Simulation Based vs Conventional Training for Initial Steps in Delivery Room Care of Preterm Neonates: An Open Label Randomized Trial

Objective: To assess whether simulation based education (SBE) improves the practices and knowledge of junior residents for stabilization of a preterm neonate in delivery room as compared to conventional education (CE). Methods: This trial randomized 24 pediatric residents to either SBE (n=12) or CE (n=12) groups. One-time SBE was imparted to the SBE group. Both the groups had similar facilitator participant ratio and equally timed sessions. The individual skills scores and performance by preterm stabilization performance evaluation (PSPE) score in real time were recorded using a validated tool within 8 weeks of the training. Knowledge gain was evaluated using pre and post-test scores. Results: The mean (SD) skill and PSPE scores were comparable between the two groups (skill score 51.1 (8.1), 46.5 (7.8), respectively mean difference 4.6; 95% CI -2.1 to 11.3; PSPE-score 80.2 (14.2) vs. 82.9 (10.3); mean difference -2.68; 95% CI -8.35 to 13.71). The mean (SD) knowledge gain was similar in the groups [4.4 (1.9), 5.3 (4.1); mean difference 0.91; 95% CI, -1.81 to 3.64. Conclusion: In junior residents, a one-time SBE session, when compared to conventional task training, did not lead to improvement in the performance of the initial steps of neonatal resuscitation.

Secular Trends in Birthweights in Two Epochs Over 40 Years in a Tertiary Care Center

Objective: To compare the average birthweights and the weight centiles of the ‘new’ growth charts with the ‘old’ (1974) charts developed in the same unit four decades ago. Methods: Birthweight and gestation data of the eligible 12,355 singleton neonates born between 2009 and 2016 at a level-3 neonatal unit at a public sector hospital were used to develop the new growth chart. We then compared the prevalence of small for gestational age (SGA) and large for gestational age (LGA) classified by the new charts and the old charts, the incidence of short-term adverse outcomes among them, and the diagnostic performance of both the charts to identify the adverse outcomes in a separate validation cohort. Results: The mean birthweights of boys and girls across all gestations were higher by 150-200 g and 100-150 g, respectively, in the new chart. The prevalence of SGA doubled (9.8% vs 4.7%), but LGA decreased by one-third (17.5% vs 25.9%) with the new chart. However, the proportion of SGA and LGA having one or more short-term adverse outcomes, and the diagnostic performance of both the charts to identify neonates with shortterm adverse outcomes, were comparable. Conclusion: There was an upward shift in the birthweights by about 150 g across all gestations in the new chart compared to the old chart developed 40 years ago. The findings imply the need to consider using updated growth charts to ensure accurate classification of size at birth of neonates.

Predictors of Mortality among Neonates with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia: Experience from an Inborn Unselected Cohort in India

Objective: To evaluate the clinical profile and predictors of mortality in neonates withcongenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Method: Demographic and clinical parameters ofneonates with congenital diaphragmatic heria (n=37) between January 2014 and October,2017 were reviewed, and compared among those who survived or expired in hospital.Result: Median (range) gestation and birthweight were 38 (37-39) weeks and 2496 (2044-2889) g, respectively. Persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN) was documented in 19(51%) neonates and 10 (27%) had associated malformations. Surgery could be performed in18 (49%), overall mortality was 60%. On univariate analysis, low Apgar scores, presence ofmalformations, PPHN, need for higher initial peak inspiratory pressure/high frequencyventilation, and requirement of a patch for closure were associated with increased mortality.On multivariate analysis, PPHN remained the only significant risk factor [adjusted RR 3.74(95% CI 1.45-9.68)]. Conclusion: The survival of infants with CDH is low, and PPHN is animportant predictor of mortality.

