Medical Utilization and Costs in Preterm Infants in the First 6 Years of Life After Discharge From Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Nationwide Population-Based Study in Korea

Background@#The improvement in the survival rate of preterm infants has paradoxically raised the risk of morbidities in childhood. Our objectives were to assess the medical utilization and costs in preterm infants following discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit in the first 6 years of life. @*Methods@#We conducted a population-based study using the National Health Information Database (2011–2017) provided by the Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS).A total of 361,190 children born in Korea between January 1 and December 31, 2011 were divided into four groups according to the gestational age at birth: extremely preterm (less than 28 weeks), very preterm (28–31 weeks), moderate to late preterm (32–36 weeks), and full term (37–41 weeks). The cumulative number of outpatient visits, cumulative length of hospital stay, rate of hospital and intensive care unit admissions, and cumulative medical costs for inpatients and outpatients were compared for each gestational age group. @*Results@#Earlier gestational age was significantly associated with an increased risk of the cumulative number of outpatient visits, cumulative length of hospital stay, and rate of hospital and intensive care unit admissions for the first 6 years of life. The mean cumulative inpatient and outpatient costs per child significantly decreased with increasing gestational age. When assessed based on population size, the total cumulative medical costs were highest for moderate to late preterm children. @*Conclusion@#Earlier gestational age was strongly associated with increased healthcare resource utilization and medical costs. Our findings on the potential long-term socioeconomic impact on public health are expected to aid the development of future health care policies for preterm children.

Two Cases of SARS-CoV-2-Positive Mothers and Their Newborns in Korea / 감염과화학요법

It is unclear how severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) affects pregnant women and their fetuses or newborns. We report two infants born to mothers with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Korea. The first case was a healthy female baby born at 39 +3 weeks' gestation from a mother diagnosed with COVID-19. The second case was a female baby born at 38 +0 weeks' gestation. The newborn in the second case had symptoms of respiratory distress immediately after birth, and nasal continuous positive airway pressure support was applied for 8 hours. Real-time polymerase chain reaction test results for SARSCoV-2 using amniotic fluid, neonatal nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs, blood, urine, stool, and rectal swab were all negative in the 1st and 2nd days of life in both cases. Placental pathology showed acute necrotizing deciduitis and intervillous fibrin deposition with acute intervillositis. Although clinical evidence of vertical transmission was not found in our cases, with the possibility of placental inflammation, close monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 positive mothers and their newborn is required.

Povidone-Iodine Pleurodesis for Chylothorax in an Extremely Low Birth Weight Infant

Chylothorax, the accumulation of chyle in the pleural space, is a rare condition, but can lead to serious complications in neonates. Conservative therapy for chylothorax includes enteral feeding with medium-chain triglyceride-enriched diet or parenteral nutrition and administration of octreotide. Surgical management is considered in cases where there is no response to conservative therapy; however, the standardized approach to refractory neonatal chylothorax is still controversial. Chemical pleurodesis can be used when medical therapies for chylothorax fail, to avoid more invasive surgical procedures. We report an extremely preterm infant born at 26 weeks of gestation with refractory chylothorax after patent ductus arteriosus ligation. The infant was successfully treated with pleurodesis using 4% povidone-iodine, without long-term side effects.

Clinical Features of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in Neonates: A Single Center Study

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection during the neonatal period to provide information that is useful in clinical practice and suggest extension of the palivizumab administration. METHODS: Neonates admitted to the National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital neonatal intensive care unit due to respiratory symptoms and for whom multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and multiplex real time-polymerase chain reaction tests were performed between October 2011 and May 2016 were included in this study. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed, and data was collected for 156 neonates. RESULTS: Among the 156 neonates, RSV was detected in 114 (73.1%), non-RSV in 25 (16%), and no virus in 17 (10.9%). The majority were full term infants (92.4%) and peak incidence of RSV infection was in January. Post-natal care center infection was more common in the RSV group (46.6%) than that in the other virus groups (24%, P=0.0243). Clinical symptoms were severe in the RSV group in contrast to that in the non-RSV or others groups. The RSV group frequently needed oxygen therapy (P=0.0001) and the duration of hospital stays were longer (P=0.0001). CONCLUSION: RSV is a significant cause of respiratory infection in neonates and the severity is higher in contrast to that with other viral causes of infection. Infants in post-natal care centers have a high-risk of developing RSV infections; therefore, palivizumab administration may be considered in this group to prevent hospitalization and reduce the duration of hospital stay.

