Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To review the results of ROP screening at a busy neonatal intensive care unit over a 13 month period. Methods: Retrospective review of all patients screened and treated for ROP at the Jackson Memorial Hospital/Bascom Palmer Eye Institute between July 1, 2002 and August 1, 2003. Results: We screened 224 premature infants over a 13 month period. Eighty–five (38%) of these infants developed some form of ROP. Threshold ROP requiring laser therapy occurred in 25 (29% of infants with ROP). Of the infants 25 weeks or less, 41/42 (98%) developed ROP and 20/42 (48%) reached threshold ROP requiring treatment. Infants 26–28 weeks, 36/86 (41%) developed ROP and 3/86 (3.5%) reached threshold ROP. Infants 29 weeks or more, 8/96 (8.3%) developed ROP and 2/96 (2.1%) reached threshold. All infants undergoing laser therapy for threshold disease were less than 850 grams at birth. Infants 750 grams or less had a 42% (22/53) chance of require laser therapy. Of the infants undergoing laser therapy, 4/25 (16%) required more than one session. Two of 25 (8%) of the treated infants progressed and required surgical intervention. In both cases, laser treatment was delayed because of medical instability. Conclusions: Advances in neonatal care have increased the survival of very low birth weight infants. These infants show high risk for the development of ROP and progression to threshold disease. Good outcomes can be achieved with aggressive screening and treatment.
Keywords: retinopathy of prematurity • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: outcomes/complications • laser