Limit of viability

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The limit of viability is the gestational age at which a prematurely born fetus/infant has a 50% chance of longterm survival outside its mother's womb. With the support of neonatal intensive care units, the limit of viability in the developed world has declined since 50 years ago, but has remained unchanged in the last 12 years.[1][2] Currently the limit of viability is considered to be around 24 weeks although the incidence of major disabilities remains high at this point.[3][4] Neonatologists generally would not provide intensive care at 23 weeks, but would from 26 weeks.[5][6]

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Fergus Walsh. "Prem baby survival rates revealed", BBC News, 11 April 2008. Retrieved on 2008-05-11. 
  2. ^ "Early baby survival 'unchanged'", BBC News, 9 May 2008. Retrieved on 2008-05-11. 
  3. ^ Kaempf JW, Tomlinson M, Arduza C, et al (2006). "Medical staff guidelines for periviability pregnancy counseling and medical treatment of extremely premature infants". Pediatrics 117 (1): 22-9. doi:10.1542/peds.2004-2547. PMID 16396856.  - in particular see TABLE 1 Survival and Neurologic Disability Rates Among Extremely Premature Infants
  4. ^ Morgan MA, Goldenberg RL, Schulkin J (2008). "Obstetrician-gynecologists' practices regarding preterm birth at the limit of viability". J. Matern. Fetal. Neonatal. Med. 21 (2): 115-21. doi:10.1080/14767050701866971. PMID 18240080. 
  5. ^ Vavasseur C, Foran A, Murphy JF (2007). "Consensus statements on the borderlands of neonatal viability: from uncertainty to grey areas". Ir Med J 100 (8): 561-4. PMID 17955714. “All would provide intensive care at 26 weeks and most would not at 23 weeks. The grey area is 24 and 25 weeks gestation. This group of infants constitute 2 per 1000 births.” 
  6. ^ Kaempf et al (2006) Table of neonatologists rescussitation advice showing gestation ages at which they have neutral poistions whether they would or would not recommend rescussitation.
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