Alexandra Chadie

Comparison in Outcomes at Two-Years of Age of Very Preterm Infants Born in 2000, 2005 and 2010

Objective To investigate alteration in 2-year neurological/behavioral outcomes of very preterm infants born in a French level three neonatal intensive care unit. Methods We conducted a prospective, comparative study of very preterm infants born before 33 weeks’ gestation at 5-year intervals in 2000, 2005 and 2010 at Rouen University Hospital. Neonatal mortality/morbidities, ante- and neonatal treatments, and at age 2 years motor, cognitive and behavioral data were collected by standardized questionnaires. Results We included 536 very preterm infants. Follow-up rates at two years old were 78% in 2000, 93% in 2005 and 92% in 2010 respectively. No difference in gestational age, birthweight, neonatal mortality/morbidities was observed except a decrease in low grade subependymal/intraventricular hemorrhages. Care modifications concerned use of antenatal magnesium sulfate, breast-feeding and post-natal corticosteroid therapy. Significant improvement in motor outcome and dramatic decrease in cerebral palsy rates (12% in 2000, 6% in 2005, 1% in 2010, p<0.001) were observed, as were improvements in feeding behavior. Although a non significant difference to better psychosocial behavior was reported, there was no difference in cognitive outcome. Conclusions Improvement in neuromotor outcome and behavior was reported. This could be due to multiple modifications in care: including administration of magnesium sulfate to women at risk of preterm birth, increase in breast-feeding, decrease in low grade subependymal/intraventricular hemorrhages, and decrease in post-natal corticosteroid therapy, all of which require further investigation in other studies. Extended follow-up until school age is mandatory for better detection of cognitive, learning and behavioral disorders.

Évolution de la mortalité, de la morbidité et de la prise en charge des grands prématurés dans un centre de niveau III : comparaison des années 2000, 2005 et 2010

The very preterm birth rate has increased in the past few years. Despite advances in neonatal medicine, neurodevelopmental sequelae have not decreased, despite a perinatal plan published in France in 1994. We conducted an epidemiological comparative survey at Rouen University Hospital in order to analyze morbidity, mortality, and care of very of premature infants by comparing the years 2000, 2005, and 2010. This hospital draws on an area of 17,000 births per year. Our survey was a single-center prospective, descriptive, and comparative study. The three cohorts had the same characteristics and the mortality rate was constant for 11 years. Use of medically assisted procreation and maternal age increased over this period. Chorioamnionitis halved, whereas duration of intrapartum antibiotic therapy increased. Neonatal morbidity was stable for hyaline membrane disease, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, maternofetal or nosocomial infections, and necrotizing enterocolitis. Regarding neurological complications, intraventricular hemorrhages decreased and white matter lesions remained constant. The rate of severe retinopathy remained low. The duration of parenteral nutrition and assisted ventilation, use of postnatal corticosteroids, and length of hospitalization decreased. The breastfeeding rate has increased since 2000 in parallel with postnatal growth restriction : 39% of the premature infants had a weight under the 10th percentile at hospital discharge. Our study allowed us to follow up the changes in neonatal epidemiological characteristics, the mortality and morbidity of extreme premature infants over a period of 11 years and showed few significant changes. Knowledge of medical practices is essential to improve the short- and long-term outcome of premature infants.

Mémoire originalÉvolution de la mortalité, de la morbidité et de la prise en charge des grands prématurés dans un centre de niveau III : comparaison des années 2000, 2005 et 2010Epidemiological study of very preterm infants at Rouen University Hospital: Changes in mortality, morbidity, and care over 11 years

The very preterm birth rate has increased in the past few years. Despite advances in neonatal medicine, neurodevelopmental sequelae have not decreased, despite a perinatal plan published in France in 1994. We conducted an epidemiological comparative survey at Rouen University Hospital in order to analyze morbidity, mortality, and care of very of premature infants by comparing the years 2000, 2005, and 2010. This hospital draws on an area of 17,000 births per year. Our survey was a single-center prospective, descriptive, and comparative study. The three cohorts had the same characteristics and the mortality rate was constant for 11 years. Use of medically assisted procreation and maternal age increased over this period. Chorioamnionitis halved, whereas duration of intrapartum antibiotic therapy increased. Neonatal morbidity was stable for hyaline membrane disease, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, maternofetal or nosocomial infections, and necrotizing enterocolitis. Regarding neurological complications, intraventricular hemorrhages decreased and white matter lesions remained constant. The rate of severe retinopathy remained low. The duration of parenteral nutrition and assisted ventilation, use of postnatal corticosteroids, and length of hospitalization decreased. The breastfeeding rate has increased since 2000 in parallel with postnatal growth restriction : 39% of the premature infants had a weight under the 10th percentile at hospital discharge. Our study allowed us to follow up the changes in neonatal epidemiological characteristics, the mortality and morbidity of extreme premature infants over a period of 11 years and showed few significant changes. Knowledge of medical practices is essential to improve the short- and long-term outcome of premature infants.

Compared outcomes of very preterm infants born in 2000 and 2005

Aim:  To compare neonatal and 2‐year outcomes in very premature infants born 5 years apart.

Severe apparently isolated fetal ventriculomegaly and neurodevelopmental outcome

Our aim is to assess the neurodevelopmental outcome of children with a prenatal diagnosis of apparently isolated severe ventriculomegaly (SVM).

Neurodevelopmental outcome in prenatally diagnosed isolated agenesis of the corpus callosum

Neurodevelopmental outcome in children with agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC) is correlated with the presence or absence of associated brain abnormalities. Indeed, neurodevelopmental outcome shows severe disabilities when the ACC is not isolated whereas in isolated forms, the neurologic development is mainly normal. Contrary to data in several published studies, the prognosis remains uncertain even in isolated forms, which may lead in France to medical termination of pregnancy. OBJECTIVE To evaluate long-term neurodevelopmental outcome in children with prenatally diagnosed isolated ACC. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS This is a follow-up study conducted in Normandy (France). It included a cohort of 25 children born between January 1991 and June 2016, with a prenatal diagnosis of isolated ACC and who were followed for at least two years. RESULTS The average follow-up was 8±5years. ACC was complete in 17 patients (68%), partial in 5 (20%) and hypoplastic in 3 (12%). Whereas global motor development was normal in each case, normal neurodevelopmental outcome or mild disabilities occurred in 88% children and moderate/severe neuro-disabilities were present in 12% of children. Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-IV evaluations and Intellectual Total Quotients were within normal range, but we observed lower scores in verbal comprehension, social judgment, executive functions. A lower score in morphosyntax was observed among 52% of children with oral language disorders. CONCLUSIONS Neurodevelopmental outcome was favorable in most of our patients with isolated ACC, but mild learning disabilities emerged in older children. Long-term follow-up until school age is essential to provide early diagnosis and appropriate care support.