Abstract
Purpose: The long-term treatment results and problems of extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWIs) were examined.
Method: We had 15 ELBWIs who underwent peritoneal drainage or open abdominal surgery from 1981 to 2012. These 15 ELBWIs were divided into two groups according to birth weight, i.e., less than 500 g and from 500 to 1,000 g. The survival rate of each group was calculated and compared with that of very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs). The problems presented by ELBWIs who survived were revealed.
Results: Seven of the 15 ELBWIs survived, with a survival rate of 46.7%. Three of the 15 ELBWIs were less than 500 g, and 2 of the 3 infants, who were encountered after 2003, survived. Among the surviving 5 ELBWIs weighing between 500 and 1,000 g, two patients showed MR, which was caused by Down syndrome and PVL. The 2 ELBWIs weighing less than 500 g who survived also showed MR, which was caused by PVL and hydrocephalus.
Conclusions: In recent years, lifesaving possibilities have become high even in ELBWIs of less than 500 g. However, MR is observed at high rates (4/7, 57.1%) caused by central nervous system damage such as PVL. These are the problems presented by ELBWIs during the postnatal period.
