Survival after cardiopulmonary resuscitation in babies of very low birth weight

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Epinephrine Infusion in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

“…The definitions we applied in this study for both CPR and the etiology of events leading to it were similar to previously published studies. 8,10 In contrast to reported data, 7,8,12 no difference in survival in relation to the event initiating CPR was demonstrated. Despite initial success in resuscitation, none of the infants in our study who received CPR survived to discharge.…”

“…Reports of CPR in the delivery room are likely to produce different results to those from NICU for similar reasons. In a major study of CPR in infants <1500 g birthweight (VLBW), Lantos et al 7 suggested that the use of CPR in VLBW infants was futile and should be considered experimental. However, these data were obtained from a population of larger infants in the presurfactant era.…”

“…4 Owing to the persistence of a high rate of disability accompanying increased survival rates in ELBW infants, questions regarding their optimal early acute management remain. [5][6][7][8] How long and how hard should the NICU team strive to achieve survival of these tiniest infants? 9,10 Should the substantial costs involved be a consideration in these decisions at all?…”

Delivery Room Resuscitation Decisions for Extremely Low Birthweight Infants in California

“…These retrospective data are in accord with other recommendations. 20,24,28 Contrasting data have been reported recently from the Vermont-Oxford Network. Their 1994 to 1996 outcome data, concurrent with our survey, document the survival of the majority (73%) of infants born weighing 401 to 1000 g. 29 Of those who received cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the delivery room, 54% survived.…”

Ending Innovative Therapy for Infants at the Margins of Viability: Case of Twins H

“…As Lantos et al 24 commented in an insightful analysis of resuscitation in babies of very low birth weight, the outcome data available for some procedures are such that at best we can tell parents, "this intervention is so new or its effect on this class of patients so unproven that it is an 'innovative' or 'experimental' procedure." What both physician and parents have to understand at this point is that they are embarking into the realm of the unknown.…”