Assessment of cardiorespiratory stability using the infant car seat challenge before discharge in preterm infants (<37 weeks’ gestational age)

Preterm infants younger than 37 weeks corrected gestational age are at increased risk for abnormal control of respiration. The infant car seat challenge has been used as a screening tool to ensure cardiorespiratory stability before discharging preterm infants from many hospitals in Canada. While it is clear that infants placed in a car seat are more likely to experience oxygen desaturation and/or bradycardia than when they are supine, neither positioning predicts an adverse neurodevelopmental outcome or mortality post-discharge. A review of the literature yielded insufficient evidence to recommend routine use of the infant car seat challenge as part of discharge planning for preterm infants. This finding has prompted a change in recommendation from a previous Canadian Paediatric Society position statement published in 2000.     

Acute cardiovascular responses in preterm infants at 34–39 weeks of gestational age

Background

Premature infants demonstrate immature physiological control mechanisms; however their acute cardiovascular control has not yet been widely studied.

Aim

The aim of this study was to analyze heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) control in preterm infants.

Subjects

Twenty preterm infants with a mean gestational age of 31 ± 2.4 (26–34) weeks at birth were evaluated at a gestational age of 36 ± 1.5 (34–39) weeks. Results were compared to twenty, healthy, full-term, control infants studied at the age of 12 ± 3 weeks.

Outcome measures

HR and BP responses to 45° head-up tilt and side motion tests during non-rapid eye movement sleep were analyzed. In addition, HR responses to spontaneous arousals from non-rapid eye movement sleep were evaluated.

Results

Preterm infants showed significantly smaller initial HR and BP responses compared with controls in head-up tilt (HR p = 0.0005, systolic BP p = 0.02, diastolic BP p = 0.01) and side motion tests (HR p = 0.002, systolic BP p < 0.0001, diastolic BP p < 0.0001). Furthermore, in tilt tests, preterm infants presented with greater intersubject variability in BP responses than controls (systolic BP p = 0.009, diastolic BP p = 0005). Preterm HR responses to spontaneous arousals were similar to controls.

Conclusions

This study indicates immature vestibulo-mediated cardiovascular control in preterm infants compared with term infants. This is seen as attenuated BP responses to side motion test and more labile acute BP control to postural challenge.     

Recent research on inhaled nitric oxide in preterm infants with a gestational age of <34 weeks北大核心CSCD

一氧化氮作为血管平滑肌细胞舒张的信使分子,吸入一氧化氮（inhaled nitric oxide, iNO）能够扩张肺部血管,降低肺血管阻力,从而降低肺动脉压力,而对体循环压力没有影响。国内外指南均推荐iNO用于足月儿和晚期早产儿,已证实对足月儿和晚期早产儿持续肺动脉高压和低氧性呼吸衰竭具有明显效果。但是近年来的研究显示,iNO用于胎龄<34周早产儿的超适应证治疗越来越多。该文就iNO治疗胎龄<34周早产儿的有效性、安全性、应用时机、剂量、撤离方式和与血管活性药物联合使用的国内外研究进展作一综述,以期为临床应用提供参考。     

Influencing factors for the development and severity of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants with a gestational age of <32 weeks and a birth weight of <1 500 g北大核心CSCD

