Definition

An infant that is born between 20 to 36 weeks of gestation. The prevalence is 7~ 11 % according to the literature. Those who are either born over 30 weeks of gestation age or weight over 1500 g at birth delivered in a well-neonatal-care hospital have a good prognosis and better survival rate. The VLBW infants, defined as birth weight less than 1500 gm, who accounted for only 10% of all premature baby have higher mortality and morbidity rate as 75 %. The Gynecologist aims to identify the pregnant women with high risk of preterm labor to prevent the delivery of extremely low birth weight baby, and to prevent possible complications.

Common complication of the premature infant

1. Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a disease that affects immature vasculature in the eyes of premature babies. The incidence is 82% in ELBW and the recovery rate is 9.3 %. Patients with ROP are at greater risk for strabismus, glaucoma, cataracts and myopia later in life, and should be examined yearly to prevent and treat these conditions.
2. Respiratory distress syndrome( RDS ), or hyaline menbrabe disease, is either the main problem encountered in the care of prematurities or the main reason leading to death. It accounted for 15 - 20 % of the mortality of newborn. The incidence decreased with increased gestation.
3. Chronic lung disease ( CLD ) is a general term for long-term respiratory problems in premature babies. The general all incidence is 10 -15 %, and it’s higher in those who have lighter birth weight.
4. The incidence of Patent ductus arteriosus ( PDA ) of premature baby among ELBW with respiratory distress syndrome is around 62.5 % and most of them can be closed via medical treatment or surgical liation.
5. The incidence of periventricuar hemorrhage( PIVH ) in the 90’s is around 17 - 25 %.It occurred mainly in premature baby and is rare in term baby. It’s common in those who have lighter birth weight. The incidence of neurologic sequales is 50-75% with severe hemorrhage while it’s only 16% with the IVH I.
6. Periventricular leukomalacia ( PVL ) is damage and softening of the white matter, the inner part of the brain that transmits information between the nerve cells and the spinal cord as well as from one part of the brain to another. The incidence is 2 - 22 % among VLBW and 6.4 % with those whose’ birth weight less than 1750g.
7. Necrotizing enterocolitis is the emergency of GI tract of newborn, especially the premature baby. The incidence is about 2 -5 % in neonatal intensive care unit.

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