [53%] were preterm, 165 [43.08%] were delivered at term and 15 [3.92%] were post-term SGA neonates with mean gestational age of 34 weeks 5 days. Out of the total 383 SGA neonates 208 [54.31%] developed hypoglycemia during stay in NICU and 175 [45.69%] remained euglycemic
Extremely low birth weight [ELBW] neonates were at highest risk to develop hypoglycemia[82.35%]. It was seen that SGA neonates delivered by instrumental vaginal delivery had highest risk of developing hypoglycemia i.e. 20 [76.92] out of 26 neonates. Out of 103 vaginal deliveries 41 [39.81%] had hypoglycemia and out of 254 Caesarean section 147 [57.87%] had hypoglycemia
Conclusion: Low birth weight neonates delivered by instrumental vaginal delivery were found to be at a higher risk of developing hypoglycemia