Trends and ranges of blood pressure during the first 7 days after birth in extremely premature infants / 中国新生儿科杂志

Objective:To study the trends and ranges of blood pressure in extremely premature infants (EPIs) during the first 7 days after birth.Methods:From January 2016 to December 2020, EPIs born in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Their blood pressure were monitored using umbilical arterial catheters and no patients needed anti-hypotension treatment. The clinical data of the infants and their mothers, blood pressure data during the first 7 days after birth, clinical outcomes and complications were collected. The trends of blood pressure in untreated EPIs were analyzed and the blood pressure ranges of EPIs of different gestational ages (GA) were established.Results:A total of 145 cases of EPIs were included and their systolic pressure, diastolic pressure and mean blood pressure showed upward trends during 2~168 h after birth ( P<0.001). The diastolic pressure increased significantly within 24 h after birth ( P<0.05), systolic pressure and mean blood pressure increased significantly within 72 h after birth ( P<0.05). Blood pressure increased with age and GA. Conclusions:The blood pressure of EPIs will increase spontaneously during 7 days after birth. The ranges of blood pressure are measured for infants with different GA to provide clinical evidence for blood pressure management of EPIs during early postnatal period.

Analysis of risk factors for spontaneous intestinal perforation in extremely premature infants/extremely low birth weight infants / 中国新生儿科杂志

Objective To analyse the risk factors associated with spontaneous intestinal perforation (SIP) in extremely premature infants/extremely low birth weight infants. Method From January 2015 to December 2018, infants with gestational age (GA)<28 weeks or birth weight (BW)<1000 g admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit were enrolled to the retrospective nested case-control study.The clinical data of SIP infants (SIP group) and infants with the same GA but without SIP (control group) were randomly selected and compared. Multivariable Logistic regression was used to analyse the risk factors of SIP. Result A total of 409 extremely premature infants/extremely low birth weight infants were born during the study period. Among them, 25 SIP infants and 55 controls were enrolled. The incidence of SIP in infants with GA 22～25 weeks was 11.8％(16/136), which is higher than infants with GA 26～27 weeks (2.0％, 5/247) (χ2=16.057, P<0.001). The incidence of SIP in infants with BW 400～749 g was 13.0％(14/108), which is higher than infants with BW 750～999 g (3.4％, 8/236) (χ2=11.343, P=0.001). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that twins (OR=4.153, 95％CI 1.392～12.384, P=0.011), umbilical veins catheterization (OR=15.942, 95％CI 1.026～247.789, P=0.048) and ibuprofen use within 3 days after birth (OR=15.387, 95％CI 1.519～155.883, P=0.021) were independent risk factors of SIP. Conclusion The smaller the GA and BW, the higher the incidence of SIP. Twins,umbilical veins catheterization and ibuprofen use early after birth may be independent risk factors of SIP.

Transient intubation for surfactant administration in the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome in extremely premature infants / 소아과

PURPOSE: To investigate the effectiveness of transient intubation for surfactant administration and extubated to nasal continuous positive pressure (INSURE) for treatment of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and to identify the factors associated with INSURE failure in extremely premature infants. METHODS: Eighty-four infants with gestational age less than 28 weeks treated with surfactant administration for RDS for 8 years were included. Perinatal and neonatal characteristics were retrospectively reviewed, and major pulmonary outcomes such as duration of mechanical ventilation (MV) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) plus death at 36-week postmenstrual age (PMA) were compared between INSURE (n=48) and prolonged MV groups (n=36). The factors associated with INSURE failure were determined. RESULTS: Duration of MV and the occurrence of BPD at 36-week PMA were significantly lower in INSURE group than in prolonged MV group (P < 0.05), but BPD plus death at 36-week PMA was not significantly different between the 2 groups. In a multivariate analysis, a reduced duration of MV was only significantly associated with INSURE (P=0.001). During the study period, duration of MV significantly decreased over time with an increasing rate of INSURE application (P < 0.05), and BPD plus death at 36-week PMA also tended to decrease over time. A low arterial-alveolar oxygen tension ratio (a/APO2 ratio) was a significant predictor for INSURE failure (P=0.001). CONCLUSION: INSURE was the noninvasive ventilation strategy in the treatment of RDS to reduce MV duration in extremely premature infants with gestational age less than 28 weeks.

