Risk of early onset neonatal septicemia in babies born to mothers with pre-eclampsia

The effects of maternal pre-eclampsia on fetal outcome has been a subject of concern for a long time. This prospective study aimed to find out the risk factors of early onset septicemia and its relation to neutropenia in the neonates of the pre-eclamptic mothers. Ninety newborn babies born to mothers with pre-eclampsia and 90 matched born to normal mothers were included. The results showed that the IPETMs and INMs groups demographic data were comparable [p >0.05]. Six neonates of IPEMs developed early onset sepsis versus 2 among INMs. The difference was not statistically significant [p<0.05]. Neutropenia was three-fold more frequent in IPETMs when maternal hypertension was severe

Conclusion: babies of pre-eclamptic mothers had relatively more risk of developing early onset septicemia than those of normal mothers. This risk was significantly more in neutropenic babies than non-neutropenic ones of pre-eclamptic mothers

Decision of elective delivery and the incidence of severe respiratory distress at term in a developing country

This study was planned to determine the contribution of elective delivery to severe respiratory distress syndrome [RDS] on a weekly basis from 37-40 weeks' gestation in our hospital. Chart reviews confirmed gestational age, delivery reason, and primary diagnosis of all inborn neonates with RDS requiring mechanical ventilation delivered at 37 - < 41 weeks' gestation in a three-year period. Exclusion criteria were sepsis, pneumonia, meconium aspiration, asphyxia, pulmonary hemorrhage, hydrops, chromosomal abnormality, or congenital malformations affecting respiration. Twenty-seven thousand and thirty-one deliveries occurred from 37 - 41 weeks; 14 [0.05%] had RDS requiring mechanical ventilation. Seven infants delivered at 37 - <38 weeks, [OR for RDS = 38.5; 95% CI = 8.3, 178.3], five delivered at 38 - <39 weeks, [OR for RDS = 13.3; 95% CI = 2.8, 64.0], and two delivered at 39 - <41 weeks. Six of 14 infants were electively delivered without documented lung maturity. Infants born at 37 - <39 weeks are at significantly increased risk for severe RDS

Fetal pulse oximetry and neonatal outcome

The purpose of this study was to compare the predictive value of intrapartum fetal pulse oximetry with that of fetal blood analysis for an abnormal neonatal outcome in case of abnormal feta heart rate. Fetal oxygen saturation was continuously monitored with Nellcor N-400 fetal pulse oximeter in case of an abnormal fetal heart rate during labor. Simultaneous readings of fetal heart rate and fetal blood analysis obtained before birth were compared with neonatal status. Abnormal neonatal outcome was defined as umbilical arterial pH