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OUTCOMES FOR PREMATURE INFANTS BY GESTATION


 
Gestation in Weeks
Estimates for:
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30+
Chances of Survival (%)
17
44
61
72
72
88
85
>94
% of survivors who are normal 
~10
~40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Breathing Problems needing 
assisted ventilation 
100
100
100
100
89
78
80
30
Number of days ventilated and 
needing extra oxygen 
125
120
90
80
60
30
11
8
Chronic lung disease, i.e. needing 
extra oxygen for >1 month, steroids 
100
100
90.5
67
53
40
16.8
8
Probability of significant 
abnormal brain scans 
27
20
14
6
8
6
8
7
Jaundice needing phototherapy
100
100
100
100
80
50
30
20
Heart condition (PDA) needing
treatment
80
50
32
35
25
27
26
10
Likelihood of infection
100
100
100
100
80
70
40
30
Average number of transfusions
9
7
7
6
5
4
2
1
Feeding problems, i.e. needing 
tube feedings for > 8weeks* 
100
100
100
70
50
20
15
0
Gut problems - necrotising enterocolitis 
needing medical/surgical treatment
100 
90 
50 
40 
30 
20 
10 
5 
Visual Problems
23
17
10
5
5
3
0
0
Presence of recurrent Apnea/Bradychardia 
7wks 
6wks 
5wks 
4wks 
3wks 
2wks 
1wk 
0.5wk 
Need to express breastmilk on Pump 
12wks 
10wks 
9wks 
8wks 
7wks 
6wks 
5wks 
4wks 
Degree of Stress to Parents 
1= mild, 2= moderate, 3=severe 
7-10 for
8wks
7-10 for
7wks
7-10 for
6wks
7-10 for
4wks
7-10 for
3wks
7-10 for
2wks
7-10 for
3days
7-10 for
2 days
Risk of Family emotional stress
high 
high 
high 
high 
mod 
mod 
low 
min 
Likelihood of IQ <85
high 
high 
high 
mod 
mod 
low 
min 
min 
Likelihood of having Attention Deficit 
high 
high 
high 
high 
mod 
low 
low 
min 
Likelihood of being small in growth 
100 
100 
100 
70 
50 
30 
10 
0 
Likelihood of future need for full/part 
time special schooling 
100 
80 
50 
50 
30 
10 
5 
5 
Need for follow-up eye and hearing 
at 4mos., 8mos, 18mos, & 3yrs 
100 
100 
80 
70 
50 
30 
20 
10 
Need for Special Therapy with 
Physiotherapists, OT, speech 
100
100
80
70
50
30
20
10
Financial Cost
high 
high 
high 
high 
mod 
low 
low 
min 
*most babies will need nasogastric feeding until about 35 weeks gestation

 Draft by Dr. Guan Koh 6/14/1997
NOTE: This is a draft and not entirely complete. Survival Statistics may be slightly higher in the U.S.

 It is my (Olga) opinion that the zero values should not taken as an absolute, but rather assume a <1% value;
Same thing with the 100%; assume 99%.

"There's no such thing as a sure thing"


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