INTRODUCTION Preterm birth is the most important univariant risk factor of neonatal mortality. Assessment of risk factors affecting mortality in preterm infants with very low birth weight is important for the treatment of this highly vulnerable population. OBJECTIVE Detection of risk factors for neonatal mortality in very low birth weight premature infants. METHODS The current study was conducted in a tertiary research and educational hospital, NICU, Pediatric Clinic KCU Sarajevo, from January 2010 to December 2010. After admission CRIB score was determined to every hospitalized infant with birth weight < 1500 g, born before the full 31 weeks of gestation (30 weeks + 6 days). We also gathered information about the Apgar score in 5th minute, gender, presence of respiratory distress syndrome and hemodynamic stability. 67 infants fulfilled inclusion criteria. RESULTS Mean birth weight was 1136.4 g +/- 250.9, range 550-1500 g. Mean gestational age was 27.29 weeks +/-1.97, range 22-30 weeks. Mean CRIB score was 3.22, range 0-18. Twenty VLBW infants out of 67 died (29.85%). There was significant difference between groups of survived and dead infants regarding gestational age, birth weight, Apgar score, Crib score, base excess, presence of respiratory distress syndrome and hemodynamic stability at the birth. CONCLUSION CRIB score, birth weight, gestational age, base excess, Apgar score, respiratory distress syndrome and hemodynamic instability are valuable predictors for a neonatal mortality in population of preterm infants with very low birth weight.

Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome: Report of two Cases in Bosnia and Herzegovina Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome (WHS) is a rare developmental disorder caused by a partial deletion of the short arm of chromosome 4 (4p-). The main phenotypic characteristics of WHS are: intrauterine growth retardation, mental retardation, typical facial dysmorphism, microcephaly and midline fusion defects (cleft lip or palate, cardiac septal defects). Other abnormalities, such as agenesis of the corpus callosum, dysplastic kidneys, iris coloboma and skeletal abnormalities have occasionally been described. We describe two female newborn babies with a 4p deletion, who have a majority of the main phenotypic features of WHS. Prenatal diagnosis of the syndrome is very important, because dysmorphologic features are associated with profound mental retardation. Postnatal recognition of the syndrome requires genetic counseling of the parents and supportive multidisciplinary treatment.

Pulsoxymetry is noninvasive technique which is in use for percentage estimation of hemoglobin saturation of oxygen in arterial blood. It represents a therapeutical screening of treatment in paediatric population. The aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate the validity of noninvasive technique for determination of oxygen concentration in cardiac and pulomological patients. The study included 221 patients, with a mean age of 39 months (1.5-192) who were hospitalised during the period of 1.6.2000. till 31.12.2002. at Pulmoalergology and Cardiorheumatology department of Paediatric clinic CCU Sarajevo. Three groups of patients were evaluated: first one, which included 194/221 patients with obstructive and inflammatory lung diseases, 17/221 patients formed II group of pts with congenital heart anomalies (CHA) and the third one which had 10/221 patients with CHA associated with lung diseases. In all patients the diagnostic-laboratory investigations were done including transcutaneous determination of oxygen saturation by pulsoxyimetry (PO) Nellcor and Johnson-Johnson, as well as capillary, with adequate treatment. The mean oxygen saturation (OS) in the first group of patients at admission by PO was 86%, capillary 73.6%, and after treatment OS PO was 91.6%. In the II group the mean OS at admission was 88.5% PO, capillary 83%, after treatment 94.9%. The mean OS at admission in third patient's group was 76%, and after treatment 91.2% which is statistically significant (F = 0.03) and is in concordance with modern therapeutical approach. Pulseoxymetry is noninvasive, painless, simple method which offers a valid continuous data needed for the adequate choice of treatment in paediatric patients.