Abstract
Purpose::
The aim of this study was to find out the incidence of ROP and frequency of ROP treatment with regard to gestational age and birth weight between 2000 and 2006 in a tertiary care center.
Methods::
We carried out funduscopy with dilated pupil in every infant with a gestational age less than 38 weeks which was in attendance in the department of neonatology in the University hospital of Dresden. Patients were followed-up until retinal findings were stable. Treatment was indicated in accordance with the Cryo-ROP study.
Results::
845 infants were included in this study. 33 (65 eyes) were treated with Laser- and/or Cryocoagulation [3.9%]. 3 patients (5 eyes) required a cerclage [0.35%]. One patient (one eye) of those additionally needed an endotamponade. The average gestational age of the treated infants was 25.38 weeks (SD 1.71). The average birth weight was 723.6 grams (SD 187.9). Patients were treated at 87.6 days (SD 16.0) of postnatal age. All infants treated for ROP had artificial oxygen respiration, 30 of those for more than 10 days.
Conclusions::
Our data verify the correlation of ROP, immaturity and artificial respiration in premature infants. In spite of the survival of infants with lower birth weight and gestational age the incidence of treated ROP imperceptibly differs in studies over the last decade.
Keywords: retinopathy of prematurity