ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION Newborns in need of surgery are a challenge to manage and require highly specialized centers with multidisciplinary surgical teams. Since the 1980s, neonatal surgical survival has increased by up to 70% in some countries, mainly due to advances in neonatal intensive care, anesthesia and surgical technique. OBJECTIVE Describe surgical case fatality and survival in a neonatal reference hospital in Cuba, estimate risk of death, and identify potential risk predictors among neonatal characteristics. METHODS A retrospective cohort study was conducted based on hospital administrative data and clinical records for a series of surgical cases in the neonatal intensive care unit of Havana’s William Soler University Children’s Hospital from January 2005 to December 2015. All neonates who underwent surgery during the study period were included. The dependent variable was discharge status (alive, deceased); independent variables were: sex, age (in days) at time of surgery, gestational age, birth weight, indication for surgery, surgical order (first, repeat), and presence of sepsis or other postoperative complications. The study used contingency tables to analyze associations between neonatal characteristics and discharge status. A classifi cation tree was used to obtain simple estimates of surgical risk. RESULTS Survival was 91.3% (675/739) among 739 neonates who underwent surgery. The majority were male (58.7%, 434/739), full term (84.2%, 622/739), and of normal birth weight (80.6%, 596/739). Most surgeries were performed in the first 10 days of life. Digestive system anomalies constituted the most common surgical indication (57.6%, 426/739); among these anorectal malformations (26.8%, 114/426) and esophageal atresia (17.4%, 74/426) predominated. Survival rates were lower for digestive perforation (57.7%, 15/26), gastroschisis (57.1%, 4/7) and intestinal atresia (73%, 27/37). Neonates in the youngest and oldest age groups at time of surgery faced highest risk of death, especially those in the older group. Term infants with normal birth weight operated on for the first time had survival rates >95%. CONCLUSIONS Survival was high and low birth weight conferred the worst prognosis. Infants with normal birth weight operated on for the first time had the greatest probability of survival.

A retrospective and longitudinal study of cervicomaxillofacial sepsis in the neonates admitted in our intensive care unit in a period of 10 years was conducted. An average incidence of 1.20 per 100 admissions, as well as the predominance of white female infants aged 7-27 days old (late sepsis) were observed. Facial cellulitis was caused by obstetric trauma and it was the most frequent diagnosis. No relation between the presence of sepsis and gestational age, Apgar score, or birth weight, was found, since in most of the children these results were within the normal limits. The most used treatment was the antibiotic therapy with the association of 2 or more antibiotics. The combination of penicillin and gentamicin was the most common treatment. In those cases, among whom the sepsis had a very severe systemic repercussion, immunoglobulin therapy was also applied. The evolution was satisfactory in 100 % of the cases, most of whom had to be admitted for 7 days. No deaths were reported.

Se realiza un estudio retrospectivo y longitudinal de la sepsis cervicomaxilofacial en los neonatos ingresados en nuestra unidad de cuidados intensivos en un período de 10 años. Encontramos una incidencia promedio de 1,20 por cada 100 ingresos, y el predominio del grupo de edades entre 7 y 27 días de vida (sepsis tardía), del sexo femenino y del color blanco de la piel. La celulitis facial fue ocasionada por trauma obstétrico y fue el diagnóstico más frecuente. No encontramos relación entre la presencia de sepsis y la edad gestacional, el conteo de Apgar o el peso al nacer, pues en el mayor número de niños estos resultados estuvieron dentro de límites normales. El tratamiento más utilizado fue la antibioticoterapia con asociación de 2 o más antibióticos, y entre estas la más socorrida fue la asociación de penicilina y gentamicina. Cuando la sepsis tuvo una repercusión sistémica muy grave, se utilizó además inmunoglobulinoterapia. La evolución fue satisfactoria en el 100 % de los casos, la mayoría de los cuales necesitó internación hospitalaria hasta los 7 días. No hubo fallecidos.

A retrospective longitudinal study of all neonates admitted to our Intensive Care Unit because they suffered from acute dacryocystitis was performed for 10 years (1996-2005). The results were as follows: incidence rate of 0,04 per 100 admissions; prevalence: 7-27d age groups (late sepsis), females with 66,6%; neonates born to term pregnancies and with good birthweight in 100%. Inaccurate etiology in 83,3 %. Treatment: antibiotic therapy (penicilline + gentamycin in 4 paients, 66,6%), (unasyn, one patient, 16,6 %), (amoxycillin + unasyn +gentamycin, 1 patient, 16.6 %). Use of human immunoglobulin in 2 patients. Complications: facial and periorbital cellulitis, 66,6%; periorbital abscess 33,3 %; fever (33,3 %) and nasal obstruction (16,6 %). Satisfactory recovery with ophtalmological follow-up after discharge from hospital in 100 % of cases

Se realizó un estudio longitudinal y retrospectivo en diez años (1996-2005), de todos los neonatos cuyo motivo de ingreso en nuestra Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Neonatales fue ser portadores de dacriocistitis aguda. Se obtuvo los siguientes resultados: incidencia 0,04 c/ 100 ingresos. Predominio: edades entre 7-27días (sepsis tardía), sexo femenino 66,6 %, nacidos de embarazos a término y con buen peso al nacer 100 %. Etiología no precisada 83,3 %. Tratamiento utilizado: antibioticoterapia (penicilina + gentacina, 4 pacientes, 66,6 %), (unasyn, 1 paciente, 16,6 %), (amoxicilina + unasyn + gentamicina, 1 paciente, 16,6 %); uso de inmunoglobulina humana en 2 pacientes. Complicaciones: celulitis facial y periorbitaria 66,6 %; absceso periorbitario 33,3 %; fiebre (33,3 %) y obstrucción nasal 16,6 %. Evolución satisfactoria con seguimiento por Oftalmología después del egreso hospitalario, en 100 % de los casos