Objective To study the influencing factors for the development and severity of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants with a gestational age of <32 weeks and a birth weight of <1 500 g. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical data of preterm infants with a gestational age of <32 weeks and a birth weight of <1 500 g who were admitted to Women and Children's Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2021. According to oxygen dependence on day 28 after birth, they were divided into two groups: BPD (n=218) and non-BPD (n=142). According to disease severity based on oxygen concentration required at the corrected age of 36 weeks or at discharge, the infants with BPD were divided into two groups: mild BPD (n=154) and moderate/severe BPD (n=64). Indices such as perinatal data and nutritional status were compared between groups. The multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the influencing factors for BPD and its severity. Results The incidence rate and severity of BPD increased with the reduction in gestational age and birth weight (P<0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that a long duration of invasive mechanical ventilation (OR=1.320, P <0.05), hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (OR=2.032, P<0.05), and a prolonged time to reach oral calorie goal of 110 kcal/(kg·d) (OR=1.041, P<0.05) were risk factors for BPD, while an older gestational age was a protective factor against BPD (OR=0.535, P<0.05). Early-onset sepsis (OR=2.524, P<0.05) and a prolonged time to reach oral calorie goal of 110 kcal/(kg·d) (OR=1.029, P<0.05) were risk factors for moderate/severe BPD, while a high mean weight growth velocity was a protective factor against moderate/severe BPD (OR=0.906, P<0.05). Conclusions The incidence rate and severity of BPD in preterm infants with a gestational age of <32 weeks and a birth weight of <1 500 g can be reduced by shortening the duration of invasive mechanical ventilation, giving early treatment of early-onset sepsis and hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus, adopting active enteral nutritional strategies, and increasing mean weight growth velocity. © 2022 Xiangya Hospital of CSU. All rights reserved.     

Perinatal network consensus guidelines on the resuscitation of extremely preterm infants born at <27?weeks’ gestation

In spite of recent advances in perinatal care and an increase in survival of extremely preterm infants over the last few years, there remains a lack of consensus about practical aspects of resuscitation of extremely preterm infants born before 27?weeks' gestation. With this in the background, the working group of one of the Perinatal Networks in London, UK, set out to conduct a survey to explore the opinions of the doctors and nurses on resuscitation practices of infants born before 27?weeks' gestation, with the aim of developing consensus guidelines. The working group emailed a questionnaire to all neonatal units within the Perinatal Network to seek the views of paediatric medical and nursing staff on resuscitation of infants born at <27?weeks' gestation. The questionnaire was returned anonymously by post. The responses highlighted the difference of opinion that currently exists amongst the clinicians and nurses across the world around the resuscitation practices of extremely preterm infants; yet at the same time, there seemed to be some consensus on certain issues. Based on the survey (questionnaire) results and already existing literature, the working group of the North West London Perinatal Network (NWLPN) produced and implemented specific consensus guidelines on practical aspects of resuscitation for infants born before 27?weeks' gestation for the network. The network plans to audit these guidelines in future and also produce a parent information leaflet explaining the relevance of these guidelines.     

Incidence of brain injuries in premature infants with gestational age ≤34 weeks in ten urban hospitals in China

Background

There is a large number (1.5 million per year) of premature births in China. It is necessary to obtain the authentic incidences of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), the common brain injuries, in Chinese premature infants. The present multicenter study aimed to investigate the incidence of brain injuries in premature infants in ten urban hospitals in China.

Methods

The research proposal was designed by the Subspecialty Group of Neonatology of Pediatric Society of the Chinese Medical Association. Ten large-scale urban hospitals voluntarily joined the multicenter investigation. All premature infants with a gestational age ≤34 weeks in the ten hospitals were subjected to routine cranial ultrasound within three days after birth, and then to repeated ultrasound every 3–7 days till their discharge from the hospital from January 2005 to August 2006. A uniform data collection sheet was designed to record cases of brain injuries.

Results

The incidences of overall IVH and severe IVH were 19.7% (305/1551) and 4.6% (72/1551), respectively with 18.4% (56/305) for grade 1, 58.0% (177/305) for grade 2, 17.7% (54/305) for grade 3 and 5.9% (18/305) for grade 4 in nine hospitals. The incidences of overall PVL and cystic PVL were 5.0% (89/1792) and 0.8% (14/1792) respectively, with 84.3% (75/89) for grade 1, 13.5% (12/89) for grade 2, and 2.2% (2/89) for grade 3 in the ten hospitals. The statistically significant risk factors that might aggravate the severity of IVH were vaginal delivery (OR=1.883, 95% CI: 1.099–3.228, P=0.020) and mechanical ventilation (OR=4.150, 95% CI: 2.384–7.223, P=0.000). The risk factors that might result in the development of cystic PVL was vaginal delivery (OR=21.094, 95% CI: 2.650–167.895, P=0.000).

