Evaluation of postnatal growth in very low birth weight infants: a neonatologist's dilemma.
Pediatr Endocrinol Rev
; 6(1): 9-13, 2008 Sep.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-18806720
Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants' survival has greatly increased in the last few decades thanks to the improvement in obstetrical and neonatal care. The correct evaluation of postnatal growth of these babies is nowadays of primary concern, although the definitions of their optimal nutrition and postnatal growth pattern are still controversial. It is known that VLBW infants have a specific postnatal growth pattern markedly different from that of higher birthweight full-term infants. Prospective longitudinal studies are needed to trace VLBW infants growth charts for weight, length and head circumference. These charts will be a useful tool to monitor postnatal growth of VLBW infants both during hospitalisation and after discharge, up to 2 or 3 years of age. A useful tool in VLBW infants growth evaluation could also be absolute velocity charts that, allowing a better and earlier identification of growth anomalies, could permit the observation of phenomena not yet visible on distance charts. Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants' survival has greatly increased in the last few decades thanks to the improvement in obstetrical and neonatal care. These neonates represent about 1-1.5% of all live born infants in developed countries (1) and they constitute the large majority of the population in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). For this reason, the correct evaluation of their postnatal growth is of primary concern nowadays although the definitions of optimal nutrition and postnatal growth pattern are still controversial.
Buscar en Google
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Pesos y Medidas Corporales
/
Desarrollo Infantil
/
Recién Nacido de muy Bajo Peso
/
Neonatología
Tipo de estudio:
Evaluation_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Pediatr Endocrinol Rev
Asunto de la revista:
ENDOCRINOLOGIA
/
PEDIATRIA
Año:
2008
Tipo del documento:
Article