Abstract:

INTRODUCTION: The outcome of preeterm neonates' vary in different hospitals in developing countries. Due to monitoring the effectiveness of current practice, each hospital should evaluate their own surveillance of up-todate outcomes of the infants. The aim of this study is to establish the morbidity and mortality of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants admitted to a referral hospital in Istanbul, Turkey and to analyze risk factors associated with poor outcome. METHODS: The files of the neonates (≤ 32 gestational weeks, ≤ 1500 g birth weight) who were born and hospitalized in Neonatology unit between January 1, 2010- 2011 at Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Childrens' Training and Research Hospital were investigated retrospectively. Risk factors were analyzed using logistic regression models. Results: Of all, 154/370 (41.6%) infants died. The main reasons of mortality were respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) (39.2%), congenital anomalies (14.4%), pulmonary hemorrhage (13.7%), and sepsis (12.4%). In the infants who survived the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity was 49.6%; of RDS, 44.7%; of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, 29.7%; of patent ductus arteriosus, 21.8%; of intraventricular hemorrhage, 18.6%; of necrotizing enterocolitis, 13%. Lower birth weight, resuscitation at delivery room, RDS, acute renal failure, and umbilical venous catheterization were negative; cesarean delivery and physiological weight loss were positively correlated with mortality DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Even with modern perinatal care, deaths of VLBW infants are still common in our hospital in which high risk pregnancies or without follow-up pregnancies admitted. Lower birth weight was the significant risk factor for death and short-term disability

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