Prophylactic Vitamin K Administration in Neonates on Prolonged Antibiotic Therapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: To compare the prevalence of vitamin K deficiencyafter intramuscular vitamin K or no treatment in neonates withsepsis on prolonged (>7 days) antibiotic therapy.Study Design: Open label randomized controlled trial.Setting: Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).Participants: Neonates with first episode of sepsison antibioticsfor ≥7 days were included. Neonates with clinical bleeding,vitamin K prior to start of antibiotic therapy (except the birth dose),cholestasis or prenatally diagnosed bleeding disorder wereexcluded.Intervention: Randomized to receive 1 mg vitamin K (n=41) or novitamin K (n=39) on the 7th day of antibiotic therapy.Main outcome measure: Vitamin K deficiency defined as ProteinInduced by Vitamin K Absence (PIVKA-II) >2 ng/mL after 7 ± 2days of enrolment.Results: The prevalence of vitamin K deficiency was 100%(n=80) at enrolment and it remained 100% even after 7 ± 2 days ofenrolment in both the groups.Conclusion: Neonates receiving prolonged antibiotics haveuniversal biochemical vitamin K deficiency despite vitamin Kadministration on 7th day of antibiotic therapy.

Postnatal Maturation of Amplitude Integrated Electroencephalography (aEEG) in Preterm Small for Gestational Age Neonates

Objective: The primary objective was to evaluate the postnatal maturation pattern on aEEGduring first two weeks of life in clinically stable and neurologically normal preterm small forgestational age (PSGA) and gestation matched (1 week) preterm appropriate for gestationalage (PAGA) neonates born between 300/7 and 346/7 weeks of gestation. Methods: SerialaEEG tracings were recorded on 3rd, 7th and 14th day of life. The primary outcome wastotal aEEG maturation score. Three blinded assessors assigned the scores. Results: Weanalyzed a total of 117 aEEG recordings in 40 (19 PSGA and 21 PAGA) neonates. Thebaseline characteristics were comparable except for birthweight [1186 (263) vs 1666(230) g]. There was no difference in the mean (SD) total scores on day 3 (9.0 (1.8) vs. 9.5(1.1), P=0.32) and day 14 of life, but was lower in PSGA infants on day 7 (8.6 (2.4) vs. 10.1(1.1), P=0.02). On multivariate analysis, maturation of PSGA neonates was found to besignificantly delayed at any point of life from day 3 to day 14 (mean difference, -0.8, 95 % CI:-1.6 to -0.02, P=0.04). Conclusion: Lower aEEG maturation score on day 7 possiblyindicates delayed maturation in PSGA neonates in the first week of life.

Gains from Quality Improvement Initiatives – Experience from a Tertiary-care Institute in India

Quality improvement (QI) in healthcare involves implementing small iterative changes by a team of people using a simple structuredframework to resolve problems, improve systems, and to improve patient outcomes. These efforts are especially important in a resource-limited setting where infrastructure, staff and funds are meagre. The concept of QI often appears complex to a new careprovider whofeels intimidated to participate in change activities. In this article, we describe our experience with QI activities to address various issuesin the Neonatal intensive care unit. QI efforts resulted in improved patient outcomes, and motivated careproviders. QI is a continuousactivity and can be done easily if the team is willing to learn from their experiences and use those lessons to adapt, adopt or abandonchanges, and improve further. Our institute has also developed Point of Care Quality Improvement (POCQI), a free online resource forlearning the science of QI, and also serves as a platform for sharing QI work.

Target Oxygen Saturation Among Preterm Neonates on Supplemental Oxygen Therapy: A Quality Improvement Study

Objective: To avoid excessive oxygen exposure and achieve target oxygen saturation(SpO2) within intended range of 88%-95% among preterm neonates on oxygen therapy.Methods: 20 preterm neonates receiving supplemental oxygen in the first week of lifewere enrolled. The percentage of time per epoch (a consecutive time interval of 10 hours/day) spent by them within the target SpO2 range was measured in phase 1 followed byimplementation of a unit policy on oxygen administration and targeting in phase 2. In phase 3,oxygen saturation histograms constructed from pulse-oximeter data were used as dailyfeedback to nurses and compliance with oxygen-targeting was measured again. Results:48 epochs in phase 1 and 69 in phase 3 were analyzed. The mean (SD) percent time spentwithin target SpO2 range increased from 65.9% (21.4) to 76.5% (12.6) (P=0.001).Conclusion: Effectiveimplementation of oxygen targeting policy and feedback usingoxygen saturation histograms may improve compliance with oxygen targeting.

