Short-term Outcome and Predictors of Survival Among Neonates With Moderate or Severe Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy: Data From the Indian Neonatal Collaborative

Background: Among term and late preterm infants, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is an important cause of mortality, and neurologic morbidity among survivors. Objective: The primary objective was to study the incidence of survival to discharge among late preterm and term infants with moderate or severe HIE. Secondary objectives were to explore variation in the management of HIE across participating sites and to identify the predictors of survival. Setting: Indian Neonatal Collaborative (INNC), a network of 28 neonatal units in India. Study design: Retrospective cohort. Participants: Late preterm (34-36 weeks) and term (37-42 weeks) infants with moderate to severe HIE from 2018-2019. Outcome: The primary outcome was survival to discharge (including discharged home and transfer to other hospital). A multivariate logistic regression model was constructed to identify the predictors of survival. Results: Of 352 infants with moderate or severe HIE, 59% received therapeutic hypothermia. Survival to discharge among infants with moderate or severe HIE was 82%. Severe HIE (aOR 0.04; 95% CI 0.02-0.10), persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN) (aOR 0.22; 95% CI 0.08-0.61) and requirement of epinephrine during resuscitation (aOR 0.21; 95% CI 0.05-0.84) were independently associated with decreased odds of survival to discharge. Conclusion: Survival to discharge among infants with moderate or severe HIE was 82%. Severe HIE, requirement of epinephrine during resuscitation and PPHN decreased the odds

Postnatal Lactational Counseling and Neonatal Weight Pattern.

Objective: To compare the impact of postnatal lactational counseling on the weight gain and frequency of mixed feeding in full term neonates. Design: Observational study. Setting: Mother-infant pairs were observed in the maternity section of a multispecialty general hospital in Mumbai during two time periods. Participants: 260 mothers who delivered a full term, healthy, appropriate for gestational age neonate with birth weight >2.2 kg. Methods: Between 18 November, 2007 and 4 March, 2008, 126 mothers received unstructured verbal encouragement to maintain breastfeeding from the maternity staff. From 1 June, 2008 to 16 December, 2008, 134 mothers were counseled about breastfeeding by the pediatric residents and nurses with the help of charts, literature and verbal advice. They were supervised and helped during the first feed and subsequently until discharge. Main outcome measure: Weight gain (g/kg/day) of neonate at 28 days of life. Results: The mean (SD) weight gain was significantly higher in the counseled group in comparison to historical control group [9.2 (4.5) g/kg/d vs. 7.9 (5.1) g/kg/d; P=0.03]. Mixed feeding occurred less frequently in [RR 0.36, 95% CI 0.13, 0.98; P=0.046] the counseled group (5/134) as compared to control group (13/126). Conclusions: Postnatal lactational counseling leads to higher weight gain, and lesser chances of mixed feeding in the neonatal period.

Enteral paracetamol or Intravenous Indomethacin for Closure of Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Preterm Neonates: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of enteral paracetamol and intravenous indomethacin for closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in preterm neonates. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: Level III neonatal intensive care unit. Participants: 77 preterm neonates with birth weight ≤1500 g and PDA size ≥1.5 mm, with left to right ductal flow with left atrium to aortic root ratio >1.5:1; diagnosed by 2D-Echo within first 48 hours of life. Intervention: Paracetamol drops through the infant feeding tube (15mg/kg/dose 6 hourly for 7 days) or intravenous indomethacin (0.2 mg/kg/dose once daily for 3 days). Outcome measures: Primary: PDA closure rate assessed by echocardiography. Secondary: need for surgical closure of PDA, renal impairment, gastrointestinal bleed, necrotising enterocolitis, hepatotoxicity, pulmonary hemorrhage, sepsis, hypothermia, retinopathy of prematurity, intraventricular hemorrhage, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and mortality. Results: PDA closure rate was 100% (36/36) in enteral paracetamol group as compared to 94.6% (35/37) in intravenous indomethacin group (P=0.13). The secondary outcomes were also similar between the two groups. There was no occurrence of hepatotoxicity. Conclusions: Enteral paracetamol is safe but not superior to intravenous indomethacin in the treatment of PDA in preterm neonates.