Conclusions

The investigative report can basically reflect the incidence of brain injuries in premature infants in major big cities of China. Since more than 60% of the Chinese population live in the rural areas of China, it is expected to undertake a further multicenter investigation covering the rural areas in the future.     

Investigation on epidemiology of nosocomial sepsis of premature infants with gestational age less than 34 weeks in Shaanxi province北大核心CSCD

Objective To investigate the epidemiological data of nosocomial sepsis of premature infants with gestational age less than 34 weeks and the distribution characteristics of pathogenic bacteria in Shaanxi province. Methods A retrospective analysis of clinical data of premature infants born with gestational age < 34 weeks born between January 1 and December 30,2018 in Neonatal Intensive Care Units(NICU) in 4 Grade A Class Three hospitals in Shaanxi province was performed. The high risk factors and pathogenic bacteria were analyzed by using chi - square test and t test for statistical analysis. Results Totally 823 infants were included in this study,among whom,73 patients developed nosocomial sepsis,and the incidence was 8. 9%. The mean gestational age of the 73 patients with nosocomial sepsis was (30. 6 ±2.2) weeks and mean birth weight was (1 320. 3 ± 450. 5) g. The rate of invasive ventilator was 23.4% (52/222 cases).The rate of peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) was 20. 1% (61/303 cases). The rate of early antibiotic use was 8. 1 % (39/481 cases) and breast feeding rate was 9. 3% (63/675 cases). The rate of PICC and ventilator use were statistically different between the non-infection group and the infection group (all P < 0.05). There were 31 strains of pathogenic bacteria, among which gram-negative bacilli was the most common (22 strains,70. 9%), which mainly were klebsiella pneumoniae strains (15 strains,48. 4%), and 6 strains(19. 4%) of Fungus was detected. Conclusions The incidence of nosocomial sepsis in NICU in Shaanxi province is higher,gram -negative bacilli was the most common pathogenic bacteria, among which, klebsiella pneumoniae was main, it is necessary to strengthen the regular monitoring and analysis of nosocomial infection in NICU in order to reduce the incidence of nosocomial infection and sepsis. © 2019 Authors. All rights reserved.     

Establishment of a nomogram model for predicting the risk of early-onset sepsis in very preterm infants北大核心CSCD

目的 探讨极早产儿早发型败血症（early-onset sepsis, EOS）发生的危险因素,并构建预测EOS发生风险的列线图模型。方法 回顾性选取2020年1月—2022年12月在郑州大学第一附属医院出生并入住新生儿科的344例极早产儿,按7∶3的比率随机分为训练集（241例）和验证集（103例）。训练集根据是否发生EOS分为EOS组（n=64）和非EOS组（n=177）。采用多因素logistic回归分析筛选极早产儿EOS发生的危险因素,利用R语言构建列线图,并由验证集进行验证。分别采用受试者操作特征曲线（receiver operating characteristic curve, ROC曲线）、校准曲线和决策曲线分析评价模型的区分度、校准度和临床净收益。结果 多因素logistic回归分析显示,胎龄、产房气管插管、羊水粪染、生后首日血清白蛋白水平和绒毛膜羊膜炎是极早产儿EOS发生的独立危险因素（P<0.05）。训练集ROC曲线的曲线下面积为0.925（95%CI：0.888~0.963）,验证集ROC曲线的曲线下面积为0.796（95%CI：0.694~0.898）,表明模型的区分度良好。Hosmer-Lemeshow拟合优度检验表明模型拟合度良好（P=0.621）。校准曲线分析和决策曲线分析提示模型的预测效能和临床应用价值较高。结论 胎龄、产房气管插管、羊水粪染、生后首日血清白蛋白水平和绒毛膜羊膜炎与极早产儿EOS的发生独立相关;根据这些因素构建的极早产儿EOS发生风险的列线图模型有较高的预测效能和临床应用价值。     

Does primary surgical closure of the patent ductus arteriosus in infants <1500 g or ≤32 weeks’ gestation reduce the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis?

