ABSTRACT
Background: Aminoglycosides are widely used drugs in neonates with associated ototoxic side effects, that can be diagnosed with auditory brainstem evoked responses, which is the recommended screening technique in neonatal intensive care unit infants. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of aminoglycoside therapy on auditory brainstem evoked responses in term and preterm neonates.Methods: A cross-sectional case control study. Two groups of 26 term and 22 preterm neonates who received aminoglycosides, with no other known risk factors for ototoxicity, were compared with suitable matched control group of 10 neonates in each. ABER was done after at least 5 days of aminoglycoside therapy and results were compared to suitable matched controls.Results: Mean latency of wave I in term neonates at 90 dB and 60 dB and mean interwave latencies of I-V waves in preterm neonates at 30 dB was higher in study group and statistically significant. No statistically significant difference in any of ABER parameters was observed in any group, at all other intensities.Conclusions: Wave I latency was prolonged in study group of term neonates at two intensities which indicates effect of aminoglycoside therapy on distal portion of acoustic nerve. But as there were no such findings at other intensities in term study group and in preterm study group and moreover no other ABER abnormalities were observed, it was concluded that the aminoglycoside therapy has low potential for ototoxicity. Authors support the ABER screening for early detection of hearing abnormalities, and recommend study on larger group of neonates and meta-analysis for final conclusion for evidence-based recommendations to use aminoglycosides in neonates, in view of audiometric and neurological abnormalities.
ABSTRACT
Background: The present study was planned to determine the influence of maternal, obstetric and fetal risk factors on the outcome of intramurally (born at a tertiary care centre) and extramurally (born at a peripheral centre, home or a private facility) born asphyxiated neonates.Methods: It was an observational clinical research with a prospective design and was conducted in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Paediatric Neurology Clinic attached to Department of Paediatrics and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr S N Medical College Jodhpur, Rajasthan. A total of 160 asphyxiated neonates (80 intramural and 80 extramural) were included in the study. A detailed antenatal and perinatal history with obstetrical interventions were recorded. The progress or deterioration in the clinical status of child was noted in hours. Outcome was evaluated in terms of survival, severest Hypoxic Ischaemic Encephalopathy (HIE) stage, time taken to reach non encephalopathic state, requirement of vasopressors and anticonvulsants, ventilator support, hemodynamic stability, time period to attain full enteral feeding, neurological examination at time of discharge and time taken for discharge.Results: Significant difference was observed in the antenatal and perinatal profile, perinatal management and resuscitation, postnatal management, morbidity, mortality and neurodevelopment outcome of extramurally delivered neonates in a peripheral health centre or at home as compared to intramurally delivered neonates in a tertiary institute.Conclusions: It is of paramount importance to have an early referral of asphyxiated neonates to a well equipped NICU using an appropriate well equipped transport unit/ chain so as to improve their outcome.
ABSTRACT
A prospective case controlled study was conducted in the NICU of a tertiary level referral teaching hospital to determine the incidence of renal failure in asphyxiated neonates and to correlate severity and type of renal failure with Apgar score and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) grading of the neonates. Ninety-eight neonates were enrolled 70 asphyxiated babies and 28 healthy controls. Renal functions were assessed using urinary output, urine microscopy, biochemical parameters and sonographic findings. Babies having renal failure were managed on a protocolised plan and followed up till 6 months of age to detect any residual impairment. Blood urea and serum creatinine were significantly higher in asphyxiated babies compared to the control group. Biochemical derangements correlated well with HIE staging and Apgar scores. There was no significant difference in urine output in the control and the study group as significant oliguria was seen in only 7 of the 70 asphyxiated babies and the output did not correlate with severity of asphyxia. Serum sodium level and fractional excretion of sodium showed significantly different values in the asphyxiated babies compared to control. Of the 70 asphyxiated babies 33 (47.1 %) had renal failure, which was of the non-oliguric type in 78 % cases and oliguric type in 22 % cases. Sonographic abnormalities were seen more often in oliguric babies and was associated with a bad prognosis. Renal parameters normalized in all neonates by 6 months of age. Mortality was higher in babies with oliguric renal failure. We conclude that renal failure is a significant problem in asphyxiated neonates with majority of babies having nonoliguric failure. Severity of renal function abnormality correlates well with degree of asphyxia. Oliguria, hyponatremia and abnormal sonographic scan are bad prognostic signs in renal failure secondary to birth asphyxia.