Major neurological handicapping occurred in only 14.3 percent of these infants. (Slide) The largest number with cerebral palsy was 12.0 percent, blindness was 2.8 percent, hearing loss was 2.2 percent and epilepsy 4.3 percent. Cost and ethical considerations were discussed, and using survival rate and handicapping rate for the 2,500 LBW infants 80 percent survived and only 20 percent had a major handicap. (Slide)
Cost for each was averaged at $50,000 with a handicapped life cost of $2.5 million and lifelong economic value of a minimal sum established at $1.5 million. Providing medical care to these low weight infants resulted in a yearly savings of $1.875 billion.
In many fields, especially, pediatrics and neonatology, the major contribution of surfactant to Neonatal Medicine in the early 1980's by Fujiwara and associates for
