Effect of Kangaroo Mother Care on Cerebral Hemodynamics in Preterm Neonates Assessed by Transcranial Doppler Sonography in Middle Cerebral Artery

Objective: To study the effect of KMC in premature newborns on cerebral hemodynamics in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) using transcranial doppler sonography. Methods: In this descriptive study, 40 clinically stable preterm neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of our institute and undergoing Kangaroo mother care (KMC) were enrolled. Physiological and cerebral blood flow parameters of MCA were obtained by using transcranial doppler sonography at baseline, at 60 minutes of KMC, and after 60 minutes of stopping KMC. Results: Of the 40 enrolled neonates (24 males), the mean (SD) birth weight, gestation age, and postnatal age were 1698.25 (495.44) g, 33.00 (1.67) wk, and 6.80 (4.51) days, respectively. The mean (SD) cerebral blood flow velocities increased (peak systolic velocity (PSV), P=0.03; end diastolic velocity, P<0.001; mean velocity, P<0.001) and doppler indices decreased (resistive index, P=0.001; pulsatility index, P<0.001) significantly; whereas, heart rate (P<0.001) decreased but SpO2 (P=0.001) and mean blood pressure (P=0.003) increased significantly at 60 minutes of KMC as compared to baseline. Sixty minutes after stopping KMC, all parameters (except PSV) were higher than baseline, indicating post KMC effect. Conclusion: KMC improves cerebral hemodynamics in clinically stable preterm neonates.

Pain Control Interventions in Preterm Neonates: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objectives: To compare individual efficacy and additive effects ofpain control interventions in preterm neonates.Design: Randomized controlled trialSetting: Level-3 University affiliated neonatal intensive care unit.Participants: 200 neonates (26-36 wk gestational age) requiringheel-prick for bedside glucose assessment. Exclusion criteriawere neurologic impairment and critical illness precluding studyinterventions.Intervention: Neonates were randomly assigned to Kangaroomother care with Music therapy, Music therapy, Kangaroo Mothercare or Control (no additional intervention) groups. All groupsreceived expressed breast milk with cup and spoon as a baselinepain control intervention.Main outcome measure: Assessment of pain using PrematureInfant Pain Profile (PIPP) score on recorded videos.Results: The mean (SD) birth weight and gestational age of theneonates was 1.9 (0.3) kg and 34 (2.3) wk, respectively. Analysisof variance showed significant difference in total PIPP scoreacross groups (P<0.001). Post-hoc comparisons using Sheffe’stest revealed that the mean (SD) total PIPP score wassignificantly lower in Kangaroo mother care group [7.7 (3.9) vs.11.5 (3.4), 95% CI(–5.9, –1.7), P<0.001] as well as Kangaroomother care with Music therapy group [8.5 (3.2) vs. 11.5 (3.4),95%CI (–5.1, –0.9), P=0.001] as compared to Control group.PIPP score was not significantly different between Control groupand Music therapy group.Conclusions: Kangaroo mother care with and without Musictherapy (with expressed breast milk) significantly reduces pain onheel-prick as compared to expressed breast milk alone. Kangaroomother care with expressed breast milk should be the first choiceas a method for pain control in preterm neonates.

Evaluation of Knowledge and Skills of Home Based Newborn Care among Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA).

Objective: We assessed the knowledge level and skills of trained ASHAs in providing home-based newborn care. Methods: 100 ASHA from two talukas of Anand district of Gujarat participated. Knowledge was assessed using a structured questionnaire while certain skills were assessed through direct observation on mannequins. Results: The mean (SD) knowledge score of the participants was 16.7(3.16) out of 34. The skills were satisfactory in 52%, 61%, 43%, and 68% of ASHA workers for temperature measurement, hand washing, weight measurement and skin-to-skin care, respectively. Large variability was observed in self–reported and field performance of ASHA workers. Conclusions: Knowledge and skills of Asha workers in this region were inadequate.

MCI circular on research publications: Missing the wood for the trees.

We read with interest the editorial “Regressive trend: MCI’s approach to assessment of medical teachers’ performance”. MCI is the holy cow of medical education, and we are yet to see a detailed critique of its various policies. India lags behind in evidence-based health policies as well as those that regulate education. It was not surprising to see the regulations on research publication in the context of promotion. It was shocking that the circular has numerous typos, which erode one’s credibility. Historically, typos have resulted in regime changes and company liquidations.

