Gastrointestinal hemodynamic changes during therapeutic hypothermia and after rewarming in neonatal hypoxic-Ischemic encephalopathy.

BACKGROUND: Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is associated with disturbances in visceral blood flow velocities. Therapeutic Hypothermia (TH) is a standard of care; however, its impact on gastrointestinal blood flow in infants with HIE is unknown. The objective of this study was to assess gastrointestinal (GI) blood flow and left ventricle output (LVO) in infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy during whole body TH and after rewarming. METHODS: Serial echocardiography and Doppler evaluation of intestinal blood flow (celiac (CA) and superior mesenteric (SMA) arteries) were prospectively performed in a cohort of 20 newborn infants with HIE at 4 time points during hypothermia and after rewarming. Demographic, clinical and biochemical data were collected and analyzed for their relevance. RESULTS: Median gestational age and birth weight was 40 weeks (37-41) and 3410 g (2190-4950) respectively. Celiac and mesenteric artery flow remained low during hypothermia and rose significantly after rewarming [peak systolic velocity in CA (0.63 m/s to 0.77 m/s, p = 0.004) and SMA (0.43 m/s to 0.55 m/s, p = 0.001)]. This increase was temporally associated with increased left ventricular output (106 ml/kg/min to 149 ml/kg/min, p < 0.0001). Median age to reach 25% of the feeds was 5 days (1-7 days). All patients survived. CONCLUSIONS: CA and SMA blood flow velocity and LVO did not vary during hypothermia but rose after rewarming. This may suggest protective effect of therapeutic hypothermia on gastrointestinal system. The association of these physiological changes with neonatal outcome needs further assessment.

Cardiovascular Associations with Abnormal Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Neonates with Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Undergoing Therapeutic Hypothermia and Rewarming.

OBJECTIVE: This article compares hemodynamic characteristics of neonates with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) receiving therapeutic hypothermia (TH) with normal versus abnormal brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: Serial echocardiography (echo) was performed within 24 hours, after 48 to 72 hours of cooling, within 24 hours of normothermia, and after starting feeds. Pulmonary hemodynamics, cardiac output, and ventricular function were evaluated. All neonates underwent brain MRI (day 4-5), per clinical standard of care. Clinical cardiovascular and echocardiography characteristics were compared between patients with normal versus abnormal MRI. Cardiovascular changes during TH and after rewarming were identified. RESULTS: Twenty neonates at median gestation and birth weight of 40 weeks (interquartile range [IQR]: 39, 41) and 3,410 g (IQR: 2,885, 4,093), respectively, were enrolled. Increased median left ventricular output (LVO) (106-159 mL/kg/min, p < 0.001) and reduced isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) (48-42 ms, p < 0.001) were seen after rewarming. Echocardiography evidence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) was identified in five neonates. Eight neonates (40%) had brain injury identified on MRI (watershed [n = 4], basal ganglia [n = 4]); this subgroup were more likely to have echo evidence of PH at 24 hours. CONCLUSION: Longitudinal changes in cardiac output were noted in neonates with HIE during TH and rewarming. Echocardiography evidence of PH, however, was associated with abnormal MRI brain. The prognostic relevance of these physiologic changes requires more comprehensive delineation.

Is It Time to Review Guidelines for ETT Positioning in the NICU? SCEPTIC-Survey of Challenges Encountered in Placement of Endotracheal Tubes in Canadian NICUs.

Objectives. To examine current opinions and practices regarding endotracheal tube placement across several Canadian Neonatal Intensive Care Units. Design. Clinical directors from Canadian Neonatal Network affiliated NICUs and Neonatal-Perinatal Programs across Canada were invited via email to participate in and disseminate the online survey to staff neonatologists, neonatal fellows, respiratory therapists, and nurse practitioners. Result. There is wide variability in the beliefs and practices related to ETT placement. The majority use "weight +6" formula and "aim to black line" on ETT at vocal cords to estimate the depth of an oral ETT and reported estimation as challenging in ELBW infants. The majority agreed that mid-trachea is an ideal ETT tip position; however their preferred position on chest X-ray varied. Many believe that ETT positioning could be improved with more precise ETT markings. Conclusion. Further research should focus on developing more effective guidelines for ETT tip placement in the ELBW infants.

