Modern Neonatal Intensive Care Research Articles

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure vs. Nasal Intermittent Positive Pressure Ventilation in Preterm Neonates: What if Mean Airway Pressures were Equivalent?

Respiratory support for preterm neonates in modern neonatal intensive care unit is predominantly with the use of non-invasive interfaces. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) are the prototypical and most commonly utilized forms of non-invasive respiratory support, and each has unique gas flow characteristics. In meta-analyses of clinical trials till date, NIPPV has been shown to likely reduce respiratory failure and need for intubation compared to CPAP. However, a significant limitation of the included studies has been the higher mean airway pressures used during NIPPV. Thus, it is unclear to what extent any benefits seen with NIPPV are due to the cyclic pressure application vs. the higher mean airway pressures. In this review, we elaborate on these limitations and summarize the available evidence comparing NIPPV and CPAP at equivalent mean airway pressures. Finally, we call for further studies comparing non-invasive respiratory support modes at equal mean airway pressures.

Role of lipids in nutrition of premature babies with bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Introduction. The review is devoted to the importance of lipids in the nutrition of premature infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). In recent years, the proportion of children born prematurely especially babies with very low and extremely low body weight, has been increasing due to the introduction of reproductive technologies that allow women with various pathologies and health abnormalities having children, as well as the use of modern neonatal intensive care and intensive care facilities. One of the most common diseases in such patients is BPD. An important component of the system of caring for prematurely born infants is adequate nutrition, which plays an important role in the development and maturation of all organs and systems, including lung tissue, changing its morphology. It is important to note that in severe BPD, there is a direct relationship between nutritional status, normal lung function, and psychomotor development of the infant. Therefore, the nutritional needs of premature BPD infants are increased and this imposes special requirements on their admission and individual dietary correction, taking into account all the features of the child’s development and the presence of concomitant pathology. The optimal nutrition for a premature baby is recognized as mother’s milk, which is enriched with breast milk. However, the fat component (the main energy substrate) is either absent in the fortifier, or lipids amounts in to fail to be sufficient. The use of specialized mixtures also does not overlap the caloric content of the diet to provide the growth rate of BPD infant against the background of increased energy needs by 15–25% when compared with patients without BPD) and the necessary restriction of the volume of injected fluid due to the high risk of hypervolemia of the small circulatory circle. 
 Conclusion. Thus, an additional supply of medium-chain triglycerides seems to be a promising direction that increases the fat component of the diet and, as a result, its energy value in conditions of limiting fluid intake in premature BPD infants.

Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Preterm Babies: A 12-Month Observational Study.

Background Preterm births are a significant concern worldwide due to their association with both short- and long-term morbidity. Modern neonatal intensive care techniques have improved the survival of infants born at the brink of viability. However, there remain significant challenges concerning their neurodevelopment. A considerable proportion of very low birth weight infants exhibit significant motor deficits such as cerebral palsy or cognitive, behavioral, or attention disabilities. The consequences of these impairments, particularly given their life-long nature, can be severe for the affected individuals, families, and public health resources. Consequently, timely neurodevelopmental assessment is critical in recognizing delayed development and selecting infants for neurodevelopmental stimulation. This study aimed to estimate the neurodevelopment of preterm infants, identify influencing factors, detect at-risk groups, and refer/recommend early intervention when developmental delays are observed. Methodology This prospective, observational, hospital-based study done in the department of pediatrics, Gujarat Medical Education and Research Society (GMERS) Medical College and Hospital, Gotri, Vadodara, Gujrat, India included inborn and outborn preterm neonates admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) or the Sick Newborn Care Unit from their first day of life. The study period was from October 2020 to January 2021, and only neonates with an uncomplicated clinical course were included. Newborns were enrolled in a high-risk clinic, and follow-up appointments were scheduled at three, six, nine, and 12 months of corrected gestational age (CGA). We used the Baroda Developmental Screening Tool (BDST) to calculate the developmental quotient (DQ) at each appointment. This assessment involved parental interviews, observation of developmental milestones, and simple test demonstrations. The gathered DQ data at different ages were analyzed and compared across groups. Results Of 100 preterms enrolled, 62 preterms were followed up until 12 months of CGA. Thirteen patients out of the 62(approximately one-fifth) preterm neonates exhibited developmental delays at one year of CGA, most of whom were early preterm infants. Twenty-six patients (approximatelytwo-fifths) were delayed at three months of CGA, and thus 13 patients (half) showed catch-up growth and development. There was no statistically significant difference between the neurodevelopment of female and male infants. However, infants born to mothers with better socioeconomic status and higher education showed improved neurodevelopment. Conclusions Our study findings suggest that preterm infants discharged from the NICU exhibit poor neurodevelopmental outcomes, especially those born early preterm. This pattern indicates an inverse relationship between neurodevelopmental delay and the maturity of the neonate. Maternal education and socioeconomic status positively impacted the neurodevelopment of preterm NICU graduates. Thus, regularfollow-up (at least once every three months), early detection by a screening scale like the BDSTand intervention significantly improved neurodevelopmental outcomes.

