Variation between hospitals and reviewers in detection of adverse events identified through medical record review in Korea.

OBJECTIVES: This study utilized the method of medical record review to determine characteristics of adverse events that occurred in the inpatient units of hospitals in Korea as well as the variations in adverse events between institutions. DESIGN: A two-stage retrospective medical record review was conducted. The first stage was a nurse review, where two nurses reviewed medical records of discharged patients to determine if screening criteria had been met. In the second stage, two physicians independently reviewed medical records of patients identified in the first stage, to determine whether an adverse event had occurred. SETTING: Inpatient units of six hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: Medical records of 2 596 patients randomly selected were reviewed in the first stage review. INTERVENTION(S): N/A. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Adverse events. RESULTS: A total of 277 patients (10.7%) were confirmed to have had one or more adverse event(s), and a total of 336 adverse events were identified. Physician reviewers agreed about whether an adverse event had occurred for 141 patients (5.4%). The incidence rate of adverse events was at least 1.3% and a maximum of 19.4% for each hospital. Most preventability scores were less than four points (non-preventable), and there were large variations between reviewers and institutions. CONCLUSIONS: Given the level of variation in the identified adverse events, further studies that include more medical institutions in their investigations are needed, and a third-party committee should be involved to address the reliability issues regarding the occurrence and characteristics of the adverse events.

Correlation of Neonatal Birth-Associated Greenstick Skull Fractures with Perinatal Factors and Long-Term Outcome: Children with a Greater Number of Greenstick Skull Fractures Showed Poor Results in Terms of Long-Term Neurodevelopment.

OBJECTIVE: Skull fractures caused by birth injury are mainly compression and linear fractures, but the incidence is known to be rare. It has been recently suggested, however, that greenstick fractures (GSFs) are more common than compression or linear fractures that are detected through 3-dimensional reconstructed computed tomography. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the correlation of GSF with perinatal factors, the accompanying head injury factors, and the long-term outcomes in neonates. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on correlations between GSF and perinatal and head injury factors for 295 neonates. In 160 neonates, the correlation with long-term outcome was investigated. RESULTS: In 295 neonates, 47 cases had 3 or fewer GSFs, 66 cases had 4-6, 82 cases had 7-9, and 100 cases had 10 or more. The number of GSFs was significantly associated with gestational age and mode of delivery among the perinatal factors, with brain swelling and cephalohematoma among the head injury factors. It was also associated with long-term outcomes. The cut-off value of the number of GSFs for a poor outcome by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 6 or greater. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that GSF most commonly occurs as a birth-related skull fracture and that birth-related GSF is associated with perinatal factors, birth-related head injuries, and deterioration of long-term development. Therefore, efforts should be made to prevent GSF at birth.

Neurodevelopmental Prognostic Factors in 73 Neonates with the Birth Head Injury.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to reinterpret the neurodevelopmental prognostic factors that are associated with birth head injury by performing a long-term follow-up. METHODS: Seventy-three neonates with head injuries were retrospectively analyzed after a duration of 10.0±7.3 years to determine the correlations between perinatal factors, including gender, head circumference, gestational age, body weight, and mode of delivery, and head injury factors from radiologic imaging with social, fine motor, language, and motor developmental quotients. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference between perinatal factors and head injury factors with respect to head circumference, body weight, gestational age, mode of delivery, Apgar scores at 1 min, cephalohematoma, subdural hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and hypoxic injury, but no direct correlation by regression analysis was observed between perinatal factors and developmental quotients. Of the head injury factors, falx hemorrhage showed a significant indirect relationship with the language and motor developmental quotients. Mode of delivery, subgaleal hematoma, cephalohematoma, greenstick skull fracture, epidural hemorrhage (EDH), tentorial hemorrhage, brain swelling, and hypoxic injury showed an indirect relationship with social development. CONCLUSION: In terms of perinatal factors and head injury factors, mode of delivery, subgaleal hematoma, cephalohematoma, greenstick skull fracture, EDH, tentorial hemorrhage, falx hemorrhage, brain swelling, and hypoxic injury displayed an indirect relationship with long-term development, and therefore these factors require particular attention for perinatal care.

