Abstract :
Background: Preterm birth is considered as the main cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. This also results in major sequelae in surviving children. It is essential to establish the factors leading to pretermdelivery and the clinical profile of preterm infants. This is particularly important in a backward district where 20% of populations are tribal with poor access to health care. This study retrospectively analyses the outcome of care of preterm infants in a level 3 NICU.
Objectives: I) To study the outcome of management of preterm babies below 34 weeks of gestational age at birth in a backward district of Kerala. 2) To evaluate the risk factors for mortality and permanent sequelae in these babies.
Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of hospital records of preterm infants admitted in a neonatal ICU of a tertiary teaching hospital for one year from 1st of January 2017 till 31st of December 2017. Both inborn and out born infants born below 34 weeks of gestational age are included. Maternal and baby related factors are taken into account. All the infants are provided level 3 care and the details of the treatment and outcome are studied. The data are entered in Microsoft excel and analyzed.
Results: Out of the 1036 babies admitted in this NICU over the year (01/01/2017 to 31/12/2017) 141 preterm babies who were born below 34 weeks of gestational age are included in this study. Lowest gestational age was 24 weeks. Lowest birth weight recorded is 364 grams. 6 infants died in the hospital and birth weight and gestational age are directly related to mortality.
Conclusion: Out of 141 preterm infants, with a gestational age below 34 weeks’ gestational age at birth, admitted in the NICU, 6 (4.25%) died. Majority died in the first week of admission. Most of the children had multiple congenital anomalies and comorbid illnesses which is managed successfully in the NICU. Shortest hospital stay was 1 day and longest stay was 79 days, with a mean of 21 days.
Keyword :
Preterm, Gestational Age, Low Birth Weight, Surfactant, Congenital Anomalies.