[Risks of sudden death in siblings]. / Le risque de mort subite pour la fratrie.

The risk of sudden infant death among siblings has long been overestimated: in all epidemiological studies the risk of recurrence remains at 1% or below, thereby excluding a hereditary hazard. Compared with the general population, the risk is increased in only a small percentage of families which can be detected (familial gastrooesophageal reflux or vagal hyperreflexibility, psychosocial problems and, more rarely, hereditary pathology). In the vast majority of families the relative risk is not objectively augmented. In all cases counselling of the parents is necessary for them to accept a new child.

[Sudden newborn infant death in maternity. Anatomo-clinical study of 31 cases]. / Mort subite du nouveau-né en maternité. Etude anatomo-clinique de 31 cas.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: All cases of sudden and unexpected death occurring in maternity were studied over a period of 6 years (1985-1991). Anamnestic data, results of clinical examination of the body and findings of bacterial screening of body fluids or tissues were collected. The results at necropsy were also collected following the protocol used, with parental consent, in all cases of sudden infant death syndrome. RESULTS: There were 31 cases of sudden and unexpected death. Of these, 48% occurred before the 24th hour of life, 68% before the 36th hour and 84% before the 72nd hour. The majority of death occurred at night (55% between midnight and 6 AM, 90% between 9 PM and 9 AM). Analysis of the data provided a precise cause of death in 25 cases (81%), and a probable cause in 4 cases (13%). The major causes were perinatal anoxia, generally associated with massive amniotic inhalation (16 cases), and maternal-fetal infection (9 cases). No cause was found in 2 cases. Despite the fact that the death occurred unexpectedly, half of the newborns showed warning signs, some hours before the event. These signs were either not detected or ignored. CONCLUSION: The incidence of sudden death in neonates is 0.15 to 0.36/1,000 live births. Its causes are generally correlated with common neonatal diseases. Its occurrence at night and the existence of warning signs raise questions concerning the care of neonates in maternity.

[Future of premature infants of less than 33 weeks gestational age: results of an inquiry undertaken in 1985 in the Paris region]. / Devenir des prématurés de moins de 33 semaines d'âge gestationnel: résultats d'une enquête menée en 1985 dans la région parisienne.

Improvements in combining obstetrics and neonatology led to a trend to intervene earlier in premature babies born before the 33rd week of gestational age. The enquiry that was carried out in 1985 in the Paris geographical region had as its objective to assess on the one part how many premature deliveries occurred between the 25th and 33rd week of amenorrhea and on the other hand what happened in the short term to the infants born from these pregnancies, i.e., their mortality; and for those who survived, their quality of life. The study was carried out on a representative sample of the deliveries in 1985 in the four departments of the Paris region--Paris and the three departments of the Petite Couronne--where half of all deliveries were assessed. The enquiry covered 53,430 deliveries for which the overall prematurity rate was 4.5%, and those deliveries that occurred before 33 weeks of gestational age constituted 1.0% (539 babies). Twenty children were lost for follow-up after a year. This was 4.9% of the live births and 6.3% of the live children who left the neonatology centres. At 2 years of age, the numbers that were not followed up were eventually 24, which was 5.8% of live births and 7.6% of those that left the centres of neonatology. The results show a very high rate of antepartum mortality but also of mortality during and after labour. Only 379 infants out of the 539 (70%) were transferred into special care baby units. By 1 year of age, the survivors were 57% of the total number of deliveries and 75% of the live births and 82% of those transferred to the special units. As far as concerned those that were live born, the survival rate at the age of 1 year varied considerably according to the duration of the pregnancy. The number of those that survived a pregnancy of less than 27 weeks was low (31%). It was, at 28 weeks, 53%. This is the age where births have to be registered. It reached 87% of the live births that occurred at 32 weeks. One has to point out that there is no statistically significant difference between 27 and 28 weeks of gestation. Whereas there is a significant difference (p less than 0.05) with those delivered at 29 weeks (75%). 80% of those 291 infants that were examined at 1 year of age were considered to be normal as far as psychomotor and sensorial behaviour was concerned.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

[Clinical and anatomo-pathologic study of 59 cases of sudden infant death]. / Etude clinique et anatomo-pathologique de 59 cas de mort subite du nourrisson.

A proper organization has been set up at Antoine-Béclère's hospital in order to study the infants who died suddenly. Between July 1985 and July 1987, 69 cases (10 babies less than 1 week of age) were admitted. The purpose of this work was, for the 59 sudden deaths of infants aged more than 1 week (35 males, 24 females), to present the results of a definite protocol of investigation (past history, clinical examination, laboratory and pathological data) for determining either the etiology or the mechanism of these deaths. A thorough investigation was performed in 45/52 cases (no autopsy in 7 cases). A definite diagnosis was possible in 38/45: 13 viral infections, 5 gastro-esophageal reflux, 13 viral infections associated with reflux, 9 with an additional event (massive alimentary inhalation, slipping under blankets, major hyperthermia) to either a viral infection or a reflux, 1 cardiac malformation, 1 metabolic disorder, 2 accidents and 1 infanticide. With this protocol, 7/45 deaths remained unexplained. This medical approach of the problem of sudden deaths in infants is beneficial to the counselling of the parents and to the management of subsequent children.