A 6-year safety surveillance of 10-valent pneumococcal non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae protein D conjugate vaccine (PHiD-CV) in South Korea.

In 2010, Korea introduced 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years against invasive disease caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes 1, 4, 5, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F, 23F and cross-reactive 19A. The aim of this 6-year real-world study of 646 healthy Korean children from 16 centers vaccinated in routine practice is to monitor vaccine safety, as per Ministry of Food and Drug Safety regulations. Around 50% had a past or existing medical condition, 19.3% an existing condition and 7.6% received concomitant medication). Total of 489 recorded adverse events (AEs) were reported in 274 infants; 86% were mild and the rest moderate, only three were reported as serious. Most AEs (97.8%) were not related to vaccination; one case of injection-site swelling and of fever was related, two cases of fever were probably related, five cases of fever and one case each of diarrhea and coughing were possibly related. None of the serious AEs were related to vaccination. Of 11 adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in 10 subjects, none were serious. Overall, 263 subjects (40.7%) received medication (mainly antibiotics or antipyretics) for the treatment of an AE, of which 6 subjects were treated for an ADR. There was no difference in the incidence of AEs according to age, sex or concomitant vaccination. Subjects with an existing medical condition had significantly more AEs than those without any conditions (p = 0.03), but no differences regarding ADRs. Four-dose vaccination with PHiD-CV appears to have a clinically-acceptable safety profile for Korean children. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01248988.

Quality improvement in pediatric care.

We often overlook the importance of several safety issues such as identification of patients, timeout procedure, hand hygiene, handoff communication, and many others. This ignorance, along with many other issues, leads to medical error being ranked as a third leading cause of death in the U.S. Consequently, quality improvement (QI) has become one of the major subjects in healthcare despite a relatively short history. Improving quality is about making healthcare safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable. Understanding the need and methodology of QI as well as participation is now essential for physicians. Although basic QI methodology has not changed, one of the most fascinating changes in recent QI is conducting large-scale QI projects through multicenter networks. Prospective multicenter QI projects utilizing the Korean Neonatal Network are a substantial initiation of pediatric QI in Korea. The Korean Pediatric Society should set ambitious goals for QI activities for every primary care pediatrician and pediatric subspecialist.

Reappraisal of Neonatal Greenstick Skull Fractures Caused by Birth Injuries: Comparison of 3-Dimensional Reconstructed Computed Tomography and Simple Skull Radiographs.

OBJECTIVE: The most common birth-associated head injuries during vaginal delivery are cephalhematomas and subgaleal hematomas. Cranial injuries are rarely encountered. The neonate cranium is soft and pliable, and greenstick skull fractures (GSFs) are expected to be more frequent than linear or depressed fractures, but they are extremely difficult to detect with simple skull radiography. As a result, no reports have been issued on this topic to date. Recent reports suggest that technological advances in 3-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) have successfully enhanced the diagnostic accuracy for cranial fractures. The authors researched the types and characteristics of GSFs and the diagnostic accuracy of 3D CT for cranial fractures in neonates. METHODS: The simple skull radiographs and 3D CT images of 101 neonates were retrospectively evaluated and compared with respect to diagnosis of cranial fractures, and skull GSFs were classified on the basis of 3D CT findings into 5 types depending on multiplicity and location. RESULTS: 3D CT detected 88 cases of cranial fractures, that is, 89 GSFs, 4 combined GSFs and linear fractures, and 3 combined GSFs and depressed fractures. The diagnostic rate of 3DCT was 91% and this was significantly higher than the 13% rate of simple skull radiographs (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: GSFs rather than linear fractures were found to account for most cranial injuries among neonates. The diagnostic accuracy of 3D CT was considerably superior than simple skull radiography, but the high radiation exposure levels of 3D CT warrant the need for development of a modality with lower radiation exposure.

