Survival Rate for Extremely Premature Infants in the 300-Gram Range Less Than 1%
Local Medical Achievement at Daegu University Hospital
An extremely premature infant who weighed only 328 grams at birth has been discharged in good health from a university hospital in Daegu after about six months of intensive neonatal care. The survival of a premature baby weighing in the 300-gram range is extremely rare, and the dedication of the medical staff and family has created what many are calling a miracle, moving many people.
Appearance of Lee Ju, who was born weighing 328g, at 100 days after birth. Daegu Catholic University Hospital
Daegu Catholic University Hospital announced on the 22nd that Yujoo Lee, who was born with a birth weight of 328 grams, was discharged on the 19th after completing 191 days of intensive neonatal care, having reached a weight of about 4 kilograms.
Yujoo was born via emergency cesarean section at 26 weeks of pregnancy on June 12, after suffering from fetal growth restriction that put her at extremely high risk of stillbirth. From the moment of birth, her extremely low weight and organ immaturity made highly complex treatment unavoidable.
Generally, premature infants weighing less than 1 kilogram at birth face a high risk of various complications, and the lower the birth weight, the higher the incidence and severity of diseases. In particular, extremely premature infants in the 300-gram range are classified as the most challenging patient group, as even securing blood vessels or drawing blood for tests is difficult, and the risks of anemia, respiratory failure, and infection are extremely high.
The hospital explained that despite these circumstances, Yujoo gradually recovered thanks to the intensive care provided by the medical staff and the devoted care of her parents. Yujoo recovered to the point where she was able to celebrate her 100th day in the neonatal intensive care unit last September, and her condition stabilized as she overcame several critical moments afterward.
With her weight increasing to about 4 kilograms, Yujoo became able to breathe on her own and feed herself, and was finally discharged with the congratulations of the medical team.
Yujoo's parents said, "At the time of her birth, her condition was so critical that our sadness outweighed our joy. We are deeply grateful to the medical staff for their dedicated care, and to Yujoo for her will to live. Our greatest hope now is for her to grow up healthy without illness."
According to the results of the third evaluation of neonatal intensive care units released last year, the survival rate for newborns weighing less than 500 grams at birth is only 26.1%. The survival rate for extremely premature infants in the 300-gram range is known to be less than 1%.
Jung Jieun, Director of the Maternal and Child Center at Daegu Catholic University Hospital, said, "When we see an extremely premature infant in the 300-gram range breathe and grow on their own, every member of the medical staff naturally does their utmost. It is even more meaningful that we were able to achieve the survival of such an extremely premature infant at a local medical facility."
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