The impact of a quality improvement effort in reducing admission hypothermia in preterm infants following delivery / 소아과

PURPOSE: Hypothermia at admission is associated with increased mortality and morbidity in preterm infants. We performed a quality improvement (QI) effort to determine the impact of a decrease in admission hypothermia in preterm infants. METHODS: The study enrolled very low birth weight (VLBW) infants born at Gangnam Severance Hospital between January 2013 and December 2016. This multidisciplinary QI effort included the use of occlusive wraps, warm blankets, and caps; the delivery room temperature was maintained above 23.0℃, and a check-list was used for feedback. RESULTS: Among 259 preterm infants, the incidence of hypothermia (defined as body temperature <36.0℃) decreased significantly from 68% to 41%, and the mean body temperature on neonatal intensive care unit admission increased significantly from 35.5℃ to 36.0℃. In subgroup analysis of VLBW infants, admission hypothermia and neonatal outcomes were compared between the pre-QI (n=55) and post-QI groups (n=75). Body temperature on admission increased significantly from 35.4℃ to 35.9℃ and the number of infants with hypothermia decreased significantly from 71% to 45%. There were no cases of neonatal hyperthermia. The incidence of pulmonary hemorrhage was significantly decreased (P=0.017). Interaction analysis showed that birth weight and gestational age were not correlated with hypothermia following implementation of the protocol. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated a significant reduction in admission hypothermia following the introduction of a standardized protocol in our QI effort. This resulted in an effective reduction in the incidence of massive pulmonary hemorrhage.

Second Intention Healing after Shave Excision of Benign Tumors on the Lid Margin

BACKGROUND: Defects caused by excision of benign lid margin tumors are conventionally repaired by reconstructive surgery. However, second intention healing is another option for managing wounds on the lid margin. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of second intention healing after a shave excision of benign tumors on the lid margin. METHODS: Lid defects following a shave excision of the lid margin tumor were allowed to heal by second intention in 25 patients (26 lesions). The epithelialzation period was calculated, and cosmetic and functional results and complications were evaluated by photographs and ophthalmological examination. RESULTS: The locations of the defects were as follows: upper lid (n=13), lower lid (n=11), and both upper and lower lids (n=1). The mean tumor size was 3.8x3.6 mm, and the mean epithelialization period by second intention was 6.1+/-1.2 weeks. Pathological examinations revealed intradermal nevus (12 cases), compound nevus (five cases), squamous papilloma (five cases), and epidermal cyst (three cases). No patients had a corneal erosion, trichiasis, or hypertrophic scar, except loss of cilia in two cases. The functional and cosmetic results were satisfactory in all patients. CONCLUSION: Healing by second intention is a safe and effective alternative to surgical reconstruction after a shave excision of benign lid margin tumors.

Multiple Germ Cell Tumors Manifesting as Anterior Hypothalamic and Pretectal Syndromes

A 21-year-old man presented with vertical diplopia and subsequently developed heat-dissipation deficit, central diabetes insipidus, light-near dissociation of the pupillary responses, convergence-retraction nystagmus, and mild upgaze limitation. These were consistent with the anterior hypothalamic and pretectal syndromes. Gadolinum-enhanced MRI revealed lesions, involving the suprasellar and pretectal areas, which were consistent with multiple germ cell tumors. The rare combination of anterior hypothalamic and pretectal syndromes may be manifestation of multiple germ cell tumors and require careful evaluation of these areas using gadolinum-enhanced MRI.