Avaliação comportamental de recém-nascidos prematuros com displasia broncopulmonar

Abstract

Scientific and technological advances as well as improvement in neonatal intensive care have been related to a significant increase in survival of preterm infants with very low weight. However, this counteracts the benefit concomitant increased risk for the development of lesions in the central nervous system and pulmonary lesions, as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).Objective:Describe the behavioral assessment of preterm infants with BPD. Methods:This cross-sectional study enrolled preterm infants with birth weight less than 1500g and gestational age less than 32 weeks assisted ofpublic maternity in Fortaleza. The Dubowitz method was applied to assess behavior. We used analysis of seven items. Newborn behavioral state was graded in six degrees according to Brazelton (1973). All newborns were evaluated by the same examiner in a suitable environment. For statistical analysis, we used SPSS version 17.0 and chi-square test for qualitative variables crossing. Results:Studied 10 preterm infants with BPD with mean gestational age and birth weight of 29,2±1,87 weeks and 1000±231g. Out of 7 items evaluated there was a trend towards the presence of more abnormalities in three. The visual and auditory orientation of preterm evaluates was below the expected results at 40 weeks of corrected gestational age. The findings of the variables; irritability and consolability had higher incidence of abnormalities in infants with BPD, the observed persistent crying and difficult to regulate. Conclusion: The behavioral assessment of newborns with BPD showed a trend towards abnormality. These results reinforce the importation of entering neurobehavioral assessment, as inseparable component of the health care team as this illness interferes of development and quality of life in this group of children