Abstract

FERNANDEZ LOPEZ, T.; ARES MATEOS, G.; CARABANO AGUADO, I.  and  SOPENA CORVINOS, J.. Late preterm infant: the forgotten patient. Rev Pediatr Aten Primaria [online]. 2012, vol.14, n.55, pp.e23-e29. ISSN 1139-7632.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S1139-76322012000400013.

Late preterm infants are born at a gestational age between 34 and 36 weeks and 6 days. These children have higher morbidity than term infants due to their relative physiologic and metabolic immaturity, leading to a longer average birth hospital stay with a higher cost of care. Moreover, the rate of readmission and mortality are also higher than in term infants. The purpose of this review is to define "late-preterm", describe medical complications and risks that are commonly found in this group of children, present the characteristics of late-preterm infants that predispose them to higher morbidity and mortality and suggest guidelines for assessment and management of these patients after birth.

Keywords : Late preterm; Near term; Morbidity; Mortality.

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