The viability of the preterm infant.

Viability is the capability of the liveborn infant to survive without major handicaps. Although opinions differ in the Netherlands as to the justification of starting treatment in infants of less than 26 weeks gestation, our preliminary results indicate that mortality and major-handicap rate do not differ in infants of less than 26 weeks compared to infants of 26 and 27 weeks. However, we should encourage preventive perinatal medicine in order to reduce the alarming high rate of major handicaps in all extremely preterm infants.