Ludwig Gortner, Roland R. Wauer, Gerd J. Stock, Hans L. Reiter, Irwin Reiss, G. Jorch, Roland Hentschel, Gertrud Hieronimi
Neonatal outcome in small for gestational age infants: Do they really better?
Background: There still is a controversy as to the neonatal
outcome of small for gestational age (SGA) infants
compared to a appropriate for gestational age
(AGA) preterm infants. As a part of a randomized
multicenter trial on timing of bovine surfactant therapy,
we aimed at investigating short-term outcome variables
in SGA-infants compared with AGA-infants.
Methods: SGA-infants were classified weighing below
the 10th percentile at birth and were compared to AGA-infants
in terms of prenatal and neonatal characteristics
and neonatal outcome.
Results: A total of 317 infants were enrolled, 59 SGA-and
258 AGA-infants. Both groups did not differ in gestational
age, however, SGA-infants had a lower birth
weight. Preterm premature rupture of fetal membranes
was observed more frequently in AGA-, preeclampsia
in SGA-infants. The rate of intubation, severity of RDS,
rate of surfactant administration, pulmonary airleaks
and days on the ventilator did not differ between both
groups. However prolonged nasal CPAP, supplemental
oxygen therapy and chronic lung disease at 28 days and
36 weeks was diagnosed more often in SGA-infants.
Furthermore mortality was significantly higher in SGA-infants
as well as total NICU and total hospital days.
Conclusion: As SGA-infants have an increased mortality
rate and an increased risk for developing chronic
lung disease, further studies should focus on prevention
of intrauterine growth restriction and its complications.
Journal of Perinatal Medicine, Walter de Gruyter
Print ISSN: 1619-3997
Volume: 27, 12/1999
Pages: 484 - 489
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