Neonatal Simulation Program: A 5 Years Educational Journey From Qatar.

We describe the process of implementation, adaptation, expansion and some related clinical intuitional impacts of the neonatal simulation program since its launch in 2016 in a non-simulation neonatal unit. The team has developed 6 types of curricula: 1 full-day course and 5 half-day workshops. A total of 35 free of charge simulation courses/workshops were conducted, 32 in Qatar and 3 abroad with a total of 799 diverse participants. There was a steady increase in the overall success rate of PICC insertion from 81.7% (309/378) to 97.6% (439/450) across 3 years (P < 0.0001). The first attempt PICC insertion success rate has been also increased from 57.7% (218/378) to 66.9% (301/450) across 3 years. The mean duration of PICC insertion has been improved from 39.7 ± 25 to 34.9 ± 12.4 min after implementing the program (P = 0.33). The mean duration of the LISA catheter insertion at the beginning of the workshop was 23.5 ± 15.9 compared to 12.1 ± 8.5 s at the end of the workshop (P = 0.001). When it came to clinical practise in real patients by the same participants, the overall LISA catheter insertion success rate was 100% and the first attempt success rate was 80.4%. The mean duration of LISA catheter insertion in real patients was 26.9 ± 13.9 s compared to the end of the workshop (P = 0.001). The mean duration of the endotracheal intubation at the beginning of the workshop was 12.5 ± 9.2 compared to 4.2 ± 3.8 s at the end of the workshop (P = 0.001). In real patients, the first-attempt intubation success rate has been improved from 37/139 (26.6%) in the first year to 141/187 (75.5%) in the second year after the program implementation (P = 0.001). The mean duration of successful endotracheal intubation attempts has been improved from 39.1 ± 52.4 to 20.1 ± 9.9 s (P = 0.78). As per the participants, the skills learned in the program sessions help in protecting neonates from potential harm and improve the overall neonatal outcome. Implementing a neonatal simulation program is a promising and feasible idea. Our experience can be generalised and replicated in other neonatal care institutions.

Clinical and Economic Evaluation of the Impact of Midazolam on Morphine Therapy for Pain Relief in Critically Ill Ventilated Infants with Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The impact of midazolam on the overall performance of morphine therapy for pain in ventilated neonates with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) has never been investigated. OBJECTIVE: This study is a clinical and economic analysis of morphine monotherapy versus morphine plus midazolam in ventilated infants with RDS. METHODS: A decision-analytic model from the hospital perspective was developed to follow the consequences of the use of the study drugs. Clinical and resource utilization data were extracted based on a retrospective cohort study of 104 neonates with RDS receiving morphine alone versus in combination with midazolam at the main neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Qatar, from 2014 to 2019. Primary outcome measures were the analgesia success rate, via the Premature Infant Pain Profile scale, and overall costs of therapies. Multivariate statistical analyses confirmed no significant variations in baseline characteristics between study groups. RESULTS: With 0.05 significance and 80% power, morphine had a higher rate of successful analgesia (65.4 vs. 34.6%; risk ratio 1.91; 95% confidence interval 1.11-3.28; p = 0.019). Overall costs were also in favor of morphine compared with its combination with midazolam, with cost savings of 40,959 Qatari Riyal ($US11,222), year 2019/20 values. The Monte Carlo analyses confirmed the economic advantage of morphine alone in 100% of cases and demonstrated that it is not sensitive to uncertainties in study model inputs. CONCLUSIONS: Morphine monotherapy enabled enhanced pain relief over its combination with midazolam in the NICU, at a reduced overall cost. Morphine alone, therefore, seems to be a dominant analgesia strategy.

Prophylactic Sildenafil in Preterm Infants at Risk of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia: A Pilot Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is the need for oxygen therapy at 36 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA). Sildenafil has been shown to enhance the lung alveolarization and vascularization in newborn animal models after lung injury and has possible therapeutic potential for the prevention of BPD. OBJECTIVE: To perform a proof-of-concept, Phase II, pilot randomized, double-blind, clinical trial to study the efficacy of sildenafil in preventing BPD, in postnatal (< 24 h), extremely and very preterm infants. METHODS: This Phase II, pilot randomized, double-blind, clinical trial was conducted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Women's Wellness and Research Center, Doha, Qatar during 2012-2014. Infants of 240/7-296/7 weeks' gestation were eligible if they needed respiratory or oxygen support ≥ 25% at randomization, and if they were at a postnatal age of < 24 h at randomization. Forty preterm infants were randomly assigned to receive off-label oral sildenafil (0.5 mg/kg every 6 h) or a placebo solution, for one week. The primary endpoints were the incidence of BPD and death at 36 weeks PMA, and the side effects. Secondary outcomes included the incidence of BPD and the respiratory support at day 28 of life, duration of oxygen use, fraction of inspired oxygen use at 36 weeks and 28 days of life, duration of hospitalization, and the incidence of significant retinopathy of prematurity, severe intraventricular hemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia, necrotizing enterocolitis, patent ductus arteriosus, and late sepsis. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed between the sildenafil and placebo study groups in mortality at 36 weeks PMA (10% vs 20%, p = 1), respiratory support at 36 weeks (30% vs 25%, p = 0.57), and side effects (0% vs 0%). For all other secondary outcomes, no significant differences were detected. CONCLUSIONS: While not associated with side effects, off-label oral sildenafil did not demonstrate benefits in the prevention of BPD or death in the extreme and very preterm infants. Future studies of dosing and efficacy that target different regimens of sildenafil are warranted before sildenafil is recommended for the prevention of BPD.