Predictive Value of Cranial Ultrasound for Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of Very Preterm Infants with Brain Injury / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>Background</b>Compared with full-term infants, very preterm infants are more vulnerable to injury and long-term disability and are at high risk of death. The predictive value of ultrasound and imaging on the neurodevelopment is one of the hot topics. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between cranial ultrasound (cUS) variables and neurodevelopmental outcomes of very preterm infants.</p><p><b>Methods</b>Totally 129 very preterm infants (gestational age ≤28 weeks) in neonatal intensive care unit of Hunan Children's Hospital between January 2012 and November 2014 were included in this retrospective study. Serial cUS (weekly before discharge and monthly after discharge) was performed on the infants until 6 months or older. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on the infants at approximately the term-equivalent age. The mental developmental index (MDI) and psychomotor developmental index (PDI) were followed up until the infants were 24 months or older. The relationship between brain injury and MDI/PDI scores was analyzed.</p><p><b>Results</b>The consistency rate between cUS and MRI was 88%. At the first cUS, germinal matrix hemorrhage (GMH) Grades 3 and 4, hospitalization duration, and weight are significantly correlated with MDI/PDI and prognosis (MDI: odds ratio [OR] = 8.415, 0.982, and 0.042, P = 0.016, 0.000, and 0.004; PDI: OR = 7.149, 0.978, and 0.012, P = 0.025, 0.000, and 0.000, respectively). At the last cUS, gestational age, extensive cystic periventricular leukomalacia (c-PVL), and moderate and severe hydrocephaly are significantly correlated with MDI (OR = 0.292, 60.220, and 170.375, P = 0.004, 0.003, and 0.000, respectively). Extensive c-PVL and moderate and severe hydrocephaly are significantly correlated with PDI (OR = 76.861 and 116.746, P = 0.003 and 0.000, respectively).</p><p><b>Conclusions</b>Very premature infants with GMH Grades 3 and 4, short hospitalization duration, and low weight have low survival rates and poorly developed brain nerves. Cerebral palsy can result from severe cerebral hemorrhage, moderate and severe hydrocephaly, and extensive c-PVL. The sustained, inhomogeneous echogenicity of white matter may suggest subtle brain injury.</p>

Pulmonary Outcomes of Early Extubation in Extremely Premature Infants (Gestational Age: 25-26 Weeks) with Synchronized Nasal Intermittent Positive-Pressure Ventilation

PURPOSE: To investigate the pulmonary outcomes of early extubation (within the first 24 hours of life) with synchronized nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) in extremely premature infants born at 25-26 weeks' gestation. METHODS: Medical records of extremely premature infants (gestational age: 25-26 weeks) born and admitted to the Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center between January 2015 and December 2015 (n=42) were reviewed retrospectively. The early extubation group included infants who were extubated within the first 24 hours of life and was compared with a control group that included infants who remained ventilated beyond the first 24 hours of life. Extubation failure was defined as the need for reintubation within 72 hours after extubation. RESULTS: Of the 35 enrolled infants, 22 (62.9%) were extubated within the first 24 hours of life. No significant differences in perinatal factors were observed between the early extubation and control groups. Between the two groups, the incidence rates of extubation failure (18.2% [4/22] vs. 7.7% [1/13], P=0.39), reintubation (50.0% [11/ 22] vs. 46.2% [6/13], P=0.84), mortality (18.2% [4/22] vs. 15.4% [2/13], P=0.83), and the combined rates of clinical bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) or death (40.9% [9/22] vs. 38.5% [5/13], P=0.89) did not significantly differ. CONCLUSION: Early extubation (within the first 24 hours of life) with synchronized NIPPV is safe and effective in the extremely premature infants born at 25-26 weeks' gestation, and does not indicate increased risks of extubation failure and other morbidities.

Trends in Survival and Incidence of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in Extremely Preterm Infants at 23-26 Weeks Gestation

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between survival and incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in extremely premature infants, and identify clinical factors responsible for this association. Medical records of 350 infants at 23-26 weeks gestation from 2000 to 2005 (period I, n = 137) and 2006 to 2010 (period II, n = 213) were retrospectively reviewed. The infants were stratified into 23-24 and 25-26 weeks gestation, and the survival, BPD incidence, and clinical characteristics were analyzed. BPD was defined as oxygen dependency at 36 weeks postmenstrual age. The overall survival rate was significantly improved in period II compared to period I (80.3% vs. 70.0%, respectively; P = 0.028), especially in infants at 23-24 weeks gestation (73.9% vs. 47.4%, respectively; P = 0.001). The BPD incidence in survivors during period II (55.0%) was significantly decreased compared to period I (67.7%; P = 0.042), especially at 25-26 weeks gestation (41.7% vs. 62.3%, respectively; P = 0.008). Significantly improved survival at 23-24 weeks gestation was associated with a higher antenatal steroid use and an improved 5-minute Apgar score. A significant decrease in BPD incidence at 25-26 weeks gestation was associated with early extubation, prolonged use of less invasive continuous positive airway pressure, and reduced supplemental oxygen. Improved perinatal and neonatal care can simultaneously lead to improved survival and decreased BPD incidence in extremely premature infants.

Necrotizing enterocolitis in newborns: update in pathophysiology and newly emerging therapeutic strategies / 소아과

While the survival of extremely premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome has increased due to advanced respiratory care in recent years, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) remains the leading cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity. NEC is more prevalent in lower gestational age and lower birth weight groups. It is characterized by various degrees of mucosal or transmural necrosis of the intestine. Its exact pathogenesis remains unclear, but prematurity, enteral feeding, bacterial products, and intestinal ischemia have all been shown to cause activation of the inflammatory cascade, which is known as the final common pathway of intestinal injury. Awareness of the risk factors for NEC; practices to reduce the risk, including early trophic feeding with breast milk and following the established feeding guidelines; and administration of probiotics have been shown to reduce the incidence of NEC. Despite advancements in the knowledge and understanding of the pathophysiology of NEC, there is currently no universal prevention measure for this serious and often fatal disease. Therefore, new potential techniques to detect early biomarkers or factors specific to intestinal inflammation, as well as further strategies to prevent the activation of the inflammatory cascade, which is important for disease progression, should be investigated.