Assisted Physical Exercise and Stress in Preterm Neonates

Objective: To evaluate the markers of stress before and after a session of assisted physicalexercise in infants born before 35 weeks’ gestation. Methods: 25 infants born at 280/7 to 346/7weeks were subjected to assisted physical exercise daily for about 10-15 min at one week ofpostnatal age or 33 weeks of post menstrual age, whichever was later. Primary outcome wassalivary cortisol and secondary outcome was Premature infant pain profile (PIPP) score.Outcomes were measured, on day 5 (±1) of exercise. Results: There was no difference insalivary cortisol between baseline and immediately after (P=0.16), at 90 min (P=0.6) or 120min (P=0.7) after exercise. Salivary cortisol was lower at 30 min after exercise as compared tobaseline (mean difference -0.08 ?g/dL; 95% CI -0.16 to -0.002; P=0.04). The median (IQR)PIPP score was significantly higher at 5 min into exercise (4 (3-6) vs 4 (3-5); P=0.04) and atcompletion of exercise 6 (4-8) vs 4 (3-5); P<0.01), as compared to baseline. Conclusion:Assisted physical exercise does not seem to result in stress in premature infants

Description and Validation of a Novel Method of Measuring Pharyngeal Pressure in New-born.

Study background: Measurement of delivered pharyngeal pressure during continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is not in routine practice due to lack of a simple and affordable technique of intrapharyngeal pressure measurement. To overcome the lack of the gold standard solid-state catheter-tip pressure measurement technology in our set up, we improvised a novel method of pressure measurement and tested its validity in a simulated pharynx. Methods: A low-cost pressure transducer was improvised by attaching an orogastric tube to its one end. The other end of the orogastric tube was sealed into an artificial pharynx - a 20 ml syringe. The pressure transducer readings were compared with that obtained by a digital manometer attached to the tip of the syringe. Bland-Altman statistic was used to quantify the measurement reliability of the novel method against the digital manometer. Effect of tube length on the measurement agreement was also studied. The developed technique was applied in new-borns. Results & conclusion: Pressures measured by this technique were in good agreement with that obtained using a digital manometer. This technique has the potential to be used as an alternative to catheter-tip pressure transducers for bedside pharyngeal pressure measurement in new-born babies, especially in underresourced setups.

Clinical Profile of Interstitial Lung Disease in Indian Children.

Objective: To describe the clinical spectrum and factors associated with poor short-term outcomes in children with interstitial lung disease (ILD). Design: Retrospective chart review Setting: Pediatric Chest Clinic of a tertiary care hospital Methodology: We retrieved information regarding clinical course and laboratory features of all children diagnosed as ILD between January 1999 and February 2010. Disease severity was assessed using ILD score based on clinical features and SpO2 at the time of initial evaluation. Outcome was assessed after 3 months of initial diagnosis as improved or death/no improvement in symptoms. Results: 90 children (median age, 6.8 years; 62% boys) were diagnosed to have ILD during this period. 46 children were R E S E A R C H P A P E R classified as having ‘definite ILD’ while 44 had ‘possible ILD’. The commonest clinical features at presentation were cough (82.2%), dyspnea (80%), pallor (50%), and crackles (45.6%). 3 children (3.3%) died while 21 (23%) showed no improvement in clinical status on follow-up at 3 months. A higher ILD score (RR 3.72, 95% CI 1.4, 9.9) and lower alkaline phosphatase levels (median [IQR]: 205 [175.2] vs. 360 [245.7]; P=0.006) were found to be significantly associated with worse outcomes. Conclusion: The common clinical features of ILD in our study included breathlessness, cough and hypoxemia. A working diagnosis of ILD can be made with the help of imaging, bronchoscopy, or lung biopsy. A simple score based on clinical findings and pulse-oximetry might predict those children with poor short-term outcome.

Hypocalcemia in the Newborn.

Hypocalcemia is a frequently observed clinical and laboratory abnormality in neonates. Ionic calcium is crucial for many biochemical processes including blood coagulation, neuromuscular excitability, cell membrane integrity, and many of the cellular enzymatic activities. Healthy term infants undergo a physiological nadir in serum calcium levels by 24-48 h of age. This nadir may drop to hypocalcemic levels in high-risk neonates including infants of diabetic mothers, preterm infants and infants with perinatal asphyxia. The early onset hypocalcemia which presents within 72 h requires treatment with calcium supplementation for at least 72 h. In contrast, late onset hypocalcemia usually presents after 7 days and requires longer term therapy.

Management of Polycythemia in Neonates.