Apert and Pfeiffer Syndromes: A Report of Two Cases / 대한소아신경학회지

Craniosysostosis syndrome is caused by premature fusion of bones of skull and face during fetal development. It is related to Fibroblast growth factor receptor gene and most common craniosynostosis syndromes are Apert, Pfeiffer and Crouzon. Apert syndrome is one of the severe type of craniosynostosis syndromes which shows mutations in the Fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) gene. Pfeiffer syndrome is also related with FGFR 1 or 2 gene mutation. We experienced two patients with craniosynostosis syndromes, Apert syndrome and Pfeiffer syndrome. The first baby was a in-born female baby presented with syndactly of the hands and feet and facial dysmorphism including shallow orbit with deep crease above eye brow. Apert syndrome was confirmed by the presence of a mutation in FGFR2. The second patient visited our developmental delay clinic due to developmental delay at seven month old age. He showed facial dysmorphism including cloverleaf-shaped skull, micrognathia, low set ears, low nasal bridge and high-arched palate, but there were no syndactly or limb anomalies. He was suspected of Pfeiffer syndrome, however his FGFR2 gene study was normal. These patients need multidisciplinary team management and regular follow up for visual, auditory, and cognitive development functions Pediatricians have important role on recognizing the patients with facial dysmorphism, planning to evaluate accompanying anomalies and making appropriate decisions about the timing of surgical management to minimize growth and cognitive impairments.

Clinical Analysis of the Pediatric Patients with Neurological Disorders Seen in the Emergency Department / 대한소아신경학회지

PURPOSE: Pediatric emergencies with seizure and decreased mental status or loss of consciouseness may cause severe complications without early proper management. Distribution of neurological disorders may differ according to various demographics, it would be valuable to evaluate recent data in Korea. METHODS: Patients who had neurological problems and below 18 years old were defined as case. 1,058(5.6%) cases who visited the emergency department of Chung-Ang University Hospital from January 2005 to December 2008 were analyzed. The patients were also divided into four age groups: age 1 year or younger, preschool children(2-5 years), middle childhood group(6-10 years), and adolescent group(11-18 years). RESULTS: The male to female ratio was 1.5:1. Most children were between 2 to 5 years old(mean age=3 years). Febrile convulsion is the most common neurological disorders among infant and preschooler, meningitis is the most common among middle childhood, epilepsy and headache is the most common among adolescent. Main initial presentations were seizure followed by fever, headache and vomiting. Febrile convulsion was the most common neurological disorders followed by epilepsy and meningitis. Final dispositions of patients were admission, discharge, against medical device, and transfer to other hospital. Admission rate of patients with neurological disorders was higher than those of total patients. CONCLUSION: Neurological disorders are increasing in pediatric emergencies and have highest admission rate, mostly because of the parent's anxiety and severity of disease itself. Therefore, not only detect and treat neurological disorder in early stage, but also reassuring parent is important.

A Case of Asymptomatic Patient with Idiopathic Pulmonary Artery Aneurysm

An aneurysm of the pulmonary artery is a rare entity, but has a potentially fatal prognosis. We report a case of a 28 year-old asymptomatic woman, with an idiopathic pulmonary artery aneurysm. She was admitted to our hospital because of an abnormal bulging contour of the left hilum on chest X-ray. A computed tomographic scan and pulmonary angiography showed dilatation of the main and proximal left pulmonary arteries. She has a stable, non-progressive condition without treatment during the 8 month follow-up period.

Postnatal Body Weight Changes in Preterm SGA and Preterm AGA Infants on Fluid Restriction Therapy / 대한주산의학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: To determine the differences in water balance between preterm small for gestational age (SGA) and appropriate for gestational age(AGA) infants, we compared the difference in initial physiologic weight loss during the first five days of life and studied associated factors influencing the initial physiologic weight loss in preterm SGA and AGA infants. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed water and electrolyte balance in 51 preterm low birth weight infants of whom 20 were preterm SGA infants(gestational age, 30.4+/-1.6weeks:birth weight, 970+/-180g) and 31 preterm AGA infants(30+/-1.7 weeks:1437+/-276g) matched by gestation. RESULTS: The percent weight loss was significantly lower in SGA than in AGA infants(p=0.01). The percent weight loss on the fifth day of life were 12.1+/-5.3% in SGA and 15.8+/-4.3% in AGA infants, respectively(p=<0.01). SGA infants had significantly lower urine output on the second and third day of life compared to AGA infants. Diuresis started on the second day of life in AGA infants and on the fifth day of life in SGA infants. CONCLUSION: The initial physiologic weight loss in SGA infants occurred in a smaller degree compared with AGA infants. This was associated with lower urine volume and the delay in onset of diuresis in SGA infants. These differences in water balance in SGA and AGA infants should be considered in the management of preterm low birth weight infants on mechanical ventilation.

Detection of Virulence Genes in Uropathogenic Escherichia coli by Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction(PCR) : Comparison with Clinical Characteristics / 대한신장학회잡지

