Major anomalies and birth-weight influence NICU interventions and mortality in infants with trisomy 13 or 18

Objective:to describe neonatal intensive care unit (nicu) medical interventions and nicu mortality by birth weight and major anomaly types for infants with trisomy 13 (t13) or 18 (t18).study design:retrospective cohort analysis of infants with t13 or t18 from 2005 to 2012 in the pediatrix medical group. we classified infants into three groups by associated anomaly type: neonatal surgical, non-neonatal surgical and minor. outcomes were nicu medical interventions and mortality.results:841 infants were included from 186 nicus. nicu mortality varied widely by anomaly type and birth weight, from 70% of infants <1500 g with neonatal surgical anomalies to 31% of infants ⩾2500 g with minor anomalies. infants ⩾1500 g without a neonatal surgical anomaly comprised 66% of infants admitted to the nicu; they had the lowest rates of nicu medical interventions and nicu mortality.conclusions:risk stratification by anomaly type and birth weight may help provide more accurate family counseling for infants with t13 and t18.