Introduction:

The late preterm newborns (LPN) present complications to short and long term that can affect their neurodevelopment.

Objective:

To evaluate the state of neurodevelopment in LPN until two years of age.

Methods:

It was carried out a retrospective, observational, analytic and longitudinal study with 69 LPN admitted in the neonatal intensive cares unit of "Dr. Ángel Arturo Aballí" Hospital from March 2009 to December 2014 that were referenced to the neurodevelopment consultation. The obtained results were compared with a control group conformed by term newborns. The results were expressed in percentages.

Results:

Masculine sex prevailed in both groups (65.2 % vs. 59.4 %) and the birth by Caesarean operation in the LPN (68.1 % vs. 39.9 % in the control group). LPN had bigger mechanical ventilation (52.2 % vs. 23.2 %) and of anti-seizure drugs use’s needs (13.0 % vs. 5.8 %). It was observed a greater incidence of neurodevelopment alterations in the LPN to 6 months old (18.8 % vs. 15.9 %), 1-year-old (8.7 % vs. 7.2 %) and 2 years olds (7.7 % vs. 2.3 %). In the studies, bigger incidence of abnormal results was observed in transfontanelle ultrasonography (7.2 % vs 2.9 %), auditory evoked potentials of cerebral stem (14.5 % vs. 1.4 %) and in ocular fundus (4.3 % vs. 1.4 %).

Conclusions:

The birth by Caesarean section predominated in the LPN that is why they needed mechanical ventilation and resuscitation at birth. This group presented more affectation of the neurodevelopment state than the control group and bigger risk of hearing loss.

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