Early development of infants of birth weight less than 1,000 grams with reference to mechanical ventilation in newborn period

Abstract

Growth, development, and neurologic status were assessed at 1 year of age in 38 infants of birth weight less than 1,000 gm who were born in 1976 through 1978. Twenty had received mechanical ventilation as newborns, and this group had a significantly higher incidence of respiratory distress syndrome, seizures, cardiac arrest, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and retrolental fibroplasia than those not ventilated. The ventilated infants had a high incidence (70%) of bronchopulmonary dysplasia and of retrolental fibroplasia (20% grade III or IV). Seven of eight infants with severe developmental delay (greater than 2 SD), six of nine with moderate delay (greater than 1 SD), and seven of eight with neurologic disability had received ventilation. There was no difference in growth between the ventilated and nonventilated children. Of the total group, 53% showed no problems.