| Normotensive(n = 52) | Permissive hypotension(n = 34) | Treated hypotension(n = 18) | Hypotension,transfusion only(n = 4) | |
| Birth weight (g), mean (SD) | 828 (144)† | 742 (131) | 728 (149) | 701 (44) |
| Gestation (weeks), mean (SD) | 26.6 (1.6) | 26.1 (1.6) | 25.2 (1.62)* | 24.0 (0.5) |
| CRIB II score, mean (range) | 11 (7–18) | 11 (8–16) | 15 (9–16)* | 15 (10–20) |
| BP at 6 h (mm Hg), mean (range) | 32 (25–49)† | 26 (16–42) | 22 (14–34)* | 19 (17–23) |
| BP at 12 h (mm Hg), mean (range) | 34 (27–72)† | 27 (17–35) | 22 (12–32)* | 21 (12–25) |
| BP at 18 h (mm Hg), mean (range) | 33 (26–65)† | 30 (20–37) | 24 (13–33)* | 23 (13–29) |
| BP at 24 h (mm Hg), mean (range) | 35 (25–54)† | 31 (22–41) | 28 (16–36)* | 25 (16–31) |
| Antenatal steroid | 71% | 82% | 65% | 50% |
| Vaginal delivery | 35% | 31% | 32% | 50% |
| RDS | 76%† | 91% | 100% | 100% |
| PDA | 58%† | 83% | 37% | 67% |
| NEC | 4 (8%) | 3 (9%) | 2 (11%) | 2 (50%) |
| Surgical NEC | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Isolated GI perforation | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Cystic PVL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| IVH 3–4 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 2 |
| Mortality | 10 | 4 | 13* | 2 |
| Survival without severe IVH, cystic PVL, | 40 (77%) | 26 (76%) | 4 (22%)* | 1 (25%) |
| surgical NEC or GI perforation, n (%) |
BP, blood pressure; CRIB II, clinical risk index for babies; GI, gastrointestinal; IVH, intraventricular haemorrhage; NEC, necrotising enterocolitis; PDA, patent ductus arteriosus; PVL, periventricular leukomalacia; RDS, respiratory distress syndrome.
*Significantly different to the permissive hypotension and normotensive groups; †Significantly different to the permissive hypotension and treated hypotension groups.