CONTROLLED TRIAL OF INTENSIVE CARE FOR VERY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT INFANTS

Abstract

Two controlled clinical trials were carried out in infants with a birth weight between 1,000 and 1,500 gm. Careful control of arterial oxygen and the infusion of 10% glucose for the first 3 days of life failed to reduce the mortality rate in a group of 118 infants. In the second clinical trial involving 120 patients, the mortality rate was reduced, especially in infants with clinical evidence of respiratory distress syndrome, by the addition to the regime of early vigorous efforts to correct acidosis. The mortality in comparable infants before the introduction of intensive care in 1965 was 49%. In the era of intensive care, 35% of patients given only routine care died, whereas infants receiving vigorous intensive care had a mortality rate of only 18%. The patients with respiratory distress syndrome showed the most noticeable improvement in survival.