Oral Sucrose for Pain in Neonates During Echocardiography: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: To test the efficacy of oral sucrose in reducing pain/ stress during echocardiography as estimated by Premature Infant Pain Profile score. Design: Double-blind, parallel-group, randomized control trial. Setting: Tertiary-care neonatal care unit located in Western India. Participants: Neonates with established enteral feeding, not on any respiratory support and with gestational age between 32 and 42 weeks requiring echocardiography. Interventions: Neonates in intervention group received oral sucrose prior to echocardiography. Main outcome measures: Assessment was done using Premature Infant Pain Profile score. Results: There were 104 examinations; 52 in each group. Baseline characteristics like mean gestational age (37.6 vs. 37.1), birth weight (2.20 vs. 2.08), and feeding status (Breastfeeding- 59.6% vs. 44.2%, paladai feeding- 13.5% vs. 13.5%, and gavage feeding- 26.9% vs. 42.3%) were comparable. The mean (SD) premature infant pain profile score was significantly higher in control group [(7.4 (3.78) vs. 5.2 (1.92), P <0.001]. Conclusion: Oral sucrose significantly reduces pain, and is safe to administer to neonates.

Video Surveillance Audit of Hand-washing Practices in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Objective: To audit hand-washing practices by video-surveillance. Methods: Six main steps (step 2 to step 7) of World Health Organization’s hand hygiene technique with soap and water were used for evaluation. Handwashing was categorized as excellent, acceptable and unacceptable.Results: Of 1081 recordings, 403 (37.3%) were excellent, 521 (48.2%) were acceptable and 157 (14.5%) were unacceptable handwash. Unacceptable handwashing was more prevalent in the night in comparison to daytime (17.5% vs 12.5%). Thirteen people washed their face after washing their hands.Conclusion: Innovative interventions are required to improve handwashing during night shifts.

Comparison of Forehead Infrared Thermometry with Axillary Digital Thermometry in Neonates.

Fluctuations in core body temperature beyond a narrow range are of concern as they indicate changed homeostasis. Thermoregulation remains a key aspect of neonatal care. New ‘non touch’ method of measuring temperature may reduce infection rate and discomfort of neonates. Body temperature of neonates admitted in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit was measured using axillary digital thermometer and a handheld infrared non touch thermometer. The two methods did not agree well (mean difference = -0.5, 95% limits of agreement: [-2.3, 1.2]). The agreement was similar with a negligible difference when patients in open care warmers were excluded (mean difference = -0.6, 95% limits of agreement: [-2.3, 1.1]). As the accuracy is unsatisfactory, the said technology needs further improvement before it can be adapted for routine patient care.

Newborn Care Practices and Health Seeking Behavior in Urban Slums and Villages of Anand, Gujarat.

Health status of neonates in urban slums has not been studied in smaller towns. A questionnaire was administered to 154 families of 10 urban slums of Anand (population - 197351) and 160 families from 6 villages of Anand district. The socioeconomic and education status of the slum dwellers versus rural participants were significantly lower (P<0.001). Antenatal care (79.9 vs 94.4%, P<0.001), hospital delivery (82.5 vs 93.8%, P=0.002), neonatal follow-up (27.9 vs 78.8%, P<0.001), health seeking (56.5 vs 91.3%, P<0.001), essential newborn care and exclusive breastfeeding (6.5 vs 85.6%, P<0.001) were also lower in urban slums, as compared to villages, Care seeking was low in urban slums, Hindus and illiterate mothers. Health care and socioeconomic status of neonates in slums of smaller cities is poorer than in surrounding villages.

Educational intervention to improve death certification at a teaching hospital.

Background. Information recorded in the ‘cause of death’ section of death certificates is an important source of mortality statistics. It is used for policy decisions, development of healthcare programmes and health research. Errors in death certificates can lead to inappropriate allocation of resources. Errors are universal and have been reported previously. We planned an educational intervention aimed at resident doctors from various specialties at our teaching hospital to improve the accuracy of the ‘cause of death’ section in death certificates. Methods. Three workshops, each of 90 minutes, were conducted for residents. A total of 198 death certificates (96 before and 102 after intervention) were audited. We compared the frequency of major and minor errors before and after the educational intervention. Results. Following the educational intervention, there was a significant decrease in major errors such as unacceptable underlying cause of death (39.6% v. 24.5%, p=0.034), reporting of mechanism without underlying cause of death (13.5% v. 1%, p=0.001) and improper sequencing of events (25% v. 6%, p=0.004). There was no significant decrease in minor errors such as absence of time intervals, use of abbreviations and reporting a mechanism with a legitimate cause. Conclusion. Both major and minor errors are common in death certification at teaching hospitals. Educational interventions can improve the accuracy of reporting in death certificates.