RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Obstetrics and Perinatal Care has improved in the last few years. As a result there has been a significant increase in preterm babies and longer survival. The risk of abnormalities in their development is high; they need follow up, prompt action and prevention from the neonatal period. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We evaluated 116 preterm babies, birth weight less than or equal to 1,000 grams, admitted to our Unit over 5 years. Seventy five neonates survived after the neonatal period (64.7 %). We studied the development during the first three years of life. RESULTS: The number of admissions of extremely low birth weigh infants has increased by 100 % in the last five years and the survival has increased by 15 %. Failure to thrive was the most frequent problem; in the first 2 years of life neonatal growth retardation was present in more than 50 % of cases (58 % 1st year, 57 % 2nd year, 40 % 3rd year). Catch-up growth occurred except in infants who had intrauterine growth retardation. Motor function disorders were the most serious; minor alterations in this system were the most frequent but usually did not compromise the life of the patient. Cerebral palsy was present in 14 % in the 1st year of life, 17,4 % 2nd year and 19 % 3rd year. Retinopathy of prematurity was very high in our group (74 %), but ophthalmic sequela were infrequent (3.2 % 1st year, 3.9 % 2nd year, and 3.4 % 3rd year); similarly with hearing function (deafness 2.0 %). Only some mild or moderate language development delay was present and psychomotor development was normal in the majority of cases and those who were retarded improved with time. CONCLUSIONS: Nowadays there is a significant increase in the incidence and survival of extremely low birth weigh infants. They have a higher risk of abnormal development. The most frequent problem is failure to thrive and the most serious is cerebral palsy. Major ophthalmic and hearing sequela are rare. Psychomotor and language development is normal in the majority of these patients.