Maternal and neonatal profile and immediate outcome in ELBW babies.

The present study was designed to ascertain the maternal and neonatal profile and immediate outcome of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) babies at a Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Case records of ELBW inborn babies delivered between August 2000 and August 2001 were analyzed by using a preset proforma. A total of 52 ELBW babies were admitted in NICU in the relevant period, out of which 30 (57%) survived. Maternal anemia and previous pre-term (PT) delivery were the common predisposing factors for PT delivery. Mean gestational age was 27.8 weeks and mean birth weight was 831 grams. Mortality was highest in babies less than 28 weeks gestation. Neonatal hyper-bilirubinemia (78%) and HMD/RDS (65%) were the commonest morbidity. Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) screening could be done in 35 babies (68%), out of which 22 were found to be normal.