Observations on the prophylactic use of vitamin K in the newborn infant

Abstract

The need for routine administration of vitamin K to newborn infants was subjected to clinical and laboratory evaluation. During a three-month period vitamin K was given to one-half of the male infants on arrival in the hospital nursery, and the incidence of secondary hemorrhage after circumcision was noted. Hemorrhage was found to be 6 times more frequent in babies who did not receive vitamin K. In another smaller study only 1 of 22 babies who had received vitamin K showed moderate prolongation of the prothrombin time, whereas 10 babies of 24 who had not received vitamin K showed moderate to marked prolongation of the prothrombin times. The prophylactic use of vitamin K in all newborn infants has been restarted in this nursery. The need for routine administration of vitamin K to newborn infants was subjected to clinical and laboratory evaluation. During a three-month period vitamin K was given to one-half of the male infants on arrival in the hospital nursery, and the incidence of secondary hemorrhage after circumcision was noted. Hemorrhage was found to be 6 times more frequent in babies who did not receive vitamin K. In another smaller study only 1 of 22 babies who had received vitamin K showed moderate prolongation of the prothrombin time, whereas 10 babies of 24 who had not received vitamin K showed moderate to marked prolongation of the prothrombin times. The prophylactic use of vitamin K in all newborn infants has been restarted in this nursery. ErratumThe Journal of PediatricsVol. 56Issue 5Preview Full-Text PDF