Neurodevelopmental outcomes of infants with birth weights of less than 1000 g: comparison between periods before and after the introduction of surfactant

In order to assess the effect of surfactant therapy on the neurodevelopmental outcome of infants with a birth weight of less than 1000 g, we evaluated the outcome of 169 infants in the period after introduction of the surfactant (January 1989 to May 1993) by a follow-up of 6 years on the average, and compared these results to those of 107 infants in our previous study before the surfactant period (October 1981 to March 1986) by a follow-up of 7.5 years on the average. Nursery survival rate was significantly increased from 69.3% in the presurfactant period to 80% in the surfactant period (P < 0.05). However, there were no substantial differences in the neurodevelopmental outcomes between the two periods. This enhanced survival rate without the improvement of outcome resulted in a proportionate increase in normal and impaired survivors.