Background and Aims Hyalin membrane disease (HMD) is one of the most common causes of death and complications in preterm newborn. The incidence is indirectly related to gestational age and birth weight. The aim of this study was to determine short term outcome of the babies’ whit HMD.

Methods During one year study, all preterm newborn with diagnosis of HMD admitted to NICU of Emamreza hospital, Mashhad, Iran were elected. Diagnosis was based on clinical symptom, chest x ray, blood gas, and duration of disease. The babies with other cause of respiratory failure, congenital anomaly, surgery problem and transient tacypnea of newborn were excluded. In this NICU nursing to patients’ ratio is 1 to 4 and occupied bed ratio is 85%.

The data were recorded by questioner and analysis with spss 11.5. Frequency distribution, mean, standard deviation, T student, Chi square, Mann Whitney and fisher tests were used.

Results During the study, 150 newborn were enrolled. Ninety five of 150 (63.3%) were male and the other were female. The mean gestational age was 30.24±2.76 (minimum 24 maximum 40), the mean birth weight was1423.76±539.25 (minimum 560 maximum 3470). The mortality rate was 42.7% (64 of 150). The most common complications were nosocomial sepsis (36.4%), pulmonary hemorrhage (18.4%), pneumothorax (16.4%), intracranial hemorrhage (10.4%) and pneumonia (8.4%).

Conclusions In this study the mortality rate and complications were high. Therefore pay attention to these patients is essential especially nursing patient ratio, indeed as sepsis is very common usage of disposable equipment is necessary.