BACKGROUND:

The hemodynamic perturbation related to patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is associated with a higher risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).

OBJECTIVE:

To determine whether primary surgical closure, as compared with treatment with indomethacin or exposure to prophylactic indomethacin, reduces the incidence of NEC in preterm infants <1500 g and/or ≤32 weeks’ gestation with clinically and echocardiogram-identified PDA.

METHODS:

The literature was reviewed using the methodology for systematic reviews for the Consensus of Science adapted from the American Heart Association’s International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation.

RESULTS:

Ten studies were reviewed. The incidence of NEC was not lower in infants who underwent primary surgery for closure of the PDA compared with infants treated with indomethacin or infants exposed to prophylactic indomethacin (level of evidence 2).

CONCLUSION:

Primary surgical closure of the PDA cannot be recommended as an intervention to decrease the incidence of NEC in infants <1500 g and/or ≤32 weeks’ gestation.     

CRIB,CRIB‐II,birth weight or gestational age to assess mortality risk in very low birth weight infants?

AIM: The mortality risk of very low birth weight (VLBW) (<1500 g) infants has been estimated by the Clinical Risk Index for Babies (CRIB). Superior discriminatory power has been claimed for the revised CRIB-II score based on birth weight, gestational age, sex, temperature and base excess (BE) at admission. This analysis compared the power of CRIB, CRIB-II, birth weight and gestational age to predict death prior to discharge. METHODS: Of 1485 consecutive VLBW infants admitted between January 1, 1991 and December 31, 2006, who survived for >or=12 h, CRIB and CRIB-II calculations were possible in 1358 infants (92%). Predictive power of variables was assessed by comparing areas under receiver operator characteristics curves (AUC). RESULTS: CRIB (AUC [95% confidence intervals] 0.82 [0.78-0.86]) performed significantly better than birth weight (0.74 [0.69-0.79]) or gestational age (0.71 [0.66-0.76]), while CRIB-II (0.69 [0.64-0.74]) was rather inferior to CRIB and did not differ significantly from birth weight or gestational age. No substantial changes were seen when substituting worst BE during the first 12 h of life for BE at admission when calculating CRIB-II. CONCLUSIONS: CRIB-II does not result in improved estimation of mortality risk in VLBW infants as compared to CRIB, birth weight or gestational age.     

Bone measurements of infants in the first 3 months of life by quantitative ultrasound: the influence of gestational age, season, and postnatal age

Background: There are a few quantitative ultrasound (QUS) studies of bone status for Chinese children. Objective: To evaluate the clinical application and to investigate the bone status of neonates and young infants with QUS. Materials and methods: An ultrasound bone sonometer was used to measure the bone speed of sound (SOS) of the tibia in 542 neonates within 3 months of birth. Results: At birth, no significant difference of SOS was found between boys and girls, but there was a significant difference of SOS between premature infants and full-term infants. The SOS in neonates born during spring and summer was significantly lower than those born during autumn and winter. There were significant correlations between SOS and gestational age, and between bone SOS and birth weight in appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants. Multiple regression analysis found that gestational age and infant birth season were two important factors influencing SOS. During the first 3 months, there was no significant difference in SOS between sexes. The SOS of infants showed an inverse correlation with postnatal age, and the decrease of bone SOS with age in premature infants was more marked than in full-term infants. Conclusions: QUS is suitable for evaluating bone status in infants with high precision. The study offers some basic data for neonates and young infants.     

