Records of 126 consecutive liveborn infants delivered at 230/7 to 236/7 weeks' gestation from 2001-2010 were examined using the Vermont Oxford Network database. Infants born at 23 0/7 to 23 3/7 weeks were grouped into ¡°early¡± and those at 23 4/7 to 23 6/7 weeks were ¡°late.¡± Clinical characteristics were compared between groups and multivariate analyses were used to predict survival.
Seventy-two infants were early and 54 were late. Survival was 25 % vs 56 % , respectively (P < .001). The early group was less likely to receive steroids (43 % vs 65 % ; P = .016) and had a lower mean birthweight (547 g vs 596 g; P < .001). No difference in other factors was seen between groups. No change in survival was observed during the study period in either group.
Late 23-week infants have improved survival compared with early infants. Delaying delivery as little as 24-96 hours may improve survival for 23-week infants.