• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.9
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• pp.952-958
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• 2006

Purpose : The survival rate of infants weighing less than 1,000 g at birth(extremely low birth weight infants, ELBWI) has increased due to recent advances in perinatal and neonatal intensive care. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the survival rates of ELBWI born at Seoul National University Hospital during the last six years. Methods : A total of 99 infants were divided into three groups(period I: 2000 to 2001, period II: 2002 to 2003, period III : 2004 to 2005) based on date of birth. We compared the survival rate of ELBWI over the three periods, using CRIB II score for adjustment for clinical severity. Results : Overall survival rate of ELBWI was 74.7 percent. The survival rate of ELBWI increased over the three periods(period I: 60.7 percent, period II : 73.3 percent, period III : 85.3 percent). The threshold of viability(defined as survival of at least 50 percent of infants) was 25 weeks of gestation and 600 g at birth. The birth weight-specific survival rates increased considerably over the three periods for infants <750 g at birth(period I: 10 percent, period II: 46.2 percent, period III : 70.6 percent). The survival rates of ELBWI over the three periods increased much remarkably after adjustment for clinical severity by CRIB II score. Conclusion : In our institution, survival rates of ELBWI during the last six years continued to improve, particularly for infants weighing <750 g at birth. This increase in survival rates was not associated with the clinical severity of ELBWI.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.10
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• pp.1127-1135
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• 2009

Purpose : To observe the abnormal white matter findings on the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of very-low- birth-weight (VLBW) infant brains at term-equivalent age and to determine the clinical risk factors for the development of periventricular leukomalacia (PVL). Methods : In all, MRI was performed in 98 VLBW infants and the white matter abnormalities were observed. Clinical risk factors for cystic and noncystic PVL were determined. Results : MRI scans of 74 infants (75.5%) showed diffuse excessive high signal intensity (DEHSI) in the periventricular white matter, 17 (17.3%) lateral ventricle dilation, 5 (5.1%) and 11 (11.2%) focal punctate lesions and cystic changes in the periventricular white matter, respectively, 9 (9.1%), germinal layer hemorrhage (GLH) or subependymal cysts 3 (3.1%) intraventricular hemorrhage (>grade 2) 2 (2.0%) posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus and 2 (2.0%) periventricular hemorrhagic infarct. Gestational age (GA), 1-minute Apgar score, Clinical Risk Index for Babies-II (CRIB-II) score, and inotrope use, and GA, CRIB-II score, postnatal steroid administration, inotrope use, and abnormal white blood cell (WBC) count at admission were related to cystic PVL and noncystic PVL development, respectively (P<0.05). However, in logistic regression analysis, CRIB-II (odds ratio, 1.63, 295% confidence interval, 1.15-2.30 P=0.006) for cystic PVL, and GA (odds ratio 0.90, 95% confidence interval, 0.82-0.99 P=0.036) for noncystic PVL were only significant independently. Conclusion : White matter abnormalities could be observed on MRI scans of the VLBW infant brains at term-equivalent age, and CRIB-II and GA were only independently significant for cystic and noncystic PVL development, respectively.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.205-212
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences according to the hospitals of antenatal care in premature infants. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of premature infants with gestational ages <37 weeks and very low birth weights who were admitted immediately after birth to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at the Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital between March 2007 and February 2009. The hospitals of antenatal care were divided into two levels (primary antenatal care hospital: hospitals with less than a level 2 NICU, secondary antenatal care hospital: hospitals with a level 3 NICU) based on the level of NICU in hospitals. In addition, total infants were divided into two groups (Immediate group: infants born within 24 hours of maternal admission, Delayed group: infants born after 24 hours of maternal admission). The differences between maternal and neonatal variables in each groups were studied. Results: Neonates in secondary antenatal care hospitals comprised 11.0% of the study neonates (10 of 91). We compared with two groups (primary antenatal care hospital and secondary antenatal care hospital), but there were no differences in all subjects. However, the 1 minute Apgar score ($\leq3$) was lower in the immediate group than the delayed group. Conclusion: Shorter duration of maternal admission to delivery was associated with a lower 1 minute Apgar score of neonates. These findings suggest that if maintenance of pregnancy is difficult when high-risk gravidas are transferred, clinicians must prepare for emergencies of neonates.