Do former preterm infants remember and respond to neonatal intensive care unit noise?

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that 4-month-old infants have a decrease in heart rate, a component of the orienting reflex, in response to interesting auditory stimuli and an increase in heart rate to aversive auditory stimuli. OBJECTIVE: To compare the heart rate responses of former preterm and term infants at 4-5 months corrected age to a recording of NICU noises. METHODS: 13 former preterm infants and 17 full-term infants were presented NICU noise and another noise of similar level and frequency content in random order. Heart rate 10s prior to the stimulus and for 20s during the stimulus was analyzed. Group differences in second by second heart rate changes in response to the two noise stimuli were compared by analysis of covariance. RESULTS: Both the preterm and term newborns responded similarly to the NICU noise and the control noise. The preterm infants did not alter their heart rate in response to either stimulus. In contrast, the term infants displayed an orienting response to the second stimulus presented regardless of whether it was the NICU or control noise. CONCLUSIONS: Former preterm infants at 4-5 months corrected age have reduced responsiveness to auditory stimulation in comparison to 4- to 5-month-old term infants. Furthermore, they did not respond to the NICU noise as an aversive stimulus.     

Investigating the European perspective of neonatal point-of-care echocardiography in the neonatal intensive care unit—a pilot study

Point-of-care functional neonatal echocardiography (fnECHO) is increasingly used to assess haemodynamic status or patency of the ductus arteriosus (PDA). In Australasia, 90 % of neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) practice point-of-care fnECHO. The Australian Society of Ultrasound Medicine offers a training certificate for fnECHO. In Europe, the use and indications of fnECHO and the extent of point-of-care fnECHO training and accreditation are unknown. We aimed to assess utilisation and training of fnECHO in Europe. For this, we conducted an email survey of 45 randomly chosen tertiary NICUs in 17 European countries. The recall rate was 89 % (n?=?40). Neonatologists with skills in fnECHO worked in 29 NICUs (74 %), but paediatric cardiologists would routinely perform most fnECHOs. Twenty-four-hour echocardiography service was available in 31 NICUs (78 %). Indications for fnECHO included assessment of haemodynamic volume status (53 %), presence or absence of pulmonary hypertension of the neonate (55 %), indication for and effect of volume replacement therapy (58 %), PDA assessment and monitoring of PDA treatment (80 %). Teaching of fnECHO was offered to trainees in 22 NICUs (55 %). Teaching of fnECHO was provided by paediatric cardiologists (55 %) or by neonatologists (45 %). Only six (15 %) national colleges accredited fnECHO teaching courses. Conclusion: fnECHO is widely practiced by neonatologists across Europe for a broad range of clinical questions. However, there is a lack of formal training and accreditation of fnECHO skills. This could be addressed by designing a dedicated European fnECHO training programme and by agreeing on a common European certificate of fnECHO.     

How can we evaluate developmental care practices prior to their implementation in a neonatal intensive care unit?

Developmental care is designed to allow optimal neurobehavioral development of the preterm infant. The Neonatal Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP) associates various strategies and focuses on individualized, family-oriented care. Scientific evaluation of developmental care is needed. Randomized controlled trials are the basis for medical evaluation, but present some limitations for developmental care studies. Qualitative research and benchmarking could be of interest in this field of neonatal medicine.     

Does a mother singing to her premature baby affect feeding in the neonatal intensive care unit?

Recent studies suggest that premature neonates exposed to music have reduced symptoms of stress, faster weight gain, and shorter neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stays. This pilot study attempted to measure contingent effects of mothers' singing during feedings. Mothers sang to their babies during 2 of 4 feedings on 2 consecutive days, logging songs they sang, and subjectively evaluating each feeding. Infants' heart and respiration rates were recorded as well as duration of feeding and volume of fluid taken orally; feeding velocity and percent of feeding goal were calculated. In paired t tests, no significant benefits or deterrents assignable to the singing were observed.     

How safe is intermittent positive pressure ventilation in preterm babies ventilated from delivery to newborn intensive care unit?

