Objective: To assess the short- and long-term outcome of infants<or=1250 grams who have received delivery room cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DR-CPR).
Methods: In a cohort of infants<or=1250 grams born between 01/2000 and 12/2003, we compared the rates of death, severe intraventricular hemorrhage (S-IVH), periventricular leukomalacia and combined poor short-term outcome (CO). At 18 months post- conception age (PCA) we compared DR-CPR and non-DR-CPR groups on the Bayley II Mental and Psychomotor Developmental Indices (MDI and PDI).
Results: Of 397 infants who met enrollment criteria, the 53 (13%) who received DR-CPR had a higher risk for mortality, S-IVH, PVL and CO. At 18 months PCA, MDI and PDI scores were lower in the DR-CPR group (67.7+/-18.3 vs. 81.3+/-17.7; p=0.006) and (74.4+/-19.9 vs. 85.1+/-17.2; p=0.027), respectively.
Conclusion: DR-CPR in infants<1250 grams is associated with higher mortality and greater short- and long-term morbidity.