The Process of Assembling A Prognosis in Nicu

The uncertainty of prognosis and the importance of prognosis are in tension with one another, especially in modern neonatal intensive care units (NICU). Prognosis, along with diagnosis, forms the cornerstone of making decisions. Reaching a shared consensus often happens without the participants being fully aware of the process. Child psychiatrists can be helpful in a team to make explicit where the team, the family and the outside specialist teams are up to in arriving at consensus and how they might move beyond times of impasse. Child psychiatrists have not traditionally had a large role in NICU except in relation to the adult mental health. This paper emerged from two child psychiatrists, both pediatric neuropsychiatrists, quietly “observing” and describing the everyday business of a NICU. It elucidates the process of how NICU clinicians in one children’s hospital, and the families they care for, arrive at a consensus despite the uncertainties and the complexities. What is extraordinary is that this process is usually managed without complication.

Being parents of extremely preterm children, from a long-term perspective: A qualitative study of parents' experiences

BackgroundIn recent decades, modern neonatal intensive care has improved, increasing the survival of extremely preterm children. Few studies have examined the experiences of parents of extremely preterm children from a long-term perspective. AimTo describe parents' experiences of parenting extremely preterm children during their childhood and transition to adulthood. Study designA qualitative interview study with a descriptive design. SubjectsThirteen parents of eleven children born at 24 gestational weeks in Sweden, 1990–1992, participated in individual semi-structured interviews. Outcome measuresData were analyzed using qualitative reflexive thematic analysis. ResultFive themes forming a timeline were created in the analytic process: parenthood, at the NICU, young childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Various aspects affecting parenthood were described throughout the timeline, and occasionally the parents experienced difficulties dealing with their children's special physical and/or mental needs. Today, some families have established a functioning situation despite their children's physical and/or mental difficulties, while some still struggle with their children's everyday life. ConclusionHaving an extremely preterm family member profoundly affects the whole family for various lengths of time. Parents expressed a need for support from both healthcare and school throughout their children's childhood and in their transition to adulthood, although the need varies between parent–child pairs. By studying the parents' experiences, their need for support can be further recognized and understood, and developed and improved accordingly.

Sensor Fusion for the Robust Detection of Facial Regions of Neonates Using Neural Networks.

The monitoring of vital signs and increasing patient comfort are cornerstones of modern neonatal intensive care. Commonly used monitoring methods are based on skin contact which can cause irritations and discomfort in preterm neonates. Therefore, non-contact approaches are the subject of current research aiming to resolve this dichotomy. Robust neonatal face detection is essential for the reliable detection of heart rate, respiratory rate and body temperature. While solutions for adult face detection are established, the unique neonatal proportions require a tailored approach. Additionally, sufficient open-source data of neonates on the NICU is lacking. We set out to train neural networks with the thermal-RGB-fusion data of neonates. We propose a novel indirect fusion approach including the sensor fusion of a thermal and RGB camera based on a 3D time-of-flight (ToF) camera. Unlike other approaches, this method is tailored for close distances encountered in neonatal incubators. Two neural networks were used with the fusion data and compared to RGB and thermal networks. For the class "head" we reached average precision values of 0.9958 (RetinaNet) and 0.9455 (YOLOv3) for the fusion data. Compared with the literature, similar precision was achieved, but we are the first to train a neural network with fusion data of neonates. The advantage of this approach is in calculating the detection area directly from the fusion image for the RGB and thermal modality. This increases data efficiency by 66%. Our results will facilitate the future development of non-contact monitoring to further improve the standard of care for preterm neonates.

