Clinical profile of newborns with retinopathy of prematurity in a public hospital of Ceará

Abstract

Objective: To describe the clinical profile of newborns (NB) with Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) at a public hospital at Ceará State. Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional, retrospective and documental study with records of NB interned during the period of July to September, 2006. The data collection instrument was based in the Intervention Protocol for Newborn with risk for ROP. Results: In the studied sample, the gestation age of greater prevalence ranged from 30 weeks and one day to 34 weeks (62.97%). All newborns presented diagnosis for Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS). The most frequently found weight was between 1001g-1300g (51.85%). The registered complications by the admission were: sepsis (n=11; 40.74%); sepsis and anemia (n=5; 18.52%); isolated anemia (n=2; 7.41%) and viral conjunctivitis (n=1; 3.70%). All NB made use of oxygen therapy, being conventional mechanical ventilation the most applied. In relation to the time of oxygen support: < 1 week and >1 week for 8 cases (29.62%) each, 7 stayed for >15 days (25.93%) and 2 (7.14%) for 15 days. Regarding the level of ROP, the greater prevalence occurred at grade I (n=16; 59.16%) and the lowest at grade IV (n=1; 3.70%). Conclusion: The clinical profile of the studied sample showed that all the NB used oxygen therapy and had RDS, with the most prevalent weight between 1001g-1300g and having a greater prevalence of Grade I Retinopathy.