Glycerin Suppository for Promoting Feeding Tolerance in Preterm Very Low Birthweight Neonates: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of glycerin suppository versus no suppository in preterm very-low-birthweight neonates for improving feeding tolerance. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: Level III neonatal unit from Mumbai, India. Participants: 50 very-low-birthweight (birth weight between 1000 to 1500 grams) preterm (gestational age between 28 to 32 weeks) neonates randomized to glycerine suppository (n=25) or no intervention (n=26). Intervention: Glycerin suppository (1g) once a day from day-2 to day-14 of life or no suppository, along with intermittent oral feeds and standardized care. Primary outcome: Time required to achieve full enteral feeds (180 mL/kg/d). Results: Baseline characteristics of neonates like gestational age, birthweight, gender and age at the time of introduction of feeds were comparable in both groups. The mean (SD) duration to reach full enteral feed was 11.90 (3.1) days in glycerin suppository group and was not significantly different (P=0.58) from control group, [11.33 (3.57) days]. Glycerin suppository group regained birth weight 2 days earlier than control group but this difference was not significant (P=0.16). There was no significant difference in duration of hospital stay or occurrence of necrotizing enterocolitis amongst the two study groups. Conclusion: Once daily application of glycerin suppository does not accelerate the achievement of full feeds in preterm very-lowbirthweight neonates.

Effect of Two Different Doses of Parenteral Amino Acid Supplementation on Postnatal Growth of Very Low Birth Weight Neonates – A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of two different doses of parenteral aminoacid supplementation on postnatal growth in Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) infants receiving partial parenteral nutrition (PPN). Design: Double blinded randomized controlled trial. Settings: Level 3 NICU between February 2008 to February 2010. Participants: 150 inborn babies with birthweight between 900- 1250 g, irrespective of gestational age, were randomized to either of the two interventions of amino acid supplementation. Intervention: Two different initial doses of parenteral amino acids (AA) in the PPN solutions- Low AA group: 1 g/kg/d versus High AA group: 3 g/kg/d from day 1 of life with increment by 1 g/kg every day till a maximum of 4 g/kg/d, until babies tolerated 75% enteral feeds. Main outcome: Average postnatal weight gain (in g/kg/d)) by 28 days of life. Results: Both groups had similar baseline characteristics. The gain in weight, length and head circumference at 28 days were significantly lower in the High AA group. The average weight gain at 28 days was 8.67g/kg/d in the High AA group and 13.15g/kg/d in the Low AA group (mean difference 123.12, 95% CI 46.67 to 199.37, P<0.001). The incidences of neonatal morbidities associated with prematurity were similar in both groups. Conclusion: Higher initial parenteral aminoacid supplementation, in settings where partial parenteral nutrition is administered, results in poor growth in VLBW infants due to inadequate non-protein calorie intake.

Effect of Kangaroo Mother Care Vs Expressed Breast Milk Administration on Pain Associated with Removal of Adhesive Tape in Very Low Birth Weight Neonates: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To compare the pain relief effect of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) and Expressed Breast Milk (EBM) on the pain associated with adhesive tape removal in very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates. Design: Randomized Controlled Trial. Setting: Neonatal intensive care unit of a tertiary care teaching hospital. Participants: 15 VLBW neonates who needed adhesive tape removal for the first part and 50 VLBW neonates needing adhesive tape removal for the second part. Methods: In first stage of the study, we studied whether adhesive tape removal in VLBW neonates was painful. In the second stage, eligible VLBW neonates were randomised to compare the efficacy of KMC and EBM in reducing the pain during the procedure of adhesive tape removal. Outcome Variables: Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) Score, heart rate, oxygen saturation. Results: There was significant increase in pain associated with the removal of adhesive tape (Mean pre-procedure PIPP score 3.47 ± 0.74; post-procedure mean PIPP score 12.13 ± 2.59; P<0.0001). The post intervention mean PIPP pain score was not significantly different between the KMC and EBM groups (P= 0.62). Conclusions: Removal of adhesive tape is a painful procedure for VLBW neonates. There was no difference between KMC and EBM in relieving pain associated with adhesive tape removal.

Nitric oxide in preterm infant with pulmonary hypoplasia.

Premature infants with hypoplastic lungs may have elevated pulmonary vascular resistance with right to left shunt across ductus arteriosus and/or foramen ovale. Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) being selective pulmonary vasodilator without significant effects on systemic circulation can potentially reverse this shunt. The authors herewith report a case of a premature infant with severe hypoxemic respiratory failure after preterm premature prolonged rupture of membranes leading to oligohydramnios and pulmonary hypoplasia that was treated successfully with NO and describe the neurodevelopmental outcome at 1 year of age.