Predictive Intelligent Control of Oxygenation in Preterm Infants: A Two-Center Feasibility Study

Introduction: Supplemental oxygen therapy is a mainstay of modern neonatal intensive care for preterm infants. However, both insufficient and excess oxygen delivery are associated with adverse outcomes. Automated or closed loop FiO2 control has been developed to keep SpO2 within a predefined target range more effectively. Methods: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of closed loop FiO2 control by Predictive Intelligent Control of Oxygenation (PRICO) on the Fabian ventilator in maintaining SpO2 within a target range (88/89-95%) in preterm infants on different modes of invasive and noninvasive respiratory support. In two tertiary neonatal intensive care units, preterm infants with an FiO2 >0.21 were included and received an 8 h nonblinded treatment period of closed loop FiO2 control by PRICO, flanked by two 8 h control periods of routine manual control (RMC1 and RMC2). Results: 32 preterm infants were included (median gestational age 26 + 5 weeks [IQR 25 + 5–27 + 6], median birthweight 828 grams [IQR 704–930]). Six patients received invasive respiratory support, while 26 received noninvasive respiratory support (18 CPAP, 4 DuoPAP, and 4 nasal IMV). The time percentage within the SpO2 target range was increased with PRICO (74.4% [IQR 67.8–78.5]) compared to RMC1 (65.8% [IQR 51.1–77.8]; p = 0.011) and RMC2 (60.6% [IQR 56.2–66.6]; p < 0.001) with an estimated median difference of 6.0% (95% CI 1.2–11.5) and 9.8% (95% CI 6.0–13.0), respectively. Conclusion: In preterm infants on invasive and noninvasive respiratory supports, closed loop FiO2 control by PRICO compared to RMC is feasible and superior in maintaining SpO2 within target ranges.

Trends in survival, perinatal morbidities and two-year neurodevelopmental outcomes in extremely low-birthweight infants over four decades.

Although outcomes for infants born extremely low birthweight (ELBW; <1000g birthweight) have improved over time, it is important to document survival and morbidity changes following the advent of modern neonatal intensive care in the 1990s. To describe trends in survival, perinatal outcomes and neurodevelopment to 2years' corrected age over time across six discrete geographic cohorts born ELBW between 1979 and 2017. Analysis of data from discrete population-based prospective cohort studies of all live births free of lethal anomalies with birthweight 500-999g in the state of Victoria, Australia, over 6 eras: 1979-80, 1985-87, 1991-92, 1997, 2005 and 2016-17. Perinatal data collected included survival, duration and type of respiratory support, neonatal morbidities and two-year neurodevelopmental outcomes. More ELBW live births were inborn (born in a maternity hospital with a neonatal intensive care unit) over time (1979-80, 70%; 2016-17, 84%), and more were offered active care (1979-80, 58%; 2016-17, 90%). Survival to 2years rose substantially, from 25% in 1979-80 to 80% in 2016-17. In survivors, rates of any assisted ventilation rose from 75% in 1979-80 to 99% in 2016-17. Cystic periventricular leukomalacia, severe retinopathy of prematurity and blindness improved across eras. Two-year data were available for 95% (1054/1109) of survivors. Rates of cerebral palsy, deafness and major neurodevelopmental disability changed little over time. The annual numbers with major neurodevelopmental disability increased from 12.5 in 1979-80 to 30 in 2016-17, but annual numbers free of major disability increased much more, from 31 in 1979-80 to 147 in 2016-17. Active care and survival rates in ELBW children have increased dramatically since 1979 without large changes in neonatal morbidities. The numbers of survivors free of major neurodevelopmental disability have increased more over time than those with major disability.