BACKGROUND: We identified virulence genes in uropathogenic E. coli isolates and studied the association between virulence gene and clinical characteristics in order to predict the severity and recurrency. METHODS: 39 Escherichia coli strains from patients with urinary tract infection were clinically and genotypically characterized. The strains were examined genotypically by using the multiplex polymerase chain reaction for presence of 5 urovirulence genes : pyelonephritis-associated pili(pap), S. fimbriae(sfa), afimbrial adhesin(afa), cytotoxic necrotizing factor (cnf), and alpha-hemolysin(hly). The patient's clinical characteristics were determined retrospectively. RESULTS: 17 pap(+), 4 sfa(+), 7 afa(+), 6 cnf(+), and 8 hly(+) strains were identified. And there were 10 genotypes. Among them, genotype pap(+)sfa(-)afa(-)cnf(-) hly(-) was most dominant(36%). But no urovirulence gene was detected in 12 strains(31%). When the data was analyzed, it was apparent that an association among various urovirulence genes exists. sfa gene was frequently associated with cnf gene(p < 0.001). And afa gene was associated cnf and hly gene(p= 0.026, <0.001). An association between cnf gene and hly gene was observed(p=0.002). Positive rates of virulence genes were not different between male and female. In infancy, pap(-)sfa(-)afa(+)cnf(+)hly(+) genotype was dominant. In 2-15 years old age group, pap(-) sfa(-)afa(-)cnf(-)hly(-) genotype was dominant. And in 16- 40 years old age group, pap(+)sfa(-)afa(-)cnf(-)hly(-) was dominant. So, some virulence genotype might be associated with specific age group. Presence of virulence gene or specific genotype was not different among diseases(acute pyelonephritis, cystitis, asymptomatic bacteriuria). So, virulence genes were not associated with severity of urinary tract infection. Virulence genes were not associated with susceptibility of recurrent infection. In neurogenic bladder patients, there were significantly more sfa(+) strains (p=0.019). And all isolates of neurogenic bladder patients were genotype pap(+)sfa(+)afa(-)cnf(+)hly(-)(p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In this study, We found which genotype is most dominant in uropathogenic Escherichia coli, and that virulence genes do not suggest severity or recurrency of urinary tract infection. In neurogenic bladder patients, some virulence genes were more prevalent.

Clinical Trial of Domestically Developed Bovine Lung Surfactant YY-38 in Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome

PURPOSE: We previously reported modified bovine lung surfactant YY-38(Newfactan ) had a low surface tension, good hysteresis, and exhibited good pressure-volume curve in animal experiment(J Korean Pediatr Asso 1997;40:771-85). We performed multicenter clinical trial of Newfactan in neonatal RDS. METHODS: Seventy-seven infants with RDS(GA 31.8+/-2.9 wks and BW 1,809+/-592 gm) in 4 NICU were enrolled. After administration of Newfactan , we analyzed ventilator parameters and outcomes in 71 infants excluding mortality cases(n=6), and also compared risk factors between response(n=53) and redosing group(n=18). RESULTS: Newfactan was administered at 6.8+/-7.2 hr after birth. Ventilator parameters such as FiO2, alveolar-arterial oxygen difference(a-A PO2) and oxygenation index(OI) except mean airway pressure(MAP) were significantly improved from six hours after administration. All parameters were improved at 24 hours after administration and persisted for 5 days. Outcomes were as follows; PDA(n=24), BPD(n=16), IVH(n=13), sepsis(n=9), ROP(n=7), pneumothorax(n=4) NEC(n=3), PIE(n=2), and pulmonary hemorrhage(n=1). All patients survived 30 days after birth. Redosing rate was 25%. The incidence of PDA was greater in redosing(56%) than in response group(26 %)(P=0.025). CONCLUSION: In prospective multicenter clinical trial, Newfactan was effective in the treatmentof RDS.

Risk factors for Pulmonary Interstitial Emphysema (PIE) in Mechanically Ventilated Neonates with Hyaline Membrane Disease

PURPOSE: Pulmonary interstitial emphysema (PIE) is a common and serious complication of mechanical ventilation in infants with hyaline membrane disease. This abnormal collection of gases has two basic roentgenographic features; linear and cyst-like radiolucencies. High positive inspiratory pressure was found to be the most significant parameter associated with development of fatal pulmonary interstitial emphysema. Without prompt conservative management such as lowering peak inspiratory pressure, PIE often progress to a pneumothorax with increased mortality. We studied the incidence and risk factors of PIE and associated risk factors which progress to pneumothorax in mechanically ventilated infants with hyaline membrane disease. METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively the charts of infants who had been admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit between Jan. 1990 and Mar. 1995. A hundred and two infants who were diagnosed as hyaline membrane disease and mechanically ventilated were included in the study. Analysis of clinical characteristics and ventilator parameters were made. Chest radiographs were reviewed for hyaline membrane disease, PIE, pneumothorax by a pediatric radiologist without knowledge of their clinical course. RESULTS: 1) We observed PIE in 14 of 102 infants (13.7%) of which 11 infants progressed to develop pneumothorax. 2) Low gestational age, low apgar score and high peak inspiratory pressure were the factors significantly associated with development of PIE. 3) PIE was frequently located bilaterally (52%), distributed on whole lung parenchyme (92%). Sizes of radiolucency were variable including blebs. 4) Early onset PIE and failure to promptly lower peak inspiratory pressure were the associated risk factors for development of pneumothorax. 5) Pneumothorax developed within a mean 7.5 hours after apperance of PIE. Right side pneumothorax was more frequent (67%). Mortality increased to 73% with development of pneumothorax in PIE. CONCLUSIONS: Early diagnosis of PIE and prompt lowering of peak inspiratory pressure should be emphasized to improve the survival and outcome of mechanically ventilated hyaline membrane diasease infants.