Innovative neonatal ventilation and meconium aspiration syndrome

Respiratory failure remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the neonatal population. Infants with hypoxemic respiratory failure because of meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS), persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), and pneumonia/sepsis have a potential for increased survival with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Other treatment options previously limited to inotropic support, conventional ventilatory management, respiratory alkalosis, paralysis and intravenous vasodilators have been replaced by high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV), surfactant, and inhaled nitric oxide (iNO). HFOV has been advocated for use to improve lung inflation while potentially decreasing lung injury through volutrauma. Other reports describe enhanced efficacy of HFOV when combined with iNO. Subsequent to studies reporting surfactant deficiency or inactivation may contribute to neonatal respiratory failure exogenous surfactant therapy has been implemented with apparent success. Recent studies have shown that iNO therapy in the neonate with hypoxemic respiratory failure can result in improved oxygenation and decreased need for ECMO. In this article, the authors place in context of a system-based strategy the prenatal, natal and postnatal management of babies delivered through meconium stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) so that adverse outcomes are minimized, and the least number of babies require innovative ventilatory support. At Pennsylvania Hospital, over a six-year period (1995 to 2000), 14.5% (3370/23,175 of live births babies were delivered with MSAF. These data show that 4.6% (155/3370) of babies with MSAF sustained MAS. Overall, 26% (40/155) of babies with MAS needed ventilatory support or 0.17% of all live-births); of these only 20% (8/40 or 0.035% of live births) needed innovative ventilatory support. None died or needed ECMO. These data describe the impact of a system-based approach to prevent and manage adverse outcomes related to MSAF at regional Level III perinatal center.     

Aetiology of neonatal conjunctivitis evaluated in a population‐based setting

Aim

Our aim was to study prospectively the aetiology of neonatal conjunctivitis in a population‐based setting.

Methods

Altogether 173 neonates with clinical conjunctivitis aged on average 20 (SD 10) days were recruited from child welfare clinics in Oulu, Finland, in 2010–2015. Conjunctival specimens were collected from 167 neonates for multiplex polymerase chain reaction to detect 16 respiratory viruses, from 163 for polymerase chain reaction to detect Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae and from 160 for bacterial culture studies. The cases were followed up until the age of 18 months.

Results

Viral conjunctivitis was diagnosed in 8/167 (4.8%; 95% CI 2.1–9.2%), chlamydial or gonococcal conjunctivitis in 0/163 cases (0%; 95% CI 0–2.2%) and other bacterial conjunctivitis in 58/160 (36%; 95% CI 29–44%). Rhinovirus was found at the ocular site in 4/167 (2.4%) neonates, adenovirus in 3/167 (1.8%) and bocavirus in 1/167 (0.6%). The most commonly isolated bacteria included Staphylococcus aureus (16%), Moraxella catarrhalis (9.4%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (3.1%). None of these pathogens was associated with the 4/173 (2.3%) cases later operated on for persistent nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

Conclusion

Chlamydia trachomatis was a rare pathogen in neonatal conjunctivitis in a population‐based setting, but respiratory viruses were detected more frequently than indicated earlier.

     

高频振荡通气治疗新生儿胎粪吸入综合征

目的　评价高频振荡通气(HFOV)结合肺复张策略治疗新生儿胎粪吸入综合征的有效性及安全性。方法　采用高频振荡通气治疗9例胎粪吸入综合征患儿,通过逐渐增加平均气道压实施肺复张策略,以实现吸入氧体积分数≤0.4时,经皮氧饱和度≥0.9,同时调节振荡压力幅度及振荡频率,使PaCO2位于35～45mmHg（1mmHg=0.133kPa）。治疗过程中监测心率、血压、动脉血气及氧合指数。结果　8例患儿在施行HFOV治疗48h后,平均气道压由（22±3）cmH2O降至（15±4）cmH2O(F=3.52,P＜0.05);吸入氧体积分数由0.57±0.30降至0.37±0.19(F=2.72,P<0.05);用HFOV后肺部氧合得到改善,氧合指数由13.7±3.1降至6.1±2.2(F=3.58,P＜0.05);振荡压力幅度由（48±7）cmH2O逐渐降至（41±7）cmH2O,但差异无显著性（F=1.98,P＞0.05）。治疗过程中心率、血压无明显变化。结论　HFOV对新生儿胎粪吸入综合征是安全有效的,实行肺复张策略能改善肺部氧合,对心血管无明显副作用     

