Pediatrics in Review
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(Pediatrics in Review. 2008;29:67-68.)
© 2008 American Academy of Pediatrics

In Brief

Developmental Characteristics of Preterm Infants

The first 300 words of the full text of this article appear below.

New Ballard Score, Expanded to Include Extremely Premature Infants. Ballard JL, Khoury JC, Wedig K, et al. J Pediatr. 1991;119 :417 –423[CrossRef][Medline] Neurological Examination: Normal and Abnormal Features. In: Volpe JJ, ed. Neurology of the Newborn. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2001:127 Control of Breathing. Hansen TN, Corbet A. In: Taeusch HW, Ballard RA, Gleason CA, eds. Avery's Diseases of the Newborn. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Saunders; 2005:616 –633 Nutrition: Physiologic Basis of Metabolism and Management of Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition. Lefrak L, Dowling D. In: Kenner C, Brueggemeyer A, Gunderson LP, eds. Comprehensive Neonatal Nursing: A Physiologic Perspective. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 1997:354 –370 Fetal and Neonatal Thermal Regulation. Chandra S, Baumgart S. In: Spitzer AR, ed. Intensive Care of the Fetus and Neonate. 2nd ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2005:495 –514

The increasing rate of preterm delivery (prior to 37 completed weeks of gestation) is well documented. Because of their anatomic and functional immaturity and their related elevated risks for minor and more significant complications, preterm infants invariably present special challenges to the pediatrician. Although developmental shortcomings and the specific problems encountered by the extremely preterm infant generally are more significant than those of more mature infants, developmental characteristics can be highly variable among babies born at or reaching any specific gestational age.

Because the developmental characteristics of preterm infants relate primarily to their maturity, the determination or estimation of gestational age is essential in their evaluation. A reliable menstrual history and early ultrasonographic dating are most helpful in this regard. This information, however, is not always available; in these cases, the infant's gestational age is assessed.

Historically, the Dubowitz and Ballard methods have been used to estimate gestational . . . [Full Text of this Article]


DeWayne Pursley, MD, MPH
 Editorial Board

Henry M. Adam, MD, Editor, In Brief




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