Ultrasound Elastography of the Neonatal Brain: Preliminary Study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the ultrasound elasticity of the brain in neonates METHODS: Strain elastography was performed in 21 healthy neonates (mean gestational age [GA], 34 weeks; range, 28-40 weeks). Elastographic scores were assigned to the following structures on a 5-point color scale (1-5): ventricle, periventricular white matter, caudate, subcortical, cortical gray matter, and subdural space. Three elastographic images were evaluated in each patient, and median elastographic scores were calculated. The scores were compared between regions and were correlated with the corrected GA. Interobserver agreements for assignment of elastographic scores were analyzed. RESULTS: The ventricle and subdural space showed an elasticity score of 1 in all patients. The cortical gray matter (median, 3.0; first-third quartiles, 2.33-3.33) showed higher elasticity compared to the periventricular white mater (4.0; 3.00-4.00; P < .001), caudate (4.3; 3.67-4.67; P < .001), and subcortical white matter (4.0; 4.00-4.00; P < .001). The caudate showed lower elasticity compared to periventricular white matter (P = .004). The periventricular white matter showed higher elasticity compared to subcortical white matter (P = .009). There was a positive trend between the corrected GA and cortical gray matter elastographic score (γ = 0.376; P = .093). Interobserver agreement was moderate to almost perfect (κ = 0.53-0.89). CONCLUSIONS: Neonatal intracranial regions showed different elasticity, which could be accessed by strain elastography. These normal findings should prompt future studies investigating the use of ultrasound elastography in the neonatal brain.

Successfully treated infective endocarditis caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus in extremely low birth weight infant.

Survival rates of preterm infants have improved in the past few decades, and central venous catheters play an important role in the intensive medical treatment of these neonates. Unfortunately, these indwelling catheters increase the risk of intracardiac thrombosis, and they provide a nidus for microorganisms during the course of septicemia. Herein, we report a case of persistent bacteremia due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in an extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infant, along with vegetation observed on an echocardiogram, the findings which are compatible with a diagnosis of endocarditis. The endocarditis was successfully treated with antibiotic therapy, and the patient recovered without major complications. We suggest a surveillance echocardiogram for ELBW infants within a few days of birth, with regular follow-up studies when clinical signs of sepsis are observed.

Isoflavone and Soyfood Intake and Colorectal Cancer Risk: A Case-Control Study in Korea.

We aimed to assess the relationship between dietary soyfood and isoflavone intake and colorectal cancer risk in a case-control study. A total of 901 colorectal cancer cases and 2669 controls were recruited at the National Cancer Center, Korea. A semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to assess the usual dietary habits, and the isoflavone intake level was estimated from five soyfood items. A high intake of total soy products, legumes, and sprouts was associated with a reduced risk for colorectal cancer in men and women, although the middle quartiles of intake of total soy products were associated with an elevated risk. In contrast, a high intake of fermented soy paste was associated with an elevated risk for colorectal cancer in men. The groups with the highest intake quartiles of isoflavones showed a decreased risk for colorectal cancer compared to their counterparts with the lowest intake quartiles in men (odds ratio (OR): 0.67, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.51-0.89) and women (OR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.43-0.99). The reduced risk for the highest intake groups persisted for distal colon cancer in men and rectal cancer in women. The association between soyfood intake and colorectal cancer risk was more prominent among post-menopausal women than pre-menopausal women. In conclusion, a high intake of total soy products or dietary isoflavones was associated with a reduced risk for overall colorectal cancer, and the association may be more relevant to distal colon or rectal cancers.

Data Management and Site-Visit Monitoring of the Multi-Center Registry in the Korean Neonatal Network.

The Korean Neonatal Network (KNN), a nationwide prospective registry of very-low-birth-weight (VLBW, < 1,500 g at birth) infants, was launched in April 2013. Data management (DM) and site-visit monitoring (SVM) were crucial in ensuring the quality of the data collected from 55 participating hospitals across the country on 116 clinical variables. We describe the processes and results of DM and SVM performed during the establishment stage of the registry. The DM procedure included automated proof checks, electronic data validation, query creation, query resolution, and revalidation of the corrected data. SVM included SVM team organization, identification of unregistered cases, source document verification, and post-visit report production. By March 31, 2015, 4,063 VLBW infants were registered and 1,693 queries were produced. Of these, 1,629 queries were resolved and 64 queries remain unresolved. By November 28, 2014, 52 participating hospitals were visited, with 136 site-visits completed since April 2013. Each participating hospital was visited biannually. DM and SVM were performed to ensure the quality of the data collected for the KNN registry. Our experience with DM and SVM can be applied for similar multi-center registries with large numbers of participating centers.

