Premature babies have better chance than ever

PREMATURE babies are more likely than ever to grow up in good health. Consultant paediatrician Dr Brian Lean said that new technology and better medical care had lessened the risk of physical disabilities for babies born up to 14 weeks before they were due.

He said the Epicure study, which stated that early babies were more likely to suffer disabilities, was out of date.

'Paediatrics is continuously evolving and we are learning all the time.

'We have newer equipment and ideas on how to minimise the risk.'

Dr Lean added that the value of the study to doctors was that it highlighted dangerous and bad practices of the past.

He said that, in his experience, not all very premature babies had a poor outcome. 'You can come out of this positively.'

Luke Cooper, now 16, was born 11 weeks early. His mother, senior staff nurse Jeannette Cooper, said she was afraid he would not live.

'He was extremely ill and was in the neonatal unit for 12 weeks,' she said. 'He had loads of setbacks.'

She said that due to the hard work of doctors and nurses, Luke's outcome had been favourable. He has attended the Grammar School since the age of 11 and passed eight GCSEs at C or above.

Luke also enjoys sport and likes to keep fit.

Dr Lean said that the UK study carried out by Professor Neil Marlow, a former colleague, and Professor Kate Costeloe looked at babies born in 1995.

The first phase of the study revealed that at two-and-a-half years, 50% of the children had some form of disability.

Severe problems were identified in a quarter of the children, including cerebral palsy, blindness, deafness and arrested development.

Researchers tested the children again at the age of six and found that 40% had moderate to severe problems, compared with 2% of a control group.

'The problems these children have are of children born 10 years ago,' said Dr Lean. 'Things have moved on and we can improve on these figures. Prompt early intervention is helping to reduce the risks.'

Those expected to have premature babies are given steroids to strengthen the baby's lungs.

The babies are given Surfactant, a drug which reduces the risk of breathing problems.

'This reduces the risk of complications,' said Dr Lean.

He added that these measures were the biggest step forward in the past 10 years but researchers would have to wait another 10 to study the effects.

The current problem facing doctors was one of deciding whether or not to support very premature babies.

'We should question who should receive care or not.'

He said that very premature babies showed either vitality or viability. Viable babies may take a breath but had a poor chance of survival. Those defined as vital had a good chance of survival and should be helped.

Professor Marlow said that the value of the Epicure study was that parents could make an informed decision.

'We ought to be able to give parents accurate information so they can understand the huge burden they are taking on in looking after a survivor,' he said.