Complications of Prematurity

Cardiac
1. PDA
  Annotations:
  - Most common cardiac complication
CNS
1. Decreased spontaneous activity
  Annotations:
  - Not in classic flexed position
2. Poor sucking/swallowing reflexes
  Annotations:
  - NG feeds needed
3. IVH/PVL
  Annotations:
  - PVL - major RF for developmental delay + CP
4. Developmental delay
Eyes
1. RoP
  Annotations:
  - Retinopathy of Prematurity - due to incomplete retinal vascularisation at birth --> abnormal vessels --> vision defects
2. Myopia
3. Strabismus
GI
1. NEC
2. Feeding intolerance
  Annotations:
  - Due to: 1) Small stomach 2) Decreased suck/swallow reflexes 3) Decreased GI motility
Immunity
1. Risk of sepsis + meningitis
2. Thin skin
Kidneys
1. Met acidosis
  Annotations:
  - Immature kidney - cant excrete acids Na + HCO3 lost
2. Growth failure
Lungs
1. RDS
2. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia
  Annotations:
  - Changes in lung architecture causes a more chronic lung disease
Metabolic
1. Hypoglycemia
  Annotations:
  - Decreased glycogen stores in liver (build up near end of gest)
2. Hyperbilirubinemia
  Annotations:
  - 1) decreased hepatic excretion 2) decreased colonic excretion
Temperature
1. Hypothermia
  1. Decreased body fat
  2. Increased SA : Vol

Resource summary

	Created by Qasim Shahid about 9 years ago