ABSTRACT
Hemorrhagic disease of the newborn is not common but may be very serious, with cerebral, hepatic, or adrenal gland bleeding. Its prevention is based upon vitamin K1 administration from birth. Scientific studies to validate appropriate treatment policies are scarce, with recommendations coming from expert opinions, retrospective studies, or controversies on possible side effects. After analysis of recent literature data, we propose an oral administration of three doses of 2mg of vitamin K1 at birth, at discharge from the maternity ward, and at 1 month postnatal age for term infants. For premature infants born with a birth weight above 1500g, a weekly dose of 2mg up to term equivalent age may be recommended. For premature infants below 1500g, a weekly dose of 1mg up to 1500g body weight, then a weekly dose of 2mg up to term equivalent age seems appropriate. If oral administration is not possible, the intravenous or intramuscular route may be used with a 50% reduction in dosing.
Subject(s)
Antifibrinolytic Agents/administration & dosage , Vitamin K/administration & dosage , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Infant, Premature , Practice Guidelines as TopicABSTRACT
Per-partum anoxia is a frequent situation facing the pediatrician in the maternity ward. The question is to decide which infants require care in a specialized unit. If transfer is decided, the infant must be referred to an appropriate pediatric unit (intensive care or neonatal unit). Cases of severe anoxia are exceptional. Intermediary situations are however much more frequent and raise difficult evaluation problems due to the lack of any specific test. The pediatrician must rely on a combination of elements from the clinical presentation, the medical history, the clinical course, and laboratory tests. Different elements suggest a prudent approach with referral to a pediatric unit. These elements include: imperfect clinical recovery (5-min Agpar <7), major intensive care at delivery (intubation, ventilation, vasoactive agents), anomalies in the cord blood or first hour blood tests (cord pH<7, base deficit 12, cord or blood lactate 9 mmol/l). Obstetrical circumstances which led to per-partum anoxia must be well identified because those interrupting placental flow (abruptio placenta, uterine rupture) suggest prudence is necessary even if the infant appears to have recovered well. All neonatal disorders (macrosomia, prematurity, infection, respiratory distress) increase the risk of rapid decompensation and may argue for hospitalization. Likewise, if even minimal signs of neurological, respiratory or hemodynamic disorders are present from birth to two hours, surveillance in a specialized unit is required, the level depending on local facilities. Certain situations nevertheless always require referral to a pediatric intensive care unit: use of vasoactive drugs, respiratory distress, abnormal neurological exam, poor recovery (5-min Agpar <4).Finally, it must be remembered that per-partum anoxia is rarely predictable and can occur any at any time of day or night. The pediatrician must also train other delivery room personnel, including the midwives, in intensive care techniques.
Subject(s)
Asphyxia Neonatorum/therapy , Intensive Care, Neonatal , Apgar Score , Asphyxia Neonatorum/diagnosis , Fetal Blood/chemistry , Gestational Age , Humans , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Infant, Newborn , Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital , Referral and ConsultationABSTRACT
The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the usefulness of fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in ischemic brain injury. We report seven cases of fetal brain ischemia prenatally suspected on ultrasound (US) and confirmed by fetal MRI. Sonographic abnormalities included ventricular dilatation (n=3), microcephaly (n=1), twin pregnancy with in utero death of a twin and suspected cerebral lesion in the surviving co-twin (n=3). MRI was performed with a 1.0 T unit using half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin-echo (HASTE) sequences between 28 and 35 weeks of gestation. US and MRI images were compared with pathologic findings or postnatal imaging. MRI diagnosed hydranencephaly (n=1), porencephaly (n=2), multicystic encephalomalacia (n=2), unilateral capsular ischemia (n=1), corpus callosum and cerebral atrophy (n=1). In comparison with US, visualization of fetal brain anomalies was superior with MRI. The present cases demonstrate that MRI is a valuable complementary means of investigation when a brain pathology is discovered or suspected during prenatal US.
