[Neuropsychiatric disorders in very-low-birthweight newborn infants (VLBW-infants)--before and after the introduction of modern perinatal medicine. 3. Discussion of trends in quality of survival (CNS morbidity) and conclusions]

Abstract

The reduction of both the severe CNS-disturbances (major CNS-handicaps) as a whole and the infantile cerebral palsies (ICP), epilepsies, and mental retardations (oligophrenias) especially, can be attributed to the comprehensively improved pre-, intra- and postnatal care since the 60/70-ies. The best indicator is the decreasing ICP, because 60% of this disturbance is caused perinatally. It is closely associated with cerebral hemorrhages. In several centers, in Sweden and in West-Australia, an isolated recrudescence of ICP was noted. This fact is probably caused by a very active management of respirator therapy in some perinatological centers. However, today there is an effective therapy of several potential causes of perinatal cerebral lesions, i.e. hypoglycemia, hypothermia, asphyxia, RDS, and hyperbilirubinemia. The therapy of these diseases is simultaneously a prevention of the possible consecutive cerebral lesion as well. In the past, only two causes for CNS-disturbances have scarcely been influenced: cerebral hemorrhage, and nosocomial infections. Conclusions for the strategy of the further perinatal care can be deduced from these analyses: prevention of the extremely preterm deliveries, improvement of the perinatal care, prevention of cerebral hemorrhages and nosocomial infections, and responsible ethical decision about the application of the respirator therapy in the individual case.