ABSTRACT
Twenty-seven infants who survived intensive care during early infancy in the pioneering period of neonatal intensive care (1956-1965) were investigated after 8-17 years. The selection criterion was maintenance of a tracheotomy for more than 15 days during the first 12 months of life. A variety of clinical, physiological, radiological and psychiatric sequelae was found. Respiratory symptoms were the dominating problem during the post-tracheotomy period. The long-term follow-up revealed that these symptoms had a strong tendency to subside. At the time of the follow-up, as many as 20 children (74%) did not experience any functional impairment.
Subject(s)
Critical Care , Tracheotomy/adverse effects , Child Development , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Psychological Tests , Quality of Life , Respiratory Function Tests , Respiratory Sounds/etiology , SpirometryABSTRACT
Results of reconstruction of gastroschisis are presented. 27 consecutive patients operated upon during 1971 - 1980 are reviewed: 8 patients with primary closure, 19 patients reconstructed with a staged procedure (silon-pouch). It is concluded that both methods can be used, with low mortality: 1 patient in each group. The use of silon-pouch resulted, however, in a longer period of total parenteral nutrition (46 vs 18 days) and hospital care (8 vs 43 days).
