Overview of Preterm Infants ✅ Flashcards
In what respects does a preterm infant of 23-25 weeks gestation differ from babies born at later gestations?
- Size
- Appearance
- Development
What is the typical weight for a baby born at 24 weeks?
620g for females, 700g for males
Describe the skin of an infant born at 24 weeks?
It is red, thin, and gelatinous
What is the result of the thin skin of very preterm infants?
- Prone to high evaporative heat loss
- Easily damaged, giving high risk of infection
Describe the posture and movements of an infant born at 24 weeks?
Adopt an extended posture with uncoordinated movements
What does the posture and movements of an infant born at 24 weeks reflect?
Their early stage of neural development
Describe the eyes of an infant born at 24 weeks?
The eyelids may be fused or partially open, with infrequent eye movements
Describe the breathing of an infant born at 24 weeks?
They are unlikely to breathe without respiratory support
Why are infants born at 24 weeks unlikely to breathe without respiratory support?
Because of surfactant deficiency and lung immaturity
Describe the feeding of an infant born at 24 weeks?
They are unable to coordinate suckling, and will require NG tube feeding, often augmented by parenteral nutrition
When does the ability to suck and coordinate swallowing usually develop?
34-35 weeks
At what birth weight are babies at increased risk of complications?
Below 1.5kg
What are the significant short term complications in very-low-birth-weight (<1.5kg) infants?
- Respiratory distress syndrome/lung immaturity
- Infection
- PDA
- NEC
- Intraventricular haemorrhage
- Cystic periventricular leukomalacia
- Retinopathy of prematurity
What % of VLBW infants are affected by respiratory distress syndrome/lung immaturity?
70%
What supportive therapies are available to manage respiratory distress syndrome/lung immaturity?
- Surfactant therapy
- Conventional ventilation
- High frequency ventilation
- Nasal CPAP
- Inhaled nitric oxide