Accelerating Upstream Together: Achieving Infant Health Equity in the United States by 2030.

Accelerating Upstream Together: Achieving Infant Health Equity in the United States by 2030.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in NICU Care Practices.

* Abbreviations: Baby-MONITOR — : Baby–Measure of Neonatal Intensive Care Outcomes Research VLBW — : very low birth weight The ultimate measure of the quality of any health care system is its ability to rescue the most vulnerable patients in an equitable and fair manner. Perhaps no group is more vulnerable than extremely preterm infants. Despite unprecedented advances in modern neonatal intensive care, extreme prematurity remains a major contributor to infant morbidity and mortality and is a source of substantial fiscal burden on the health care system.1,2 Relatedly, ongoing advances in perinatal medicine have not benefitted every racial and ethnic group to the same degree. Indeed, racial and ethnic disparity in pediatric health outcomes has remained an intransigent problem in the United States such that regardless of the metric used, children of racial and ethnic minority have poorer outcomes than their white peers. In neonatal medicine, Black infants are 50% more likely to be born preterm and twice as likely to be born very preterm than white infants.2,3 Beyond disparities in the rates of preterm births, premature infants of racial and ethnic minority have poorer outcomes compared with their premature white peers. For example, in a recent study, Howell et al4 found that among New York City hospitals, mortality of very preterm infants was highest for Black (32%) and Hispanic (28.1%) infants compared with white infants (22.5%). Although disparities in the quality of care provided at NICUs to very low birth weight (VLBW) infants are well documented, and Black infants are often cared for in lower-quality NICUs,5,6 a standardized method of comparing NICU quality was previously not available. With the development of … Address correspondence to Olubukola O. Nafiu, MD, FRCA, MS, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, 700 Children’s Dr, Columbus, OH 43205. E-mail: olubukola.nafiu{at}nationwidechildrens.org

Effects of family integrated care on weight gain in extremely preterm infants.

Family integrated care (FICare) is a model that integrates families as partners in the modern neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) care and which can improve the health outcomes of preterm infants. Our study aimed to explore the effect of FICare on extremely preterm infants. Overall, 182 preterm infants with complete data were collected from June 2017 to June 2018 in the Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children. Sixty-six of 182 infants were enrolled into the FICare group, and another 66 matched subjects were in the control group. SPSS v. 20.0 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) was used for statistical analysis. The correlation between each factor and weight gain was analyzed by linear regression. The rate of weight gain during hospitalization (t=4.32), oxygen exposure time (Z=1.967), hospitalization expenses (t=3.03) and the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) (χ2=4.805) were higher in the FICare group (P<0.05). Elevated birth weight was associated with a decrease of the weight growth rate (P<0.001). The growth rate of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants was higher than normal gestational age infants, P=0.011. Every one year of increase in maternal age (P=0.016), each additional day for restoration days of birth weight (P=0.023), and each increment of δZ score (P<0.001) increased the weight growth rate. The irregular use of hormones reduced the weight growth rate (P=0.023). Compared with the control group, the weight growth rate of FICare group increased (P<0.001). FICare can significantly improve the weight gain in preterm infants ≤32 weeks during hospitalization.

Incremental Improvements Can Reduce Alarm Fatigue in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Incremental Improvements Can Reduce Alarm Fatigue in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia: A review of the pulmonary sequelae in the post-surfactant era.

We describe the respiratory complications of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in childhood and adolescence. The pathophysiology of bronchopulmonary dysplasia has evolved in the era of modern neonatal intensive care. In this review, we aim to summarise the contemporary evidence base and describe the common respiratory morbidities related to BPD including; home oxygen therapy, rehospitalisation, asthma and exercise limitation.

