Preterm delivery between 34-36weeks of gestation; Is it danger?

Ahn, Jae Hyung; Choi, Hyung Min; Hwang, Young Soo; Hong, Seong Hoon; Jung, Byeong Jun; Jeon, Myung Kwon; Lee, Eung Soo

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
We performed this study to determine the safety and danger of preterm delivery at gestational age 34-36 weeks through antenatal profiles, neonatal conditions, neonatal morbidities.
METHODS
We reviewed our antenatal and neonatal data between December 1999 and April 2001 to determine the morbidities of infants delivered at gestational age 34-36 weeks using x2test and Fisher's exact test.
RESULTS
1. Mean age was 30.8+/-4.58yrs and mean gravida was 2.68+/-1.56. Preterm premature rupture of membrane was higher in preterm delivery at gestational age 34 and 35weeks(respectively 58.6%, 50%). There was no difference in using tocolytics but, antenatal steroid treatment for prevention of respiratory distress syndrome(RDS) was most frequent in gestational age 34weeks.(20.68%). 2. There was no difference in the risk factor of preterm labor at each group. 3. 1-minute Apgar score<7 was significantly more frequent in neonates at gestational age 34weeks but neonatal weight and meconium staining were not different. 4. The rate of neonatal intensive care unit(NICU) admission was significantly higher in neonates delivered at gestational age 34weeks(93.1%), and RDS occurred in 3 cases delivered at gestational age 34weeks(10.34%). 2 cases delivered at gestational age 34 weeks needed the use of ventilator.
CONCLUSION
Our study shows significant differences in neonatal morbidities between 34weeks and the others. In particular, all cases of Respiratory distress syndrome(n=3) occur in neonates delivered at 34weeks gestation not receiving antenatal steroid treatment and neonatal morbidities at 35 and 36weeks of gestation were not different with full term gestation.