Current situation and reflection on management of extremely preterm infants / 中华围产医学杂志

ABSTRACT

The lower limit of preterm birth varies around the world. In China, the lower limit of preterm infants is set at the gestational age of 28 +0-36 +6 weeks or birth weight ≥1 000 g. Extremely preterm infants are defined as neonates born before 28 weeks of gestation by the World Health Organization. With the development of perinatal medicine and the achievements in neonatal care, the survival rate and the short/long-term outcomes of extreme preterm infants have been greatly improved in China. This article reviews the survival rate, mortality/severe disability rate and medical costs of extremely preterm infants, aiming to provide reference for setting the right lower limit of gestational age for preterm births.