Survival and outcome of very low birth weight infants born in a university hospital with level II NICU.

OBJECTIVES Determine the survivals, neonatal outcomes to hospital discharge, and perinatal risks of death among VLBW infants born in the Thammasat University Hospital. MATERIAL AND METHOD This was a retrospective longitudinal study. Data were colleted from medical charts of all neonates with a gestational age of more than 25 weeks and birth weight of less than 1500 grams, who were born in Thammasat University Hospital for a 3-year period between July 1st, 2003 and June 30th, 2006. Antenatal history, perinatal data, and neonatal outcome until hospital discharge were extracted and analyzed. RESULTS Seventy-eight neonates with a birth weight between 600-1485 grams were analyzed. Survival rate of very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants and extremely-low-birth-weight (ELBW) infants were 81% and 52% respectively. Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) was the major cause of death. Major morbidity was found in 35% of survived infants to hospital discharge. Unfavorable outcome was documented in infants with a birth weight < 750 grams. Perinatal risks of mortality among VLBW infants included no use of antenatal steroids (p = 0.015), gestational age of <28 weeks (p = 0.012), ELBW (p < 0.001), congenital abnormalities (p = 0.002), Apgar score at 5 minute <5 (p = 0.019), needed endotracheal intubation in the delivery room (p < 0.001), and first temperature at NICU < 35.0 degrees C (p = 0.023). CONCLUSION Overall survival and outcome among very-low-birth-weight infants born in Thammasat University Hospital is acceptable. The mortality and morbidity in extremely-low-birth-weight infants remained high. A continuing audit of these measures should be encouraged.