The etiopathogenesis of the Intra-Uterine Growth Restriction process: a bibliographical study

Abstract

Bibliographical review, carried through MEDLINE, SciELO,  ScienceDirect and LILACS databases, with the objective of identify the scientific production in the health area about the involved factors in the etiopathogenesis of the Intra-Uterine Growth Restriction (IUGR), between 1990 and 2008. IUGR constitutes the second cause of perinatal mortality. The newborn with IUGR possess an increase of two to ten times more than the habitual percentages of perinatal mortality and presents complications associated to prematurity. The morbidity is directly related to metabolic and immunological alterations, cardiac decelerations, fetal acidosis, low Index of Apgar, hypoxia, hypoglycemia, hypothermia, asphyxia, disseminated intravascular coagulation, intracranial hemorrhage and meconial aspiration. The identification of the main maternal, fetal and neonatal alterations, involved in the RCIU process is of critical importance for the development of actions for prevent and improve the quality of the nursery assistance given to the pregnant women in prenatal, pre partum, birth and post partum periods, as well as for the newborn with RCIU during the neonatal period.

Key words: Pediatric nursing; Gestation; Prematurity; Fetal growth retardation.