Survival and 2-year outcome of extremely preterm infants.

The survival of 163 infants born within the hospital at 24-28 weeks gestation during a 4 1/2-year period and the morbidity in survivors at 2 years of age were reported. Hospital survival rates from 24-28 weeks at each week of gestation, excluding six infants with birth defects, were 36%, 32%, 57%, 70% and 74% respectively. The late outcome of children born at 24-26 weeks was compared with those born at 27-28 weeks. Of the 81 infants in the former group 46 (57%) died, nine (11%) survived with significant functional handicap and 26 (32%) were developing within the normal range. Of the 82 infants in the latter group, 28 (34%) died, eight (10%) survived with significant functional handicap and 46 (56%) were developing within the normal range. Although the mortality rate was significantly higher in the 24-26-weeks group, the physical disability and functional handicap rates in survivors were not statistically different between the two groups. Neither was developmental progress, as determined by psychological assessment, different.