The efficacy and safety of Montelukast sodium in the prevention of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Montelukast sodium in the prevention of bronchopulmonarydysplasia (BPD). METHODS: The Interventional study was designed as a multicenter, prospective, and randomized trial, with open labeled and parallel-experimental groups, 66 infants were enrolled and allocated to either the case group (n=30) or the control group (n=36) based on gestational age (GA). Infants in the case group were given Montelukast sodium (Singulair) based on their body weight (BW). Zero week was defined as the start time of the study. RESULTS: The incidence of moderate to severe BPD was not different between the groups (case group: 13 of 30 [43.3%] vs. control group: 19 of 36 [52.8%], P=0.912). Additionally, secondary outcomes such as ventilation index, mean airway pressure and resort to systemic steroids were not significantly different. There were no serious adverse drug reactions in either group, and furthermore the rate of occurrence of mild drug related-events were not significantly different (case group: 10 of 42 [23.8%] vs. control group: 6 of 48 (15.8%), P=0.414). CONCLUSION: Montelukast was not effective in reducing moderate or severe BPD. There were no significant adverse drug events associated with Montelukast treatment.

A comparative study of two remifentanil doses for procedural pain in ventilated preterm infants: a randomized, controlled study*.

OBJECTIVES: Remifentanil is an ultrashort-acting synthetic opioid, and the metabolism of which is not influenced by hepatic or renal function. This study aims to compare the efficacy of two remifentanil doses during procedures in ventilated preterm infants. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, double-blind, noninferiority trial. SETTING: Neonatal ICU. PATIENTS: Preterm infants who were supported by a mechanical ventilator with tracheal tube and requiring central venous access. INTERVENTIONS: Two remifentanil dosages were administered in mechanically ventilated preterm infants during peripherally inserted central catheter insertion. Fourteen preterm infants were randomly assigned to low-dose (0.1 µg/kg/min) or high-dose (0.25 µg/kg/min) remifentanil infusion. The Premature Infant Pain Profile was used to score pain during the procedure, and changes in the Premature Infant Pain Profile score between needle puncture and baseline were analyzed to investigate the noninferiority of low-dose to high-dose remifentanil. Occurrence of cardiorespiratory complications was also recorded. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The median gestational age (minimum, maximum) was 26 weeks (24, 31), and the median birth weight was 825 g (610, 1,280). Changes in Premature Infant Pain Profile in the high-dose and low-dose groups were 1.43 ± 3.10 and -0.60 ± 5.32, respectively. The difference in changes in the Premature Infant Pain Profile score between the high-dose and low-dose groups was -2.03 ± 4.13. The corresponding lower limit of one-tailed 97.5% CI was -7.24, below the noninferiority margin. Apneic events and bradycardia did not occur in the low-dose group; however, there were three episodes of apnea (42.9%) and one of bradycardia (14.3%) in the high-dose group (p = 0.683 and 0.366, respectively). CONCLUSION: For mechanically ventilated preterm infants, the use of remifentanil at 0.25 µg/kg/min as an analgesic for short procedures represents a therapeutic option. Our pilot study suggests the need for larger randomized trials.

Clinical and cytogenetic features of a patient with partial trisomy 8q and partial monosomy 13q delineated by array comparative genomic hybridization.