“Health, wealth and achievements of former very premature infants in adult life”

Very preterm survivors born in the early neonatal intensive care era are now in their middle adulthood. The literature from cohort studies and population-linked registries indicate that extreme prematurity is associated with lower educational attainment and income, higher need for social assistance, and lower rates of marriage/partnership and reproduction. In addition, with increasing age, many general and system-specific adverse health outcomes, such as psychiatric problems, hypertension, and cardio-metabolic disorders have emerged, resulting in high cumulative health care costs across the life-span. Yet, a significant majority of adults born preterm are leading productive lives and contributing to society. Although this information may not be directly applicable to survivors of modern neonatal intensive care, there is much to learn from these findings to inform and guide us into designing effective strategies to improve the health and well-being of future very premature infants. The longer-term outcome of more recent survivors remains to be determined.

Management of patent ductus arteriosus in premature infants.

Closure of hemodynamically significant patent ductus arterios (HSPDA) is one of the most important questions in modern neonatal intensive care, especially for preterm babies. Long-term functioning of the hemodynamically significant arterial duct leads to a large number of complications in premature babies, such as: bronchopulmonary dysplasia, periventricular leucomalacia, intraventricular hemorrhage, retinopathy of the premature. To prevent all these complications, the PDA should be closed pharmacologically or surgically as soon as possible without any hesitation. COX inhibitors are commonly used nowa days. Ibuprofen and indomethacin show the equal efficacy and no significant adverse events. But some patients still need surgical treatment. The aim of the study was to determine the feasibility, effectiveness and safety of using various volumes of infusion in combination with COX inhibitors and to determine its effect on the timing of the closure of PDA. 91 premature infants with a gestational age of 26-31 weeks with manifestations of respiratory distress syndrome and НSPDA were studied retrospectively. Premies were divided into 2 groups. Research groups were representative as to gestational age, gender, and weight (1205.0±435.0 g). Therapy for PDA closure included the use of various volumes of restrictive or liberal infusion therapy (from 50 to 100 ml/kg/day) and COX inhibitors (indomethacin, ibuprofen). The volume of infusion therapy was limited in the first group. Preemies received 53.5±6.4 ml/kg/day on DOL1 and 2. From the third day urine excretion increased and the volume of infusion therapy also raised to 63.6±5.6 ml/kg/day, and on day 5 – to 89.7±6.8 ml/kg/day. In the second group there was no strict limitation of the volume of infusion therapy (especially in the first 5 days). Delayed period of PDA closure (on average from 14.55±0.56 DOL) was associated with absence of limitation of the infusion volume. In the first group, volume of infusion therapy was restricted in the first 5 days, and the closure of the ductus arteriosus occurred extremely early (on 2.35±0.48 DOL). COX inhibitors were prescribed according to the standard scheme: in the first 3 days indomethacin was administered orally in doses of 0.2/0.1/0.1 mg/kg/day. If the premature baby had symptoms of intestinal paresis ( this restricted oral administration of indomethacin), ibuprofen was prescribed in a three-day course in doses of 10/5/5 mg/kg/day intravenously or 20/10/10 mg/kg/day in rectal form. In all groups, standard PDA closure therapy was used. In the more remote periods (14 and 28 days), there was no fundamental difference in the volume of infusion in all groups. For early PDA closure limitation of infusion therapy in the first 3-5 days in combination with COX is principle.

Neurosurgical Interventions for Occipital Encephalocele.

Aims and Objectives:The aim of this study is to find the outcome of repair and resection of the occipital encephalocele.Study Design:Case series.Materials and Methods:The clinical data of fifty consecutive occipital encephalocele patients were retrieved from medical records including operative notes, postoperative follow-up visits, and postsurgical complications were noted for analysis from November 2009 to November 2013 at the Department of Neurosurgery, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, Pakistan. All patients were assessed by computed tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging brain, and ultrasound when needed. Physician's assessment, physical examination, and his/her questions to the family at follow-up were used as a tool to determine if there was a developmental delay rather than quantitative analysis like hydrocephalus questionnaires. Patients who developed complications and delayed milestone were regarded as no improvement and those who did not develop complications and achieved appropriate milestone were regarded as improved at 18 months follow-up.Results:Of 50 patients, 17 were males and 33 were females. The average age at presentation was 2.4 months. 16 (32%) patients had increased head circumference and hydrocephalus, 2 (4%) had associated Dandy–Walker cyst, 3 (6%) developed developmental delays, and 8 (15%) had a seizure disorder. None of our patients had neurological deficits. The size of the sac ranged from 2 cm × 3 cm to 27 cm × 15 cm. 9 (18%) patients were admitted with the complication of sac rupture and 2 (4%) patients sac ruptured after admission. Only one patient (2%) had a cerebrospinal fluid leak postoperatively that was repaired primarily without patch graft or dura seal while 4 (8%) developed hydrocephalus after repair of the sac which was treated with placement of ventriculoperitoneal shunt. One (2%) patient did not recover from anesthesia and expired.Conclusion:Encephalocele is commonly seen in the practice of neurosurgery in the world as well as in Pakistan. Modern neuroimaging, neurosurgical techniques, and neonatal neurological intensive care have greatly improved morbidity and mortality in the care of encephalocele.

