Ensuring neurologically intact survival in low birth weight newborns.

Eight million low birth weight (LBW) infants constituting one third of the total annual births are born each year in India as a result of intrau terine growth restriction and/or prematurity [1]. Combined efforts of the obstetricians and neonatologist along with advancement in technology and perinatal care have greatly improved the survival rates of LBW infants over the last two decades. However, these infants remain at risk of developing a wide array of complications not only in the immediate neonatal period but also in later life. Although most organs are immature, brain in particular is especially susceptible to the perinatal insult which leads to high rates of long-term neurodevelopmental disabilities.