Outcomes of laparotomy in preterm infants with extremely low operative weight (< 1000 g)

Study of 79 preterm infants undergoing laparotomy at operative weight <1000g shows 73% survival to discharge, with lower operative weight (not birth weight) significantly associated with mortality. Half of survivors had no long-term morbidity at 2-year follow-up, providing outcome data to guide counseling for this high-risk population.