Acute Responses to Diuretic Therapy in Extremely Low Gestational Age Newborns: Results from the Prematurity and Respiratory Outcomes Program Cohort Study

To determine if daily respiratory status improved more in extremely low gestational age (GA) premature infants after diuretic exposure compared with those not exposed in modern neonatal intensive care units. The Prematurity and Respiratory Outcomes Program (PROP) was a multicenter observational cohort study of 835 extremely premature infants, GAs of 230/7-286/7 weeks, enrolled in the first week of life from 13 US tertiary neonatal intensive care units. We analyzed the PROP study daily medication and respiratory support records of infants ≤34 weeks postmenstrual age. We determined whether there was a temporal association between the administration of diuretics and an acute change in respiratory status in premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit, using an ordered categorical ranking of respiratory status. Infants in the diuretic exposed group of PROP were of lower mean GA and lower mean birth weight (P < .0001). Compared with infants unexposed to diuretics, the probability (adjusted for infant characteristics including GA, birth weight, sex, and respiratory status before receiving diuretics) that the exposed infants were on a higher level of respiratory support was significantly greater (OR, >1) for each day after the initial day of diuretic exposure. Our analysis did not support the ability of diuretics to substantially improve the extremely premature infant's respiratory status. Further study of both safety and efficacy of diuretics in this setting are warranted. Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01435187.

Family Integrated Care: changing the culture in the neonatal unit

Family Integrated Care (FIC) is a new model of neonatal care which supports parents to be primary caregivers, as partners with the clinical team.1 The inspiration for FIC comes from...

Presence and pattern of scarring in children born very preterm

The long-term scarring burden of preterm infants undergoing modern neonatal intensive care is not known. This observational cohort study aimed to document the presence and pattern of scarring in children...

Neonatal candidiasis: clinical spectrum and epidemiology in a tertiary care centre

Background: Candidial infections are a serious problem in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) which increases the mortality and morbidity in addition to increasing health care costs. Confirming the diagnosis by laboratory tests is difficult and a high index of suspicion is required. The objective of this study was to identify the clinical spectrum and epidemiology of neonatal candidiasis in a tertiary care NICU.Methods: The present study was carried out in the NICU of SDM medical college and hospital, Dharwad. All babies who were admitted to NICU and who had positive blood culture for Candida were included in the study. One year Data (1st December 2015 to 31st November 2016) was collected retrospectively from NICU case records. Statistical test used was chi square test.Results: Total admissions to the NICU during the study period were 2591. Blood cultures were positive in 132 babies. Among these, Candidial sepsis was noted in 39.39% (52) babies. Out of the 52 positive fungal cultures, 15 were Candida albicans, 35 were Candida non albicans and 2 were mixed cultures (Candida albicans and non albicans) showing an increasing incidence of non-albicans Candida infections. Among the non albicans Candida, Candida tropicalis and Candida guilliermondii were the predominant species (11 each) followed by Candida famata (6), Candida krusei (6) and Candida parapsilosis (3). Candidial sepsis was seen to be more common among preterm and low birth weight babies. Usage of antibiotics, Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and mechanical ventilation were common risk factors noted in our study.Conclusions: Systemic Candidiasis is a disease of modern neonatal intensive care. It deserves urgent attention for its prevention as well as effective treatment in order to minimize neonatal morbidity and mortality.