Hypoglycemia in an unmonitored full-term newborn

Abstract

Afull-term male infant was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit 30 h after birth for hypoglycemia. A review of the history revealed that the mother was a primagravid 30-year-old woman with obesity (body mass index 35 kg/m 2 ) who had a normal glucose tolerance test at 28 weeks’ gestation. The baby was born by spontaneous vaginal delivery after induction of labour at 41 weeks’ gestation. Apgar scores were 8 at 1 min and 9 at 5 min. Cord blood gases were normal. Birth weight was 2900 g. The mother and newborn were transferred to the postnatal ward. Newborn examination was normal. During the first 24 h, the baby had several breastfeeding attempts with good latch and sustained sucking. The baby had two wet diapers, one small meconium stool and weight was 2800 g at 24 h. At 30 h of life, he had a temperature of 36.3°C and was noted to be jittery, with exaggerated startle, and subsequently experienced a cyanotic episode. A bedside glucose measurement was low. A simultaneous serum glucose measurement was 0.9 mmol/L. The baby was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit and treated with intravenous dextrose 10% 2 mL/kg slow bolus and 6 mg/kg/min glucose maintenance. Infection was ruled out. There were three additional episodes of low glucose (1.8 mmol/L, 1.9 mmol/L and 2.0 mmol/L). A critical sample obtained during the third hypoglycemic event indicated hyperinsulinism. Hypoglycemia and hyperinsulinism resolved four days later, and he was discharged home feeding well with a normal neurological examination. LEARNING PoINTS