Preterm Labor and Birth: Prevention, Risk Factors, Tocolysis, Steroids, Magnesium,progesterone, Cerclage, Pessary – 006 Perinatal Mortality and Clinicopathological Findings of Premature Newborns in a Greek Tertiary Hospital

INTRODUCTION Perinatal mortality is defined as the population of stillborn fetuses and newborns that occur on delivery. Perinatal period is the period that includes fetuses weighing> 500g (22nd week of gestation) and newborns aged up to seven days. Infants born prematurely are more likely to pass away during the neonatal period (up to 28 days) and the first year of life than full-term newborns, increasing rates according to the gestational age, or reduced birth weight.The purpose of this study is the identification, classification and frequency of causes of perinatal mortality in premature infants during twenty years 1992-2012 in a tertiary Maternity Hospital in Athens METHODS This is a retrospective study based on Pathology Department record and contains autopsy findings of fetuses and newborns of the period 1992-2012 in conjunction with clinical information. We excluded pharmaceutical miscarriage and those contained vague variables. The total population birth to the mentioned years in our Hospital was 23.242. We used the classification system of ReCoDe(2005) which best suited to our data. RESULTS A detailed description of embryo-membranes and clinical status of the mother was performed. Finally we identified 15 newborns who had come up to the 28th day of their life, of which 12 (80%) were premature. The majority was females and the mean age of the mothers was 28 years old. 7/12 newborns dies of fetuses’ problems, while 3/12 due to intrapartum pathology. CONCLUSION The big percentage of premature newborns that pass away the first days of their lives comparing to fullterm newborns shows the sensitivity and the pathology of these fetuses. Pathogenesis of perinatal mortality of premature babies is often unclear, and associated with multiple pregnancies. Impressive reduction of neonatal mortality has been realized during recent years due to the developments in obstetric and neonatal intensive care, but still many improvements are needed