The aim of this prospective study was to optimize the resuscitation guidelines for VLBW and ELBW premature newborns, to improve their life prognosis and to minimize the permanent complications of the perinatal asphyxia.
Results: The newborns were divided in 2 groups: main group--28 ELBW and 55 VLBW infants born from 01.10.01 to 30.06.02; and control group--52 ELBW and 78 VLBW infants, born in year 2000 in "Maichin dom". More intensive resuscitation was given to the VLBW newborns in the mean group--58% of them were intubated and ventilated in Delivery room (DR) infants compared with 40% from the controls. In the ELBW groups the rate of the assisted ventilation (AV) remains high (85% and 82%) but more often we insufflated Surfactant for prophylaxis of the RDS (71% compared with 52% in the controls). This, as well as the precisely monitoring of the early postnatal adaptation--pulsoxymetry, parameters of acid-base status (ABS) and homeostasis, resulted in significantly reduction of the mortality rate in ELBW infants from 46% to 18%. We found a reduction of the severe neurological injuries and high degree retinopathy of prematurity too. We evaluated the lactate values and the ABS parameters in blood from umbilical artery (u.a.) and from arterial blood 1 hour after birth. We found out that the low lactate levels in u.a. didn't correlate with the degree of the metabolic acidosis (pH and BE). Correlation between high lactate levels in u.a, low pH and BE were found predominantly in newborns with significant intrauterine retardation and chronic placental insufficiency. Levels > 5.0 mmol/l 1h after birth and the persistence of the metabolic acidosis despite an adequate resuscitation determinated in principle bad outcome and severe complications.
Conclusions: The adequate DR resuscitation under strict monitoring of the cardio-pulmonary adaptation and the prophylactic Surfactant application improve the survival rate and the prognosis of the ELBW newborns. The persistence of high lactate levels in combination with a metabolic acidosis and intrauterine retardation are bad prognostic criteria for outcome.