[Longitudinal study of a group of 56 infants with a birth weight of less than 1500 gms: mortality and neurological sequelae in relation to progress in intensive care technics].
56 very low-birth-weight (less than or equal to 1500 gm) infants were admitted in our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit between january 1978 and december 1981. Mortality of these infants in the first year of life decreased from 50% in 1978 to 32% in 1981. Our study confirms that mortality is significantly higher in transported infants. As to those born in our Hospital, mortality is markedly higher for breech delivery than for cephalic delivery or caesarian section. The amelioration of intensive care techniques, i.e. continuous transcutaneous PaO2 monitoring, orotracheal intubation at birth and improved respiratory care, markedly reduced the percentage of children with neuromotor pathology (from 43% in 1978 to 0% in 1981 in 16 survivors). Neurological follow-up was performed by serial controls until at least 2 years of age; Apgar scores and blood gas values are reported along with follow-up results to evaluate prognostic significance. Duration of orotracheal intubation, isolette requirement and feeding schedules are briefly discussed.