Background and purpose: Obstetricians and neonatologists have a major challenge in determining the viability of preterm newborns that has an important role in choosing the mode of delivery and evaluation of post-natal care. This study, evaluated the viability of preterm infants born in Ghaem Hospital in Mashhad Materials and methods: This descriptive–analytical study was performed between 2009-2013 in 1471 premature infants in Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad. The study population included all preterm infants born in delivery room and admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Neonatal data were collected for two groups (deceased and discharged alive as case and control group) including age, weight, Apgar scores at first and fifth minutes after birth, gestational age, mode of delivery, final diagnosis, blood cultures and type of congenital anomaly. Results: In our study approximately ten percent of neonates born at less than 25 weeks survived. While this rate was 69% in thirty- two weeks old. A high risk of neonatal death (85%) was observed in infants weighing 400-700 gr while this risk was 12.4% in newborns weighing 1500-1251 gr. The most common risk factors of death in premature infants were respiratory problems (35%), asphyxia (24%), congenital anomalies (16%), and infections (15%). Conclusion: This study showed that neonates with gestational age ≥27.5 weeks weighing ≥920 gr survived in our center. Respiratory problems, asphyxia, congenital anomalies, and infection were amongst the main predisposing causes of death in premature infants.

Keywords: Newborn, premature, viability, death, birth weight, gestational age

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