Caracterización del neonato con peso menor de 1 500 g asistido con ventilación mecánica

introduction: one of each three live births admitted in neonatal therapy require mechanical ventilation. the aim of present research was to characterize the factors related to mechanical ventilation in all neonates weighing less than 1500 g. methods: a observational, retrospective and descriptive study was conducted in neonatal intensive care unit from the "abel santamaría" hospital of pinar del río province between 2006 and 2007. forty newborn babies weighing less 1500 g were studied, which required ventilation in such period. variables were analyzed by two comparison tests and k ratio of independent groups with a significance level of p < 0, 05. results: there was a male sex predominance, the birth weight was of 1250-1500 g and gestational age was from 27-29, 6 weeks. the 60% of patients received prenatal steroids. the more frequent mother's background was the early breaking of membranes (37,5%). the more frequent cause for ventilation was the hyaline membrane disease (60%). there was a predominance of acquired bronchopneumonia in ventilated neonates during more than 96 hr (30%). aerial blockade and intraventricular hemorrhage were the complications more related to a lower survival (57,1%). conclusions: it is advisable to continue the overcoming and the training on subjects related to ventilation treatment in neonatal therapy.