The influence of technology in newborn survival of extremely premature infants with very low weight: integrative review

Abstract

The advancement of technology along with a more humane care in the past 20 years resulted in increased survival of extremely premature babies, with a birth weight inferior to 1500 grams and gestational age lower than 28 weeks. There are however concerns about the quality of life of premature babies in the long term. The birth weight is considered one of the most important indicators of the newborn quality of life, as a low birth weight contributes substantially to neonatal infant mortality. This work brings together articles that show the importance of technological advancement in the survival of extremely premature infants with a very low weight and it can become a study of great relevance for future assessments. This is a study of integrative review articles of national literature found in the databases LILACS and SCIELO about the influence of technology in the survival of extremely premature infants with very low weight, in the period between 1988 and 2008. We selected 20 articles in their entirety. After examining the articles included in the review, the study's results showed that technological development has provided a significant reduction in the morbidity of extreme preterm newborn, and that brought about consequences that may be considered harmful. Throughout the research it was possible to attest the lack of national studies concerning the survival of extremely premature infants with a very low weight. The technology advancements raised the survival of the newborns but, on the other hand, they contributed to the appearance of other morbidities.