Clincial Study on Very Low Birth Weight Infants

ABSTRACT

Medical records of very low birth weight infants weighing less than 1500 grams at birth were reviewed and analyzed. One hundred and forty three infants who were admitted to neonatal intensive care unit of Presbyterian Medical Center, including those who were born and transferred from other hospitals, from January 1987 to December 1991 were examined and the following results were obtained; 1) The incidence of very low birth weight infant was 1.21% 2) The most common maternal risk factor was premature labor and the next was toxemia. 3) The most common disease of very low birth weight infant was neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and the next was septicemia. 4) Twenty five infants (38.5%) of intensive care group and 67 infants (85.9%) of Not-ventilated group survived with overall survival rate of 64.6%. 5) The heavier birth weight and longer intrauterine period were factors offering better chance for survival. 6) Among 43 (30%) infants expired, 7 (16.3%) died within 24 hours after birth, 12 (27.9%) died in second or third day, 4 (9.3%) died between fourth and seventh day, and 20 (46.5%) died between eighth.and twenty eighth day.