Objectives: To examine whether clinically determined ventilator settings will produce acceptable arterial blood gas values on arrival, in preterm infants ventilated from delivery to the newborn intensive care unit (NICU). Further, to examine the usefulness of tidal volume and minute ventilation measurements at this time. Design: A prospective observational cohort study in a tertiary level 3 NICU. Patients: Twenty six preterm infants requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation at the point of delivery to the NICU. Setting: Infants who required mechanical ventilation were monitored with a blinded Ventrak 1550 dynamic lung function monitor from the point of delivery to the NICU. A Dräger Babylog 2000 transport ventilator was set up to achieve adequate chest wall movement, and FIO₂ was adjusted to achieve preductal SaO₂ of 90–98%. Dynamic lung function monitoring data were recorded and related to the arterial blood gas taken on arrival. Results: Mean gestation was 28 weeks (range 23–34) and mean birth weight was 1180 g (range 480–4200). A quarter (26% (95% confidence interval (CI) 12% to 48%)) were hypocarbic, with 20% (95% CI 7% to 39%) below 25 mm Hg, and 38% (95% CI 20% to 60%) had hyperoxia. Some (20% (95% CI 7% to 39%)) were both hypocarbic and hyperoxic. Total minute ventilation per kilogram correlated significantly with the inverse of PaCO₂ (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Clinically determining appropriate mechanical ventilation settings from the point of delivery to the NICU is difficult, and inadvertent overventilation may be common. Severe hyperoxia can occur in spite of adjustment of the FIO₂ concentration to achieve an SaO₂ range of 90–98%. Limiting minute ventilation during resuscitation may prevent hypocarbia.     

Decreasing incidence of neonatal nosocomial bloodstream infections in a neonatal intensive care unit: antenatal corticosteroid treatment an innocent bystander?

We studied the effect of the use of antenatal steroid treatment on the incidence of nosocomial bloodstream infections (NBSI). All episodes of culture proven NBSI occurring after 96 h of hospitalisation were identified retrospectively during a 10-year period (1991–2001). Throughout the study period, the use of antenatal steroids, demographic characteristics and morbidity of the patients were recorded prospectively. Since 1996 more efforts were made to use antenatal steroids to decrease neonatal morbidity and mortality. The incidence rates of NBSI were compared between period 1 (1991–1995) and period 2 (1996–2001). The overall incidence rate of NBSI dropped significantly from 7.4% (6.1%–8.9%) in period 1 to 5.0% (4.0%–6.2%) in period 2 and was most pronounced in the birth weight category 1000 g–1500 g (11.7%, 7.9%–15.0% to 6.9%, 4.3%–10.5%) and 1500 g–2500 g (3.6%, 2.2%–5.6% to 1.4%, 0.6%–2.8%). Antenatal use of steroids increased overall from 19% in 1991 to 51% in 2001 (P<0.001). Since 1996 there was a decreasing number of ventilation days (P=0.011) and decreasing incidence of patent ductus arteriosus (P=0.001), while the incidence of neonatal surgery, chronic lung disease and duration of hospitalisation remained constant over time. Conclusion: increased use of antenatal steroids is associated with a decreasing incidence rate of nosocomial bloodstream infections in neonates with birth weights between 1000 g and 2500 g, probably by decreasing the incidence of patent ductus arteriosus and/or due to improved respiratory outcome. This finding needs to be confirmed by randomised control trials or by a large prospective cohort study in similar population groups.Abbreviations CS commensal species - K-W Kruskal Wallis - NBSI nosocomial bloodstream infection - NICU neonatal intensive care unit - NOSEP nosocomial sepsis score     

Restriction of cephalosporins and control of extended spectrum β-lactamase producing gram negative bacteria in a neonatal intensive care unit

This interventional study with historical controls was conducted to study the effect of cephalosporin restriction on the incidence of extended spectrum betalactamase (ESBL) gram negative infections in neonates admitted to intensive care unit. All gram negative isolates from the blood were evaluated for beta lactamase production. The incidence of ESBL production was compared before (year 2007) and after cephalosporin restriction (year 2008). Thirty two neonates (3% of NICU admissions) in the year 2007 and fifty six (5.2%) in the year 2008, had gram negative septicemia. The incidence of ESBL gram negatives decreased by 22% (47% to 25%, P=0.03). Restriction of all class of cephalosporins significantly decreased the incidence of ESBL gram negative infections.     

