Ultra-premature infants need specialized care, not just scaled-down protocols
Babies born at 22-24 weeks gestation require fundamentally different medical approaches than slightly more mature preterm infants, a new analysis concludes. The finding could reshape neonatal care protocols and training at hospitals nationwide, affecting roughly 7,500 U.S. infants annually—more common than Down syndrome.
Originaltitel: Infants ≤24 weeks are not just smaller extremely preterm infants
Among the most pressing topics in neonatal-perinatal medicine today is intensive care for infants born at ≤24 weeks' gestation. Infants born at 22-24 weeks comprise ~1 in 500 live births, with ~7500 liveborn infants annually in the U.S.-more common than Down syndrome or critical congenital heart disease-and make up 1 in 5 U.S. infant deaths. Major uncertainties exist about clinical decisions, including regarding obstetric care, delivery room procedures, incubator management, nutrition, respiratory support, and the optimal developmental environment. Partnering with families, we can develop a sound basis for safe and effective medical care of pregnant women and infants affected by birth at ≤24 weeks.