Partial trisomy 8q is rare and has distinctive clinical features, including severe mental retardation, growth impairment, dysmorphic facial appearances, cleft palate, congenital heart disease, and urogenital anomalies. Partial monosomy 13q is a rare genetic disorder displaying a variety of phenotypic characteristics including mental retardation, dysmorphic facial features, and congenital anomalies. Here, we describe for the first time clinical observations and cytogenetic analysis of a patient with a concomitant occurrence of partial trisomy of 8q (8q21.3→qter) and partial monosomy 13q(13q34→qter). The patient was a female neonate with facial dysmorphia, agenesis of the corpus callosum, cleft palate, and congenital heart disease. G-band standard karyotype was 46,XX,add(13)(q34). To determine the origin of additional genomic gain in chromosome 13, array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was performed. Array CGH showed a 56.8 Mb sized gain on chromosome 8q and a 0.28 Mb sized loss on chromosome 13q. Therefore, the final karyotype of the patient was defined as 46,XX, der(13)t(8;13)(q21.3;q34). In conclusion, we described the clinical and cytogenetic analysis of the patient with concomitant occurrence of partial trisomy 8q and partial monosomy 13q delineated by array CGH. This report suggests that the array CGH would be a valuable diagnostic tool for identifying the origin of small additional genetic materials.

Non-oliguric hyperkalemia in extremely low birth weight infants.

PURPOSE: It is to examine clinical manifestations, early biochemical indicators, and risk factors for non-oliguric hyperkalemia (NOHK) in extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected clinical and biochemical data from 75 ELBWI admitted to Ajou University Hospital between Jan. 2008 and Jun. 2011 by reviewing medical records retrospectively. NOHK was defined as serum potassium≥7 mmol/L during the first 72 hours of life with urine output≥1 mL/kg/h. RESULTS: NOHK developed in 26.7% (20/75) of ELBWI. Among NOHK developed in ELBWI, 85% (17/20) developed within postnatal (PN) 48 hours, 5% (1/20) experienced cardiac arrhythmia and 20% (4/20) of NOHK infants expired within PN 72 hours. There were statistically significant differences in gestational age, use of antenatal steroid, and serum phosphorous level at PN 24 hours, and serum sodium, calcium, and urea levels at PN 72 hours between NOHK and non-NOHK groups (p-value<0.050). However, there were no statistical differences in the rate of intraventricular hemorrhage, arrhythmia, mortality occurred, methods of fluid therapy, supplementation of amino acid and calcium, frequencies of umbilical artery catheterization and urine output between the two groups. CONCLUSION: NOHK is not a rare complication in ELBWI. It occurs more frequently in ELBWI with younger gestational age and who didn't use antenatal steroid. Furthermore, electrolyte imbalance such as hypernatremia, hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia occurred more often in NOHK group within PN 72 hours. Therefore, more use of antenatal steroid and careful control by monitoring electrolyte imbalance should be considered in order to prevent NOHK in ELBWI.

The control of invasive Candida infection in very low birth weight infants by reduction in the use of 3rd generation cephalosporin.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of new management policies on the incidence of invasive Candida infections. METHODS: This observational study involved a retrospective analysis of the patients' medical records. In total, 99 very low birth weight infants, who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at Ajou University Hospital from January 2010 to December 2011, were enrolled for the study. Period I, defined as the period before the revision of management policies, comprised 57 infants; whereas, period II, defined as the period after the implementation of new management policies, comprised 42 infants. The new management policies entailed a reduction in antibiotic and histamine type 2 receptor blocker (H2 blocker) use, duration of central venous catheterization, and duration of endotracheal intubation. RESULTS: There was a significant overall decrease in the use of antibiotics including 3rd generation cephalosporin and H2 blockers (P<0.05), and a significantly lower incidence of invasive Candida infections in period II as compared to period I (0/42 vs. 6/57, respectively; P=0.037). Comparison between infants with invasive Candida infections (n=6) and those without (n=93) showed that gestational age (odds ratio [OR], 0.909; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.829 to 0.996; P=0.042) and the duration of 3rd generation cephalosporin use (OR, 1.093; 95% CI, 1.009 to 1.183; P=0.029) were statistically significant risk factors. CONCLUSION: The new management policies effectively decreased overall use of antibiotics, especially 3rd generation cephalosporin, and H2 blockers, which led to a significantly lower incidence of invasive Candida infections.

Can early B-type natriuretic peptide assays predict symptomatic patent ductus arteriosus in extremely low birth weight infants?

