Foetal to neonatal transition — what can go wrong?

Failure of the foetus to make a successful transition from the intrauterine environment can be life threatening. Prompt recognition of problems can enable critical, life-saving interventions to take place. Whilst there are numerous adaptations of the newborn at birth, this article focuses on those which are the most common and/or clinically urgent, and describes not only the conventional treatments but also emerging therapies. The article therefore covers maladaptive processes in the normal newborn, not those with genetic or other congenital problems which cause maladaptation due to the underlying disease. Likewise, it is outside the scope of this article to discuss neonatal jaundice, as it is arguably not a maladaptation, and may also not be the ‘design flaw’ that it has previously been considered to be, as bilirubin may have a physiological role as the main antioxidant in the newborn in the first week of postnatal life. I have described five neonatal conditions: transient tachypnoea of the newborn, respiratory distress syndrome, persistent pulmonary hypertension, which can all cause significant hypoxaemia, patent ductus arteriosus which is usually not clinically significant but is common and often causes considerable parental anxiety, and transient hyperinsulinaemia which can cause profound hypoglycaemia.     

Association of SP-C gene codon 186 polymorphism (rs1124) and risk of RDS

Background: Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is a severe pulmonary disease that mainly affects preterm neonates. Surfactant-protein genes’ polymorphisms have been mostly evaluated as the candidate contributors in genetics of RDS. However, the results are diverse in different populations. We aimed at investigating the association of rs1124 with RDS development.

Method: Three hundred and thirty five preterm neonates were enrolled in a multicenter case-control study. Respiratory distress (RD) was scored according to Downes' scoring system. Genotyping was performed by PCR-RFLP method.

Result: One hundred and sixty six neonates showed RDS and 169 did not. Gestational age (GA) was significantly lower in RDS group compared to the controls. In female preterm newborns, AA genotype was found more frequently in RDS group. In RDS group, AA genotype was also associated with milder RD irrespective of gender. In neonates who were born 28–34 weeks, RD appeared to be more severe in the RDS group and males.

Conclusions: This is the first report of association of SFTPC rs1124 polymorphism with RDS development in Iranian newborns. The current study suggests that GA?<28-weeks is the most important factor in predisposition to RDS. AA genotype is also, a predisposing factor for the development of RDS in female preterm infants.     

Neonatal extracorporeal life support: impact of new therapies on survival

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of pre-extracorporeal life support (ECLS) management with nitric oxide (NO), high frequency ventilation (HFV), and surfactant on mortality among neonates supported with ECLS. STUDY DESIGN: Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) data on 7017 neonates cannulated for respiratory reasons between 1996 and 2003 were analyzed using chi2, analysis of variance, and logistic regression. RESULTS: The use of ECLS declined by 26.6% over the study period with no significant change in mortality. Unadjusted ECLS mortality for NO-treated patients was lower than for infants not treated with NO (25.1% vs 28.6%, P = .0012) and for infants treated with surfactant than for infants not treated with surfactant (18.7% vs 30.3%, p <.0001.) Unadjusted mortality for HFV-treated patients was no different than for non-HFV-treated patients (26.0% vs 26.6%, P = .56). After adjusting for confounders (primary diagnosis, age at cannulation, ECMO year 1996-1999 vs 2000-2003), surfactant use was associated with decreased mortality. NO-treated neonates were less likely to have a pre-ECLS cardiopulmonary arrest than infants not treated with NO. NO, HFV, and surfactant were not associated with prolongation of ECLS or mechanical ventilation. CONCLUSIONS: NO, HFV, and surfactant were not associated with increased mortality in neonates who require ECLS for hypoxic respiratory failure.     

