Evaluation of babies with retinopathy of prematurity following intravitreal bevacizumab administration.

OBJECTIVE: In Turkiye, the increased likelihood of survival of small premature babies has resulted in a higher incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), which causes severe visual impairment in childhood. Early diagnosis and timely and proper treatment of ROP can prevent vision loss. This paper discusses cases of ROP treated with bevacizumab. METHODS: Patients treated with bevacizumab for ROP were evaluated retrospectively. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure values were recorded 1 day before and 2 weeks after bevacizumab administration. The Bayley III test, hearing test, eye examination, and neurological evaluation were performed. RESULTS: The mean composite Bayley III test scores for cognition, language, motor, social-emotional, and adaptive domains in 10 patients who received bevacizumab for ROP were 75±10.8, 73.4±15.4, 71.2±10.2, 88±23.7, and 65.4±13.8, respectively. The mean values of the day before the injection and the values of the 14 days after the injection were compared, it was seen that there was a significant increase in systolic blood pressure values, especially at the end of 1st day and 1st week after the surgery. Neurological examination results were abnormal in 50% of the cases. Vision problems were detected in 40% of the cases. About 30% of the babies failed the hearing test. CONCLUSION: Caution needs attention in the care of neonates until further studies of the long-term benefits and effects of bevacizumab therapy are completed.

Apnea as an isolated finding in neonatal COVID-19.

COVID-19 continues to mutate and spread rapidly. However, case reports about newborns remain rare. A male baby, born at 840 g at gestational week 28, was diagnosed with respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, patent ductus arteriosus, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia in the neonatal intensive care unit. Refractory apnea developed on postnatal day 58, and an upper respiratory tract SARS-nCoV-2 polymerase chain reaction test was positive. A COVID test was also positive in an asymptomatic nurse who cared for the baby. This case shows that SARS-CoV-2 can cause symptoms of only apnea in newborns and that those who care for newborns should strictly comply with hygiene rules.

COVID-19 in perinatal period: questions and consequences.

BACKGROUND: The effect of COVID-19 infection on newborn babies is not yet clear. Babies born to pregnant women with suspected or proven COVID-19 or babies who had contact with infected people are considered to be at risk. In this review, intrauterine problems that may be caused by COVID-19 infection, delivery room approach, postnatal follow-up, precautions and controversies regarding breastfeeding and vaccination are discussed. METHODS: The articles published between March 2020 and June 2021 were searched in Pubmed, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar databases using the keywords COVID-19 and newborn, perinatal period, vertical transmission, pregnancy, breast milk and vaccines. The updated information and recommendations are presented. CONCLUSIONS: Our knowledge of the perinatal and neonatal effects of COVID-19 infection changes rapidly. Therefore, close follow-up of the mother-infant dyads is important. Larger epidemiological and clinical cohort studies are needed to better understand the possible implications and long-term outcomes of COVID-19 infection and also maternal vaccination in newborn infants.

Optimal Time of Tracheotomy in Infants: Still a Dilemma.

Objective. Infants with respiratory failure may require prolonged intubation. There is no consensus on the time of tracheotomy in neonates. Methods. We evaluated infants applied tracheotomy, time of procedure, and early complications in our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) retrospectively from January 2012 to December 2013. Results. We identified 9 infants applied tracheotomy with gestational ages 34 to 41 weeks. Their diagnoses were hypotonic infant, subglottic stenosis, laryngeal cleft, neck mass, and chronic lung disease. Age on tracheotomy ranged from 4 to 10 weeks. Early complication ratio was 33.3% with minimal bleeding (1), air leak (1), and canal revision requirement (1). We discharged 7 infants, and 2 infants died in the NICU. Conclusion. Tracheotomy makes infant nursing easy for staff and families even at home. If carried out by a trained team, the procedure is safe and has low complication. When to apply tracheotomy should be individualized, and airway damage due to prolonged intubation versus risks of tracheotomy should be taken into consideration.