Atypical auditory event-related potentials in preterm infants during the first year of life: a possible sign of cognitive dysfunction?

We assessed auditory event-related potentials in small-for-gestational-age (SGA; 850 +/- 258 g, 28.9 +/- 3.3 gestational wk; n = 15) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA; 1014 +/- 231 g, 26.9 +/- 1.9 gestational wk; n = 20) preterm infants and healthy term infants (n = 22). An oddball paradigm was used with a harmonic tone of 500-Hz frequency as the standard and of 750-Hz frequency as the deviant stimulus. The preterm infants were studied at 40 gestational wk and at 6 and 12 mo of corrected age, and the control subjects were studied at 2-4 d and at 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 mo of age. The peaks of interest were the main positive peak (P350), the negative peaks at 250 ms (N250) and 650 ms (Nc), and the mismatch negativity at 200 ms (MMN). At term, the P350 in the preterm infants was similar to that of the newborn control subjects. In response to the deviant, the Nc was smaller in the SGA than in the AGA (P < 0.02) and control (P < 0.005) infants. The N250 amplitude was also lower in the SGA infants. At 12 mo, the MMN was observed in the control but not in the preterm infants, whose broad difference positivity correlated with the Bayley developmental index. The decreased Nc and N250 peaks in the SGA infants may suggest an increased risk for cognitive dysfunction. The broad difference positivity at 1 y of age may indicate atypical cortical auditory processing. Whether cognitive dysfunction can be predicted by these findings needs to be assessed in a study with extended follow-up.     

Main diagnosis and cause of death in a neonatal intensive care unit: do clinicians and pathologists agree?

AIM: To determine the agreement rates between clinical and autopsy diagnoses in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), distinguishing between the main diagnosis and cause of death. METHODS: Clinical and autopsy records of 75 infants who died in two consecutive years in the NICU (autopsy rate 42.6%) of a pediatric hospital in Mexico City were reviewed. RESULTS: Ninety-two percent of main clinical diagnoses were confirmed by autopsy. Four conditions (congenital cardiopathy, prematurity, specific congenital syndromes and hyaline membrane disease) accounted for more than two-thirds of diagnoses. However, for cause of death, the global agreement was only 50%. The most common conditions considered by clinicians (77%) and pathologists (56%) to be the causes of death were cardiogenic, septic or mixed shocks. Additionally, clinicians omitted 34 relevant conditions in 30 (40.0%) patients, and 21 of these conditions possibly played a role in the deaths of 17 (22.7%) patients. The most frequently omitted diagnosis was pneumonia, in 9 (26.5%) patients. Omissions were not related to gestational age, age at death, days as an inpatient, or gender. CONCLUSION: Despite a high agreement rate in the main diagnoses, notable imprecisions were present regarding cause of death and antemortem overlooking of potentially fatal conditions, confirming the useful role of autopsy to verify clinical diagnoses and suggesting that differentiation between the main diagnosis and cause of death should be carried out in future studies.     

Role of serum (1,3)-β-d-glucan assay in early diagnosis of invasive fungal infections in a neonatal intensive care unit

Objectives

To study the microbiological pattern of late onset neonatal sepsis cultures and to assess the diagnostic performance of serum (1,3)-β-d-glucan level for early diagnosis of invasive fungemia in high-risk infants admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit.

Validation of transcutaneous bilirubin nomogram for identifying neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in healthy Chinese term and late‐preterm infants: a multicenter study

Objectiveto prospectively validate a previously constructed transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) nomogram for identifying severe hyperbilirubinemia in healthy Chinese term and late‐preterm infants.Methodsthis was a multicenter study that included 9,174 healthy term and late‐preterm infants in eight hospitals of China. TcB measurements were performed using a JM‐103 bilirubinometer. TcB values were plotted on a previously developed TcB nomogram, to identify the predictive ability for subsequent significant hyperbilirubinemia.Resultsin the present study, 972 neonates (10.6%) developed significant hyperbilirubinemia. The 40^th percentile of the nomogram could identify all neonates who were at risk of significant hyperbilirubinemia, but with a low positive predictive value (PPV) (18.9%). Of the 453 neonates above the 95^th percentile, 275 subsequently developed significant hyperbilirubinemia, with a high PPV (60.7%), but with low sensitivity (28.3%). The 75^th percentile was highly specific (81.9%) and moderately sensitive (79.8%). The area under the curve (AUC) for the TcB nomogram was 0.875.Conclusionsthis study validated the previously developed TcB nomogram, which could be used to predict subsequent significant hyperbilirubinemia in healthy Chinese term and late‐preterm infants. However, combining TcB nomogram and clinical risk factors could improve the predictive accuracy for severe hyperbilirubinemia, which was not assessed in the study. Further studies are necessary to confirm this combination.     

