[Neurologic follow up of premature infants and other neonatal at-risk patients in Norway].

BACKGROUND

Infants with very low birthweight (< 1,500 grams) are at increased risk of neurological disabilities and impairments later in childhood. We wanted to study whether the paediatric departments in Norway had organised routine neurological follow-up programmes for these patients, and in particular whether the child habilitation departments participated in the follow-up.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A questionnaire was returned from 19 of 23 pediatric departments. The questionnaire also included other neonatal risk groups. The results showed that one senior paediatrician was in charge of the follow-up at most departments. The neonatologists worked in collaboration with the child neurologists, and most often the child habilitation department was consulted in the neonatal period.

RESULTS

Only seven departments used a standardised follow-up programme. Main high risk groups were infants with birthweight < 1,500 grams and infants with birth asphyxia. There was a lack of consensus with regard to other inclusion criteria, time for follow-up and type of examinations. Only a few of the departments had performed follow-up studies concerning neurological sequelae and quality of life for this group of patients.

INTERPRETATION

Registration of neurological disease in premature children should be mandatory for every department with neonatal intensive medicine.