The diagnostic value of a single measurement of superior vena cava flow in the first 24?h of life in very preterm infants

Low superior vena cava (SVC) flow has been associated with intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) in very preterm infants. We studied the diagnostic value of a single measurement of SVC flow within the first 24?h of life in very preterm infants and its association with occurrence or extension of IVH in a setting of limited availability of neonatal echocardiography. Preterm infants who were born at less than 30?weeks gestation and who had an echocardiogram within 24?h after birth were eligible. Baseline, clinical and ultrasound data were collected. A total of 165 preterm infants were included. Low SVC flow (<41?ml/kg/min) occurred in six infants and was associated with severe IVH and extension of IVH, although this was not significant after adjusting for confounders. The only independently associated variable with low SVC flow was admission temperature (odds ratio 0.27, p?=?0.001). A review of SVC flow values shows that these are higher now than initially reported. This study does not show an association of low SVC flow and severe IVH or extension of IVH after adjusting for confounders as a single measurement of SVC flow did not add any diagnostic value in this cohort. Thus, the exact role of SVC flow measurements in the circulatory assessment of preterm infants remains to be elucidated. However, admission temperature may have an effect on systemic blood flow in very preterm infants.     

Quantitative aspects of the early motor repertoire in preterm infants: do they predict minor neurological dysfunction at school age?

Background

Qualitative aspects of the motor repertoire, at 11-16 weeks post-term are predictive for minor neurological dysfunction (MND) at 7 to 11 years of age. Predictive value of quantitative aspects is unknown so far.

Aim

To investigate whether quantitative aspects of the motor repertoire between 6 and 24 weeks post-term also have predictive value for neurological outcome at 7 to 11 years of age.

Study design

Prospective cohort study.

Subjects

Preterm infants from whom several quantitative aspects of the motor repertoire were assessed between 6 and 24 weeks post-term.

Outcome measures

Neurological outcome at 7-11 years of age was assessed according to Touwens' neurological examination. Children were classified as neurologically normal, or as having complex MND or cerebral palsy (CP).

Results

Eighty-two children were included. At 7 to 11 years of age 15 children (18%) had developed CP, 49 (60%) were neurologically normal, and 18 (22%) had MND. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that, when the qualitative aspects of the motor repertoire known to predict neurological outcome were taken into account, only the asymmetric tonic neck (ATN) posture provided additional predictive value. In case of normal fidgety movements (FMs) accompanied by an abnormal concurrent motor repertoire, the presence of an obligatory ATN increased the risk for developing complex MND to 75%; absence of an obligatory ATN reduced the risk to 15% (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Quantitative aspects of the motor repertoire at 11-16 weeks post-term, in particular the presence of an obligatory ATN posture, contribute to the prediction of neurological outcome at 7 to 11 years of age.     

Regional differences in outcome for very low‐birthweight infants: Do they persist at 7–8 years of age?

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether regional differences in early neonatal morbidity in a national cohort of very low-birthweight (VLBW) infants persisted at 7-8 years of age. METHODS: Perinatal data collected prospectively from birth on all VLBW infants born in New Zealand in 1986 and admitted to a neonatal unit included the hospital principally caring for the infant: hospitals A-D being level III hospitals and 'Other' including the smallest level III and all level II hospitals. At 7-8 years of age, 298 surviving children (96% survivors living in New Zealand) were assessed at a home visit. Parents were given a comprehensive questionnaire to complete, the children underwent a visual examination and were tested with the Revised Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children and the child's teacher was sent a questionnaire to complete. RESULTS: Neonatal survival was significantly greater in the two largest hospitals (A and B) and this difference in survival remained at 7-8 years of age after adjustment for perinatal factors (P < 0.05). There were no differences between hospitals in risks of long-term sensorineural disability and behavioural or educational outcomes. There were interhospital differences in rates of visual problems and, after adjustment for confounding factors, there remained a marginally significant (P = 0.06) increased risk of myopia in hospital D. CONCLUSIONS: Despite differences in early morbidity favouring larger hospitals, there were no substantive differences in long-term (7-8 years) outcomes across a range of measures in this national cohort of VLBW infants.