RESUMO
One hundred and five very low birth weight neonates, selected through convenience sampling during 1989, were subdivided into those who received mechanical ventilation (MCV) and those who did not receive mechanical ventilation (W/O MCV) and later analyzed. The maternal morbidity in both groups were very similar; 66 of the cases were placed in group MCV and 39 in the W/O MCV. There were differences in birth weight, gestational age, severe asphyxia and hospital stay in the patients with MCV. The neonatal morbidity (SDR, intraventricular hemorrhaging, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, etc.) was more frequently seen in this group. The global mortality was 47%, all of the cases were from the ventilated group. The ventilated patients who died were in the hospital a lesser number of days and had a lesser frequency of prenatal control. We conclude that low weight neonates who require mechanical respiratory assistance have a greater risk of morbidity and mortality. The lesser weight and gestational age, the greater the risk. A group of neonates will have a lesser capacity to synthesize phospholipids and therefore a greater risk of dying. Physicians should be more attentive to the complications related to ventilated low-weight premature neonates.