Polycythemia is defined as a venous hematocrit above 65%. The hematocrit in a newborn peaks at 2 h of age and decreases gradually after that. The relationship between hematocrit and viscosity is almost linear till 65% and exponential thereafter. Increased viscosity of blood is associated with symptoms of hypo-perfusion. Clinical features related to hyperviscosity may affect all organ systems. Neonates born small for gestational age (SGA), infants of diabetic mothers (IDM), and multiple births are at risk for polycythemia. They should therefore undergo screening at 2, 12, and 24 h of age. Polycythemia may be symptomatic or asymptomatic and guidelines for the management of both types based on the current evidence are provided in the protocol.

Unusual lymphocytosis with systemic lupus erythematosus.

A 15-year-old boy with systemic lupus erythematosus, who on a follow up visit complained of recurrent episodes of fever, easy fatiguability, and seizures. Investigations revealed lymphocytosis (95%), anemia, and a positive PCR for cytomegalovirus (CMV). Electron microscopy of the lymphocytes revealed intranuclear inclusion bodies supporting the diagnosis of CMV infection. The child was treated with ganciclovir and discharged. At discharge the child was afebrile. However, lymphocytosis persisted even after 9 months of discharge. Repeated screening for possible lymphoreticular malignancy was negative. It is likely that lymphocytosis in this child was due to persistence of CMV infection in host cells leading to continued provocation of the host immune system.

Follow-up of high risk neonates.

The improvement in perinatal care has led to increase in survival as well as reduction of morbidity in sick newborns. These babies need to be followed up regularly to assess growth and neurodevelopmental outcome and for early stimulation and rehabilitation. We present a protocol describing the various components of a follow up program, and services.

Feeding of low birth weight infants.

Optimal feeding of low birth weight (LBW) infants improves their immediate survival and subsequent growth and development. Being a heterogeneous group comprising term and preterm neonates, their feeding abilities, fluid and nutritional requirements are quite different from normal birth weight infants. A practical approach to feeding a LBW infant including choice of initial feeding method, progression of oral feeds, and nutritional supplementation based on her oral feeding skills and nutritional requirements is being discussed in this protocol. Growth monitoring, management of feed intolerance, and the essential skills involved in feeding them have also been described in detail.

Protocol for administering continuous positive airway pressure in neonates.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a simple, inexpensive and gentle mode of respiratory support in preterm very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. It helps by preventing the alveolar collapse and increasing the functional residual capacity of the lungs. Since it results in less ventilator induced lung injury than mechanical ventilation, it should theoretically reduce the incidence of chronic lung disease in VLBW infants. Various devices have been used for CPAP generation and delivery. The relative merits and demerits of these devices and the guidelines for CPAP therapy in neonates are discussed in this protocol.

Chronic lung disease in newborns.

Chronic lung disease (CLD) or bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) occurs in preterm infants who require respiratory support in the first few days of birth. Apart from prematurity, oxygen therapy and assisted ventilation, factors like intrauterine/postnatal infections, patent ductus arteriosus, and genetic polymorphisms also contribute to its pathogenesis. The severe form of BPD with extensive inflammatory changes is rarely seen nowadays; instead, a milder form characterized by decreased alveolar septation due to arrest in lung development is more common. A multitude of strategies, mainly pharmacological and ventilatory, have been employed for prevention and treatment of BPD. Unfortunately, most of them have not been proved to be beneficial. A comprehensive protocol for management of BPD based on the current evidence is discussed here.

Sepsis in the newborn.

Infections are the single largest cause of neonatal deaths globally. According to National Neonatal Perinatal Database (2002-03), the incidence of neonatal sepsis in India was 30 per 1000 live-births; klebsiella pneumoniae and staphylococcus aureus were the two most common organisms isolated. Based on the onset, neonatal sepsis is classified into two major categories: early onset sepsis, which usually presents with respiratory distress and pneumonia within 72 hours of age and late onset sepsis, that usually presents with septicemia and pneumonia after 72 hours of age. Clinical features of sepsis are non-specific in neonates and a high index of suspicion is required for the timely diagnosis of sepsis. Although blood culture is the gold standard for the diagnosis of sepsis, culture reports would be available only after 48-72 hours. A practical septic screen for the diagnosis of sepsis has been described and some suggestions for antibiotic use have been included in the protocol.