Williams syndrome presenting with findings consistent with Alagille syndrome.

Conjugated hyperbilirubinemia, posterior embryotoxon, and vertebral anomalies are not features of William syndrome (WS). We herein report a preterm infant who presented with features suggestive of Alagille syndrome, but microarray showed findings consistent with WS. This further extends the phenotype of WS and emphasizes the need for microarray analysis.

Outcomes of full-term infants with bilious vomiting: observational study of a retrieved cohort.

UNLABELLED: Bilious vomiting in a neonate may be a sign of intestinal obstruction often resulting in transfer requests to surgical centres. The aim of this study was to assess the use of clinical findings at referral in predicting outcomes and to determine how often such patients have a time-critical surgical condition (eg, volvulus, where a delay in treatment is likely to compromise gut viability). METHODS: 4-year data and outcomes of all term newborns aged ≤7 days with bilious vomiting transferred by a regional transfer service were analysed. Specificity, sensitivity, likelihood ratios, correlations, prior and posterior probability of clinical findings in predicting newborns with surgical diagnosis were calculated. RESULTS: Of 163 neonates with bilious vomiting, 75 (46%) had a surgical diagnosis and 23 (14.1%) had a time-critical surgical condition. The diagnosis of a surgical condition in neonates with bilious vomiting was significantly associated with abdominal distension (χ(2)=5.17, p=0.023), abdominal tenderness (χ(2)=5.90, p=0.015) and abnormal abdominal X-ray findings (χ(2)=5.68, p=0.017) but not with palpation findings of a soft as compared with a tense abdomen (χ(2)=3.21, p=0.073). Abnormal abdominal X-ray, abdominal distension and tenderness had 97%, 74% and 62% sensitivity, respectively, with regard to association with an underlying surgical diagnosis. Normal abdominal X-ray reduced the posterior probability of surgical diagnosis from 50% to 16%. Overall, clinical findings at referral did not differentiate between infants with or without surgical or time-critical condition. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend that term neonates with bilious vomiting referred for transfer are prioritised as time critical.

Minimally invasive surfactant administration in preterm infants: a meta-narrative review.

IMPORTANCE: Surfactant administration by minimally invasive methods that allow for spontaneous breathing might be safer and more effective than administration with endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation; however, the efficacy and safety of minimally invasive methods have not been reviewed. OBJECTIVE: To conduct a meta-narrative review of the efficacy and safety of minimally invasive surfactant administration using a thin catheter, aerosolization, a laryngeal mask airway, and pharyngeal administration in preterm infants with or at risk for respiratory distress syndrome. DATA SOURCES: We searched the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, and CINAHL databases, published journals, and conference proceedings from inception to June 30, 2013. STUDY SELECTION: Randomized clinical trials or observational studies of preterm infants who were given surfactant for respiratory distress syndrome by minimally invasive methods. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: An overall meta-narrative review was conducted encompassing the evolution of noninvasive surfactant therapy. Risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals are reported when appropriate. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Chronic lung disease diagnosed by the need for oxygen therapy at a postmenstrual age of 36 weeks, need for mechanical ventilation within the first 72 hours of birth, need for mechanical ventilation any time during the hospital stay, and adverse events associated with administration of surfactant by various methods. RESULTS: We included 10 studies (6 randomized and 4 observational) of 3081 neonates. Thin catheter administration was evaluated in 6 studies (2 randomized and 4 observational); aerosolization, in 2 randomized studies; and laryngeal mask and pharyngeal administration, in 1 observational study each. The meta-narrative review confirmed the slow evolution and challenges of the different modes of administration, with thin catheter administration being the most studied intervention. Two randomized studies of surfactant administration using a thin catheter revealed no significant difference in the outcome of bronchopulmonary dysplasia but a potential reduction in the need for mechanical ventilation within 72 hours of birth when compared with standard care. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Surfactant administration via a thin catheter may be an efficacious and potentially safe method; however, further studies are needed. Further studies are also needed for other methods of minimally invasive surfactant administration.