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.     

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。     

Assessing the risk of mortality in paediatric cancer patients admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit: a novel risk score?

Intensive front-line protocols have improved survival in children with malignancies; however, intensive multimodal therapy of paediatric malignancies can be associated with a significant risk of serious adverse events. Common risk scores (PRISM, PRISM III, APACHE-II) fail to predict mortality in these patients. A retrospective chart analysis of 32 paediatric cancer patients admitted to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at the University Hospital of Saarland between January 2001 and December 2003 for life-threatening complications was performed. The aim of this study was to assess risk factors for short-term outcome (survival vs. non-survival when leaving the PICU) and to develop a risk score to estimate outcome in these patients. Overall survival was good (25 of 32 patients). Mortality rate was significantly related to leukaemia/lymphoma ( P =0.029), to the number of organ failures ( P <0.0001), neutropenia ( P =0.001), septic shock ( P =0.025), mechanical ventilation ( P =0.01) and inotropic support ( P =0.01). Employing multiple logistic regression, the strongest predictor for poor outcome was the number of organ failures ( P <0.05). A risk score (cut-off value: >3 points for non-survival) which included the following risk factors (non-solid tumour, number of organ failures ( n >2), neutropenia, septic shock, mechanical ventilation, and inotropic medication) yielded a sensitivity of 7/7 (95% CI: 4.56–7.00), a specificity of 23/25 (95% CI: 18.49–24.75), a positive predictive value of 23/23 (95% CI: 19.80–23.00), and a negative predictive value of 7/9 (95% CI: 3.60–8.74) for the time of admission to the PICU. Conclusion:Although our risk of mortality score is of prognostic value in assessing short-term outcome in these patients, prospective validation in a larger study cohort is mandatory. Furthermore, it must be emphasised that this risk score must not be used for decision-making in an individual patient.     

Effectiveness of neonatal pulse oximetry screening for detection of critical congenital heart disease in daily clinical routine—results from a prospective multicenter study

Pulse oximetry screening (POS) has been proposed as an effective, noninvasive, inexpensive tool allowing earlier diagnosis of critical congenital heart disease (cCHD). Our aim was to test the hypothesis that POS can reduce the diagnostic gap in cCHD in daily clinical routine in the setting of tertiary, secondary and primary care centres. We conducted a prospective multicenter trial in Saxony, Germany. POS was performed in healthy term and post-term newborns at the age of 24–72 h. If an oxygen saturation (SpO₂) of ≤95% was measured on lower extremities and confirmed after 1 h, complete clinical examination and echocardiography were performed. POS was defined as false-negative when a diagnosis of cCHD was made after POS in the participating hospitals/at our centre. From July 2006–June 2008, 42,240 newborns from 34 institutions have been included. Seventy-two children were excluded due to prenatal diagnosis (n?=?54) or clinical signs of cCHD (n?=?18) before POS. Seven hundred ninety-five newborns did not receive POS, mainly due to early discharge after birth (n?=?727; 91%). In 41,445 newborns, POS was performed. POS was true positive in 14, false positive in 40, true negative in 41,384 and false negative in four children (three had been excluded for violation of study protocol). Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value were 77.78%, 99.90%, 25.93% and 99.99%, respectively. With POS as an adjunct to prenatal diagnosis, physical examination and clinical observation, the percentage of newborns with late diagnosis of cCHD was 4.4%. POS can substantially reduce the postnatal diagnostic gap in cCHD, and false-positive results leading to unnecessary examinations of healthy newborns are rare. POS should be implemented in routine postnatal care.