Background:

The use of assisted reproductive techniques (ART) has increased recently. Studies look into four principal complications: prematurity, low birth weight, multiple gestations and mortality. However, there is poor evidence of other complications in association with ART.

Objective:

Describe complications associated with ART presented in patients admitted to the NICU in the lapse of one year.

Methods:

Prospective cohort study. Included every newborn of singleton pregnancies that was admitted to the NICU of the Hospital Español of Mexico, during 2016. Patients where followed during the entire hospital stay and information was looked up from the patient’s files. The protocol was approved by the ethics committee of the hospital.

Results:

A total of 139 singleton newborns admitted to the NICU, from which 22.3% used some kind of ART. The complications more commonly presented where respiratory, followed by infectious and neurologic. We found that newborns by ART have a higher probability of being premature and requiring mechanical ventilation compared to newborns conceived spontaneously.

Conclusion:

Products by ART have a higher risk of presenting neonatal complications, not only at birth like prematurity, but during all the hospital stay in the NICU.