CURRENT CONCEPTS - LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT INFANT - EVOLUTION OF A CHANGING OUTLOOK

IMPROVED survival of neonates at high risk, particularly those with a very low birth weight (less than 1500 g), has now been described in this country and abroad.1,2 A major concern persists, however, that this improved survival may be accompanied by an increase in the number of permanently handicapped and damaged children. Since the costs of sustaining life for such small and immature infants are enormous,3 the investment of money and manpower would be difficult to justify if, indeed, the long-term outlook was less than favorable. Reassuringly, most current follow-up studies demonstrate that accompanying the improved survival there is a. © 1979, Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved.