Articles Related to neonatal

Background: Pneumothorax is potentially a life-threatening condition in neonates with little compensatory pulmonary reserve. Hemodynamically significant pneumothorax requires drainage with large-bore chest tubes, and more recently with small-calibre percutaneous pigtail catheters. This study aims to explicate the effectiveness and safety of both the drainage systems exploring ease of insertion, rates of air-leak resolution, recurrence rates as well as potential procedural complications. Methods: This was a retrospective observational audit reviewing medical records of newborns with symptomatic pneumothorax admitted to tertiary neonatal intensive care unit over 4-year duration, and treated with either chest tube or pigtail catheters as the initial treatment approach. Demographic data, details related to pneumothorax, drain related parameters as well as outcome and efficacy parameters were compared among these two methods of intervention. Results: Out of 51 drainage procedures, 27 infants underwent pigtail insertion compared to 24 infants requiring chest tube thoracostomy. Baseline demographic data, time for radiological clearance and resolution of air leak, duration of drain in-situ, recurrence and complication rate, as well as hospitalisation duration were comparable among the two groups. Group of infants who underwent pigtail insertion required significantly less sedation (51.9% vs 83.3%; p=0.021) and invasive ventilation (63% vs 95.8%; p=0.011) than chest tube insertion. Significantly smaller calibre (8.22±1.6Fr vs 9.08±1.44Fr; p<0.05) catheter was required for pneumothorax drainage with pigtail catheter whose insertion was reported to be more operator friendly

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Neonatal management of severe quadricuspid truncal valve insufficiency is very challenging with high risk of postoperative mortality. Aortic valve reconstruction is the unique rescue and should be consider and previously planned in case of truncal valvuloplasty failure. Many extracardiac malformations can be associated with truncus arteriosus, therefore a cardiac and chest computed tomography scan must be performed before the elective surgical repair.

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Candidemia is the third most common cause of hospital acquired infection affecting infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

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This is a retrospective and documental study with a quantitative approach, performed at the NICU of a reference hospital in Fortaleza, from November 2016 to January 2017, whose sample consisted of 30 medical records. The following variables were analyzed: weight, gestational age (GI), weight / GI adequacy, gender, Apgar score, BDM associated morbidities, ventilator support, parenteral nutrition (NTP), medicines, physiotherapeutic assistance and blood biochemical analysis. The variables were analyzed by Microsoft Excel® 2016 to obtain absolute and percentage data.

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Congenital heart disease is the most common congenital disorder in newborns represents a major cause of perinatal death. The prevalence of these malformations is still unrecognized in Tunisia because of the lack of a national register. The aim of this study was describe the epidemiological and clinical aspects of the heart diseases with neonatal diagnosis in Tunisia.

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Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is observed during the first week of life in approximately 60% of term infants and 80% of preterm infants. The aim of this study is to evaluate the predictive value of cord blood bilirubin and albumin in identifying neonates for subsequent hyperbilirubinemia. Cord blood samples (3ml) were collected from all newborns that complied with the protocol inclusion criteria. The samples were sent for the assaying of total, unconjugated, conjugated bilirubin, albumin levels and baby’s blood group and rhesus factor.

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Mean platelet volume MPV that is included in CBC, will be larger with platelet destruction problems as in Neonatal sepsis NS or when the body is producing increased numbers of platelets. Also, NS is associated with increased production of reactive oxygen species that will lead to consumption of specific antioxidant molecules like uric acid. The aim of the work: to determine the role of MPV and uric acid levels in the early diagnosis of NS.

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Hirschsprung’s disease is a rare pathology Most cases become manifest during the neonatal period, but in rare instances, the disease is initially diagnosed in adult patients.

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Severe prematurity at birth is an indicator of additional attention for the multidisciplinary team, since the newborn in this condition did not have the opportunity to develop organic systems under ideal conditions (intrauterine). Several factors may induce premature birth, malformation of organs or metabolic disruptions, however, additional attention has been given to inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) and deficiency/excess of key nutrients.

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ILCOR now recommends delayed cord clamping of at least 30 seconds in term and preterm neonates. Due to insufficient evidence they provide no specific advice about the neonate that requires resuscitation.

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Right main stem bronchial intubation (RMSBI) causes morbidity during neonatal assisted ventilation. Over-distention of the right middle and/or lower lobes of the lung and under-ventilation and/or atelectasis of the remaining lung are the major complications of RMSBI [1,2]. Complications of RMSBI include a) over-inflation of a pulmonary lobe (lobar emphysema), b) pulmonary interstitial emphysema, c) pneumothorax, and/or d) pneumomediastinum [3]. In very preterm infants, pneumothorax correlates with the pathophysiology of intraventricular hemorrhage [4].

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Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the most common serious bacterial infection in febrile children younger than 3 months, with reported rates ranging from 5% to 20% depending on different series. Neonates and infants up to age 2 months who have pyelonephritis usually do not have symptoms localized to the urinary tract.

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Seventeen alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17-OHPC) is the only FDA-approved drug labeled for prevention of preterm delivery. This drug is also available as a compounded product from licensed compounding pharmacies. This article reviews the FDA approval history and pharmacy compounding quality control data of 17-OHPC, as well as briefly discusses possible future pharmaceutical development strategies for 17-OHPC.

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