[Treatment results in children with very low birth weight (less than or equal to 1500 gram)].

A retrospective study of morbidity and mortality in the neonatal period was carried out in 170 neonates of low birthweight (less than or equal to 1500 grams), who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of the Wilhelmina Kinderziekenhuis in Utrecht in the years 1976 to 1979; 118 of them survived (69.4%). The survival of children born by caesarean section (n = 32, 84.3%) and of small for gestational age children (n = 18, 83.2%) was higher than the total survival. Respiratory problems were most frequent (n = 151, in 82 of them mechanical ventilation was necessary) and were the most important cause of death. In 92 of the 118 surviving children (ages 1 1/2-3 1/2 years) a follow up study could be done; 42 were considered normal; 3 children had problems due to congenital malformations; 27 children had minor problems (squint and/or emotional disturbances) which were thought to be related to the neonatal period; 11 children had minor handicaps, 9 were severely handicapped.