[Rehospitalization of very-low-birth-weight infants after discharge from neonatal intensive care units].

The higher survival rate of very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants is associated with an increasing rehospitalization load, especially during the first year after discharge from neonatal intensive care units. This was evaluated in a sample of 86 VLBW infants born during 1989-1990, compared with 120 normal term newborns delivered during 1990. 34 (39.5%) VLBW infants were rehospitalized, compared with 16 (13.3%) term newborns (2.9:1; p < 0.001). The ratio of hospitalizations between the groups was even higher, 4:1. Of the 49 VLBW infants hospitalized, 25 had respiratory complications (in 15 bronchiolitis), 15 required inguinal herniorrhaphy, 6 had acute gastroenteritis and in 4 there were other causes. Rehospitalized VLBW infants were more frequently of birth weight less than 1000 g and their initial stay in the neonatal intensive care unit tended to be longer. There was no significant correlation between rehospitalization and: gender, gestational age below or above 28 weeks, multiple pregnancy, need for mechanical ventilation, presence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, or parental socioeconomic status. Hospitals should be adequately prepared to meet the special challenge of frequent rehospitalization of VLBW infants.