Valoración del riesgo de morbi-mortalidad en recién nacidos con peso < de 1,500 g, en una unidad hospitalaria de tercer nivel

background: the perinatal mortality particularly among very low birth weight infants is a health issue in developing countries. objective: to determine the impact that mortality and morbidity may have on the very low birth weight infants in an intensive care unit. material and methods: one hundred and fifty five files met the inclusion criteria. the patients were divided into two groups according to the birth weight, less than 1,000 g and over a 1,000 g. the variables included were: birth weight, delivery mode, diagnoses and neonatal death. odd ratios were calculated. results: birth weight less than 1,000 g, delivery mode, labor and hyperbilirrubinemia were more death related. morbidity was more related with small for gestational age in first place, follow by hyperbilirrubinemia and membrane hyaline disease, 60% each. suspected sepsis was found in 47.7 % of the patients while confirmed sepsis was found in 32 patients (20.6%) conclusions: very low birth weight infants are at the highest mortality and morbidity risk no matter the delivery mode. more studies are need in order to rule out the impact of labor and the interruption of it has any impact over mortality and morbidity.