部分液体通气对胎粪性急性肺损伤的病理学影响

目的 通过研究部分液体通气(PLV)对胎粪性急性肺损伤病理学变化的影响,探讨PLV对治疗胎粪性急性肺损伤的效果.方法 68只健康新西兰兔随机分6组,用20%健康新生儿胎粪混悬液3 mL/kg造模,再行机械通气.使用PLV组:全氟化碳(PFC)按3 ml/kg注入兔肺内,再机械通气.造模后6 h处死动物,取兔肺进行病理学检查和评分.结果相对于常频组(3.0±0),常频(PLV)组(2.4±0.6)和高频(PLV)组(2.4±0.6)可以明显降低炎性细胞浸润(P＜0.01),且高频组(2.1±0.3)也有类似作用(P＜0.05).只有高频(PLV)组(1.0±0.7)的肺水肿情况好于常频组(2.0±0.8)(P＜0.01).常频组(2.6±0.5)较容易出现小气道损伤,常频(PLV)组(1.1±0.4)和高频(PLV)组(0.9±0.3)的小气道损伤则不明显(P＜0.01).未发现PLV对肺出血有效.相对于常频组和高频组,使用PLY二组的死亡率较低(21.4%/14.3%).结论 PLV可以明显减轻胎粪性急性肺损伤,并对降低死亡率有一定作用,因而PLV具有临床应用的良好前景.英文作者简介:ZHU Jian-xing (Email:jxzhu.my265@yahoo.com.cn)     

机械通气治疗新生儿胎粪吸入综合征所致呼吸衰竭的效果及评价

目的　探索早期拔管改换无创通气策略治疗新生儿胎粪吸入综合征 (MAS)所致呼吸衰竭的技术可行性并评价其治疗效果。方法　2003年 1月至 2003年 10月北京朝阳医院儿科NICU选择接受气管插管机械通气的病例 12例为治疗组,待充分引流气道内胎粪后拔除气管插管,改用经鼻塞CPAP通气,直至脱离呼吸机;选择同样病情病例 13例为对照组,在引流气道内胎粪后继续按常规行有创机械通气,以SIMV+PEEP方式撤机。观察两组病例的临床转归情况。结果　治疗组与对照组的治疗前各指标相仿 (P>0 05);有创机械通气时间分别为(29 50±20 15)h和(51 08±22 64)h(P<0 05);发生呼吸机相关肺炎分别为 1例和 6例 (P<0 05);住ICU时间分别为(5 92±1 97)d和(9 00±2 83)d(P<0 01)。结论　对新生儿胎粪吸入综合征所致呼吸衰竭插管上机的病例,早期拔管,改用经鼻塞CPAP无创通气可以显著改善治疗效果。     

Fatal aspiration of a makeshift pacifier

A case is presented of an infant who aspirated the nipple from a makeshift pacifier. The use of makeshift pacifiers is widely practiced at hospital nurseries throughout the United States and should stop immediately.     

Massive powder aspiration in a toddler

We report a case of aspiration of calcium carbonate powder by a toddler. Bronchoscopic removal of aspirated contents resulted in favourable outcome.     

Upper thoracic extralobar pulmonary sequestration presenting with respiratory distress in a newborn

An upper thoracic extralobar pulmonary sequestration in a newborn is presented. It was present on the initial chest radiograph taken because of respiratory distress. The sequestration was surgically removed and the infant's respiratory difficulties improved.     

Pneumopericardium as a complication of foreign body aspiration

A case of pneumopericardium in an infant complicating aspiration of a foreign body is reported. In addition to X-ray studies echocardiography is valuable for the control of the disease. The pathogenesis and the treatment are discussed and a short review of the literature is given.     

Chilaiditi syndrome as a cause of respiratory distress

Chilaiditi syndrome is the interposition of the colon between the diaphragma and the liver. In general, patients are asymptomatic, but some patients have been associated with gastrointestinal and respiratory symptoms. A 5-month-old infant boy was admitted to the hospital with a history of cough, cyanosis and recurrent respiratory distress that had persisted during the preceding 2 months. The chest X-ray revealed an elevation of the right hemidiaphragma caused by the presence of a dilated colonic loop below. Computed tomography showed a hepatodiaphragmatic interposition of the colon, leading to the diagnosis of Chilaiditi syndrome. The patient was conservatively treated with oxygen, fluid supplementation and stool softeners. We conclude that this rare syndrome should be kept in mind when young patients present with recurrent respiratory distress.