J Korean Med Assoc.  2008 Aug;51(8):745-754. 10.5124/jkma.2008.51.8.745.

Management of Premature and Low Birth Weight Infants

• Choi YY

• KMID: 2185934
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2008.51.8.745

Abstract

Premature (gestational age < 37th week) and low birth weight (LBW, birth weight < 2,500g) infants are very sensitive to small changes in respiratory management, blood pressure, fluid administration, nutrition, and virtually all other aspects of care because of physiological immaturity. The most important principle in the care of those babies is the 'maximum observation and minimum handling' during their initial adaptation from intrauterine to extrauterine life. At birth, the measures needed to clear the airway, initiate breathing, care for the umbilical cord and eyes, and administer vitamin K are the same for term and normal weight infants. However, special care is required to maintain a patent airway and avoid potential aspiration of gastric contents. Additional considerations are needed for thermal control and monitoring of the heart rate, respiration, and nutrition. Safeguards against infection can never be relaxed. The effective care based on currently available evidence is best ensured through the implementation for standardized protocols for the care of those infants within individual nursery or neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The need for regular and active participation by the parents in the infant's care during hospital stay, the need to instruct the monitor in at-home care of her infant, and the question of prognosis for later growth and development require special consideration. Effective discharge planning and follow-up visiting also promote continuity of care from hospital to home.

Keyword

Premature; Low birth weight infant; Intensive care; Discharge planning; Follow-up

MeSH Terms

Birth Weight
Blood Pressure
Critical Care
Continuity of Patient Care
Eye
Follow-Up Studies
Growth and Development
Heart Rate
Humans
Infant
Infant, Low Birth Weight
Infant, Newborn
Intensive Care, Neonatal
Length of Stay
Nurseries
Organothiophosphorus Compounds
Parents
Parturition
Patient Discharge
Prognosis
Respiration
Umbilical Cord
Vitamin K
Organothiophosphorus Compounds
Vitamin K

Figure

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  Figure 1 Flow diagram from birth to discharge in premature and low birth weight infants.

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