A study of survival of very low birth weight neonates in a tertiary care hospital

ABSTRACT

Background: Preterm birth is one of the major clinical problems in Obstetrics and Neonatology as it is associated with perinatal mortality, serious neonatal morbidity and in some cases childhood disability. Very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates comprise between 4-8% of live-births but about one-third of deaths during the neonatal period occur in this group of newborns. Data on the probability of survival of infant in high risk pregnancies can be of great value in guiding management. The objective is to study the survival at discharge of VLBW neonates admitted in a tertiary care hospital.Methods: Retrospective observational study of all VLBW infants admitted in Aditya Hospital NICU over 3 years between 1-7-2011 to 30-6-2014. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis has been carried out in the present study.Results: In the present study maternal PROM was seen in 32.9% of cases, Preeclampsia in 31.7% of cases which constituted the most important antenatal risk factor for VLBW followed by multiple gestations in 25.2%. Common morbidities in VLBW neonates are Neonatal jaundice, Probable sepsis, Apnea of prematurity and RDS. Survival improved with increasing gestational age and weight.Conclusions: Birth weight and gestational age specifically predicts survival of preterm VLBW babies, facilitating decision making for obstetricians, neonatologists and parents. In the present study total survival rate was 86.6% with a mortality of 13.4%.