SEVERE BRONCHOPULMONARY DYSPLASIA - PREDICTORS OF SURVIVAL AND OUTCOME

Predictors of survival and outcome were evaluated following severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia in 35 neonates, 15 of whom died during the initial hospitalization and 4 following discharge. There was no difference in the clinical characteristics between those infants who survived or died. The survival rate was 47% when the length of stay in the hospital was 3 mo. and was 17% when the length of stay was 5 mo. The survival rate was 27% when the time receiving O2 was 3 mo. There were no survivors when the time receiving O2 was longer than 5 mo. Follow-up of 13 survivors revealed that 4 had neurologic sequelae, and 2 had severe retrolental fibroplasia. When comparing infants with a mean mental developmental index of < 84 (n = 8) to those with > 85 (n = 5) on the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, mean length of hospitalization was 125 days vs. 72 days (P < 0.05), and the time receiving O2 was 84 days vs. 46 days (P < 0.05). When comparing infants with growth parameters below the 5th percentile (n = 4) to those above the 5th percentile (n = 9), the mean time receiving O2 was 94 days compared to 58 days (P < 0.05). Severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia is associated with a high mortality and morbidity, both in and beyond the neonatal period.