INTENSIVE CARE OF SMALL PREMATURE INFANTS: I. Clinical findings and results of treatment

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Abstract
Summary: Clinical findings and results of treatment in a series of 49 premature infants with birth weights between 850 and 1250 g are presented.The “intensive care” included nursing in incubators with high environmental humidity maintaining skin temperature at 36.5°C, umbilical catheterisation (both arterial and venous), intravenous glucose infusions, correction of metabolic acidosis by rapid sodium bicarbonate infusions, oxygen therapy and finally endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation.The series was divided into 3 categories according to the severity of respiratory symptoms. There was only one survivor out of 12 cases in the category of severe RD, whereas 14 of 21 with moderate RD and 9 of 16 with slight or no RD survived. The overall survival rate was 45%. The correlation between clinical findings, arterial blood gases and pH, chest X‐rays, response to treatment and outcome in each of the 3 categories is discussed. The preliminary data from our follow‐up studies indicate that there are only a few cases showing signs of permanent brain injury at the age of two years.

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