Abstract
Outcome of all live births at 21–28 weeks' gestation (GA) and/or <1250 g birth weight (BW) over an eight-year period were reviewed and compared with other outcome data. Causes of mortality were ascertained for all deaths. Significant morbidities were reviewed among <25 weeks GA and/or <800 g survivors over a two-year period. NICU admissions log book, monthly morbidity-mortality reports, medical records and autopsy findings were used to obtain outcome data. A total of 23,046 infants were born alive during the study period, including 339 (1.47%) at 21–28 weeks or <1250 g. Eighty of the 339 (23.6%) died. Of these 80 deaths 32.5% were extremely immature, 15% died from RDS, 15% from infection, 10% from pulmonary hemorrhage and 8% had lethal malformations. Survival outcome in each weight group except <500 g were similar to that reported by the Pediatrix Medical Group (2003–04) and 2002 US National Vital Statistics. Of the extremely low gestational age infants, 79% survived to discharge, and among these, the incidence of serious neuro-morbidity, severe chronic lung disease or retinopathy of prematurity requiring treatment was 52%; 18.5% had more than one major morbidity.
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