The morbidity and mortality of newborn infants over three year periods (2011-2013) in neonatal intensi̇ve care unit

Objective: It was aimed to assess the morbidity and mortality of newborn infants over a three-year period (2011-31 2013) in the neonatal intensive care unit. Material and method: This study was performed by evaluating files of all infants who were exitus thereafter, admitted to neonatal ıntensive care unit (NICU) between 2011 and 2013. In patients' files, parameters which affect mortality and morbidity were evaluated according to predefined criteria. Results were statistically assessed by using chi square test. Findings: 306 newborns were included to the study. Of these, there were 157 (51.3%) boys and 149 (48.7%) girls. 372 (20.9%) infants died due to miscellaneous reasons. The median gestational age of the patients was 29 weeks (min: 22 max: 41), the median birth weight was 1300 g (min: 375 g, max: 5000 g) were determined. More than half of patients who died while in NICU follow-up (54.9%) were lost within the first 72 hours. 43.3% of the patients were referred from other centers. The most common causes of newborn mortality were determined as respiratory distress syndrome (36.3%) ,congenital heart disaese (12.1%) and congenital anomalies (10,5%). Other causes were found pneumothorax (10,1%), necrotizing enterocolitis (9,8%), sepsis (5,6%), asphyxia (4,6%), metabolic diseases (3,3%) and pneumonia (2,3%). Conclusion: In the present study, it was seen that majority of neonatal deaths are related to complications of preterm birth and congenital diseases (congenital heart disease +congenital anomalies). Known causes of neonatal death can be helpful to reduce the neonatal mortality rates.