[Infants of low birth weight after deliveries, morbidity and mortality (author's transl)].

Morbidity and mortality of 908 immature births (newborn infants under 2501 g; still births with crown-heel lengths 35 cm plus) which occured at the University Clinic, Mannheim, Department of obstetrics and Gynecology between the years 1966 and 1971 were studied and compared with a random selection of 782 newborn infants with birth weights of at least 2500 g. From a total of 832 live born immatures, one quarter had an initial Apgar score of 1--7. 67% of these were under 1000 g, 22,07% had birth weights between 1501 and 2000 g and 12,72% between 2001 and 2500 g. Immediately post-partum 89,7% of these infants were placed in the hands of the pediatricans. Most common post-natal complications were icterus neonatorum, aspiration, asphyxia and congenital mal formation. Total mortality was 27,75%; 8,7% being still-births and 21,2% postnatal deaths; perinatal mortality was 26,98%. Mature groups 0,64% perinatal mortality was recorded. 90% of the immature infants died with in the first three days. On 30% of these cases, cause of death was unknown, 30% died from immaturity, approx. 16% from Apnoe and approx. 6% from cerebral hemorrhage. Premature breech deliveries carried a higher mortality rate as compared with deliveries from a normal cephalic presentation.