A study out of John Hopkins has just been released that analyzes the survivability of extremely premature infants born between 22-24 weeks gestation. Unfortunately, the results are grim, and questions of ethics and quality of life are brought right back to the forefront of neonatology. According to the study:
“Despite increasingly intensive treatment over a 10-year period, mortality rates for infants born at 22 to 24 weeks gestation did not improve over the course of a decade, researchers said”
“All infants born at 22 weeks died during both periods.”
“Mortality among infants born at 23 weeks actually tended to increase (85% versus 73%, not significant).”
“There was no improvement whatsoever for babies born at 24 weeks (46% mortality during both periods).”
Mainstream media also reported on these findings, from MSNBC:
“Very early pre-term babies kept alive with ventilators, chest tubes and drugs to support the heart may live a little longer than they did 10 years ago, but are just as likely to die before ever going home, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.Their study suggests the emotionally taxing and expensive care given these tiny newborns, delivered at 22 to 24 weeks gestation, does not in the end save their lives. Babies born at 22 weeks included in the study all died as infants, regardless of care.”
So the question is now, what do we do with these findings. This is not the entire study, which I do not have access to as of yet. But, what do we do with these findings? For the NICU families and the medical professionals who care for these tiny babies everyday, what should we do?
What would you do?
RR
