Agenesis of right hemidiaphragm: report of an unusual case of diaphragmatic hernia with review of the literature

We report an unusual case of a newborn female infant who had complete absence of the right hemidiaphragm associated with right lung hypoplasia and abnormal shape of the liver with herniation of abdominal viscera in the chest. We discuss the clinical presentation and post-mortem findings of this rare condition with a review of the literature

Poor weight gain in prematures, and late metabolic acidosis: experience with bicarbonate therapy

This is a prospective study of 26 prematures, admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Jordan University Hospital, Amman, Jordan, and who failed to gain adequate weight after stabilization of their conditions. All of them had compensated metabolic acidosis as documented by their arterial blood gases. Oral supply of those premature neonates with sodium bicarbonate in a dose of 2-5 mEq/kg/day for an average of 4 weeks resulted in excellent and rapid weight gain [after 3 days of starting therapy] in 22 patients [84.6%]. Only four patients [15.4%] showed delayed response in weight gain [after one week of therapy]. This study indicates that when sodium bicarbonate is given orally in small Multiple doses to prematures with late metabolic acidosis it corrects acidosis and promote weight gain, and it is very safe