Obstetrical judgments of viability and perinatal survival of extremely low birthweight infants

M.L. Reuss and H.R. Gordon

American Journal of Public Health, 1995, vol. 85, issue 3, 362-366

Abstract: Objectives. The purpose of the study was to determine whether the obstetrical judgment of viability makes a difference to fetal and neonatal survival of extremely low birthweight infants (500-749 g). Methods. We assessed the effect of the antenatal judgment of viability in a group of 66 infants born weighing from 500 to 749 g. These infants were alive at maternal hospital admission and were subsequently live-born or stillborn between January 1, 1984, and December 31, 1985. We related the antepartum assessment of viability and other factors recorded in the medical record to fetal survival and to postneonatal survival to hospital discharge. Results. The obstetrical judgment of viability was strongly associated with outcome. After birthweight and gestational age were controlled, fetuses considered viable were 18 times more likely to survive (95% confidence interval = 2, 175) than those considered nonviable. Conclusions. The effects of obstetrical practices on perinatal mortality must be taken into consideration in estimating the survival potential of very small fetuses and in evaluating the relationship between survival and disability.

Date: 1995
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:1995:85:3:362-366_6

Access Statistics for this article

American Journal of Public Health is currently edited by Alfredo Morabia

More articles in American Journal of Public Health from American Public Health Association
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Christopher F Baum ().