BACKGROUND: Earlier and more accurate identification of a high-risk group of preterm infants that are likely to develop a hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (hsPDA) would allow specific targeting of early treatment and thus possibly minimize the morbidity and mortality associated with a PDA in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the predictability of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) for early targeted treatment of hsPDA in ELBW infants. METHODS: 73 ELBW infants that underwent echocardiographic evaluation and plasma BNP measurement after birth were enrolled. 31 infants developed hsPDA (HsPDA group) and 42 infants did not develop hsPDA (nPDA group). RESULTS: BNP levels of the HsPDA group were significantly higher than those of the nPDA group at 24 h of age (921 [318-2,133] vs. 152 [91-450] pg/ml) but not different at 12 h of age. BNP levels at 24 h of age were significantly correlated with the magnitudes of the ductal shunt but not at 12 h of age. The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve of BNP levels for prediction of hsPDA at 24 h of age was 0.830. At the cutoff BNP levels of 200 and 900 pg/ml at 24 h of age, sensitivity was 83.9 and 54.8% and specificity was 61.9 and 95.2%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: BNP levels at 24 h of age can be used as a guide for early targeted treatment of hsPDA and avoid the unnecessary use of cyclooxygenase inhibitors in ELBW infants.

Comparison of helmet therapy and counter positioning for deformational plagiocephaly.

OBJECTIVE: To compare effectiveness on correcting cranial and ear asymmetry between helmet therapy and counter positioning for deformational plagiocephaly (DP). METHODS: Retrospective data of children diagnosed with DP who visited our clinic from November 2010 to October 2012 were reviewed. Subjects ≤10 months of age who showed ≥10 mm of diagonal difference were included for analysis. For DP treatment, information on both helmet therapy and counter positioning was given and either of the two was chosen by each family. Head circumference, cranial asymmetry measurements including diagonal difference, cranial vault asymmetry index, radial symmetry index, and ear shift were obtained by 3-dimensional head-surface laser scan at the time of initiation and termination of therapy. RESULTS: Twenty-seven subjects were included: 21 had helmet therapy and 6 underwent counter positioning. There was no significant difference of baseline characteristics, head circumferences and cranial asymmetry measurements at the initiation of therapy. The mean duration of therapy was 4.30±1.27 months in the helmet therapy group and 4.08±0.95 months in the counter positioning group (p=0.770). While cranial asymmetry measurements improved in both groups, significantly more improvement was observed with helmet therapy. There was no significant difference of the head circumference growth between the two groups at the end of therapy. CONCLUSION: Helmet therapy resulted in more favorable outcomes in correcting cranial and ear asymmetry than counter positioning on moderate to severe DP without compromising head growth.

Early neurodevelopment in very low birth weight infants with mild intraventricular hemorrhage or those without intraventricular hemorrhage.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess early development in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants with mild intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) or those without IVH and to identify the perinatal morbidities affecting early neurodevelopmental outcome. METHODS: Bayley Scales of Infant Development-II was used for assessing neurological development in 49 infants with a birth weight <1,500 g and with low grade IVH (≤grade II) or those without IVH at a corrected age of 12 months. RESULTS: Among the 49 infants, 19 infants (38.8%) showed normal development and 14 (28.6%) showed abnormal mental and psychomotor development. Infants with abnormal mental development (n=14) were mostly male and had a longer hospitalization, a higher prevalence of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and were under more frequent postnatal systemic steroid treatment compared with infants with normal mental development (n=35, P<0.05). Infants with abnormal psychomotor development (n=29) had a longer hospitalization and more associated PDA compared to infants with normal psychomotor development (n=20, P<0.05). Infants with abnormal mental and psychomotor development were mostly male and had a longer hospitalization and a higher prevalence of PDA and BPD compared to infants with normal mental and psychomotor development (n=19, P<0.05). Using multiple logistic regression analysis, a longer duration of hospitalization and male gender were found to be significant risk factors. CONCLUSION: Approximately 62% of VLBW infants with low grade IVH or those without IVH had impaired early development.