Pediatria pre prax 6/2008

CARE OF THE PREMATURE INFANT AFTER HOME DISCHARGE

Survival rates of premature infants have recently improved. Criteria for discharge from NICU include temperature stability, feeding and weight gain, free of apnea, parental education, follow-up care. After discharge from hospital bronchopulmonary dysplasia, hernias, gastroesophageal reflux and sudden infant death syndrome are more common among preterm infants. These children need special care in nutrition (breast feeding with fortification or special enriched preterm formulas), anemia (substitution of iron and vitamins, erythropoietin therapy), neurodevelopmental surveillance (correct positioning, stimulation), vaccination (RSV, pneumoccoccus, influenza), retinopathy screening. Extremely preterm babies require multidisciplinary approach (pediatric neurologists, pneumologists, cardiologists, surgeons, ophthalmologists, kinesiologists, psychologists etc.).

Keywords: premature neonate, morbidity, discharge criteria, nutrition, BPD, anaemia praematurorum, vacination, neurodevelopmental outcome, follow-up.