早产儿呼吸窘迫综合征经鼻间歇正压通气治疗的Meta分析

Objective To agsess the efficacy of nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV)in treatment of respiratory distress syndrome(RDS) in premature infants.Methods According to the requirements of Cochrane systematic review,a thorough literature search was performed among PubMed(1977-2008),Embase(1989-2008),OVID,Cochrane(2008),Chinese Digtal Hospital Library (www.chkd.cnki.net) and Chinese Biomedical Literature Disk Database(CBMdisc).Quality assessments of clinical trials were carried out Randomized controHed trials(RCTs)with NIPPV and RDS were enrolledand ReVnlan 4.2 software was used for meta-analysis.The trials were analyzed using relatire risk(RR) for dichotomous data,weighted mean difference(WMD) were used for continuous data,both kind of data were expressed by 95% confidence intervals(95%CI).For homogenous data(P≥0.10),fixed effects model was calculated,for heterogeneity data(P<0.10),random effects model was calculated.Results Five RCTs involving 284 premature infants diagnosed as respiratory distress syndrome(RDS) were included.Three studies comparing NIPPV with nasal continuous positive airway pressure(NCPAP) in the postextubation period,tHe extabation failure rate was 8.34%vs 40.79% in NIPPV group and NCPAP group,the NIPPV group had significantly lower extubation failure rates[RR 0.21(95%CI:0.10-0.45;P<0.001)].Two of the above.mentioned three studies analyzed bronchopulmonary dysplasia(BPD)rates,the incidence of BPD was 39.34%vs 54.39%in NIPPV group and NCPAP group,the NIPPV group had a trend towards lower BPD rates,but this did not reach statistical significance[RR 0.73(95%CI:0.49-1.07;P=0.11)].NIPPV was used as primary mode in two studies,one compared with conventional ventilation(CV),which detected that the NIPPV group had significantly lower BPD rates(10% vs.33.33%,P:0.04);the other compared with NCPAP,which also showed that NIPPV group had significantly lower BPD rates(2.33% vs.17.07%,P=0.03).Conclusion The primary mode NIPPV was found to be feasible as a method of ventilation in preterm infants with RDS,and Was associated with a decreased incidenee of BPD.In the postextubation period,NIPPV is more effective in preventing failure of extubation than NCPAP.     

Eosinophil cationic protein in tracheal aspirates of preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Eosinophil cationic protein was elevated during the first week of life in tracheal aspirates from 11 preterm infants in whom bronchopulmonary dysplasia subsequently developed compared with 8 preterm and 8 term infants without bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Eosinophil cationic protein levels increased progressively with continued intubation in the infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia but remained low in a comparison group of term infants. We suggest that eosinophils participate in the inflammatory process in bronchopulmonary dysplasia and may contribute to lung injury. (J Pediatr 1997;130:944-7)     

Morbidity after surgical treatment of isolated intestinal perforation and necrotizing enterocolitis is similar in preterm infants weighing less than 1500 g

Introduction

Isolated intestinal perforation (IIP) and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) seem to be separate diseases, though their surgical treatment is similar. We compared the morbidity after surgery for IIP and NEC in preterm infants (birth weight <1500 g).

Patients and Methods

Isolated intestinal perforation was defined as intestinal perforation with associated necrosis less than 5% of bowel length and NEC as necrosis of 5% or more of bowel length ± perforation. Outcome measures included time to full enteral feeds, incidence of total parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis, and nutritional and neurologic status up to 60 months of age. Data are quoted as median (range).

Main Results

Sixty-one surviving patients treated between 1986 and 2006 were retrospectively reviewed (IIP: n = 32 versus NEC: n = 29). Median % resection of small and large bowel in IIP and NEC was 2% (1%-22%) versus 12% (6%-32%), and 5% (2%-13%) versus 7% (2%-25%), respectively (P < .05 in both). There was no significant difference in gestational age, birth weight, incidence of cerebral hemorrhage, respiratory distress syndrome, or surgical technique (enterostomy or primary anastomosis). Median time to enteral feeds, incidence of total parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis, length of ventilation, and ultimate nutritional and neurologic outcome did not differ statistically significantly between the groups.

Conclusion

Surgery in NEC resulted in more extensive intestinal resection than in IIP. However, subsequent morbidity was similar in both groups.     

BiPAP及nCPAP两种无创通气模式在RDS早产儿的随机对照研究

目的：探究BiPAP及nCPAP两种无创通气模式在呼吸窘迫综合征(RDS)早产儿随机对照的临床效果。方法：选取2016年6月～2017年5月在我院NICU接受治疗的85例RDS早产儿,按随机数字表法将其分为对照组(42例)和研究组(43例)。对照组采用持续气道正压通气法(nCPAP),研究组采用双水平气道正压通气法(BiPAP)。对比两组不同时间点呼吸机参数(吸入氧体积分数FiO2、PEEP/EPAP、PaO2/FiO2值)及动脉血气分析参数(pH值、动脉血二氧化碳分压PaCO2、动脉血氧分压PaO2)。结果：两组治疗前FiO2、PEEP/EPAP、PaO2/FiO2、pH值、PaCO2、PaO2水平无明显差异(P＞0.05)。治疗24h后,研究组FiO2、PEEP/EPAP水平较对照组降低,而PaO2/FiO2水平较对照组升高,差异具有统计学意义(P＜0.05);治疗12h、24h后,研究组pH值、PaO2水平较对照组升高,而PaCO2水平较对照组降低,差异具有统计学意义(P＜0.05)。结论：BiPAP较nCPAP在改善RDS早产儿短期预后方面更具优势,可改善患儿肺换气功能,促进氧合,值得临床上推广运用。