ABSTRACT
Trusses are not usually used in management of inguinal hernia of the very low birth weight infant. A potential benefit of this therapy is maintenance of hernia reduction, thus delaying operative repair until the infant is larger and healthier. We designed a safe and effective truss with supplies found in most neonatal intensive care units.
Subject(s)
Hernia, Inguinal/therapy , Infant, Low Birth Weight , Trusses , Hernia, Inguinal/pathology , Humans , Infant, Newborn , MaleABSTRACT
We examined the effect of adult fresh frozen plasma (FFP) on neonatal neutrophil (PMN) motility (chemotaxis) using a micropore filter assay. Adult FFP was transfused into 13 neonates receiving FFP transfusion for suspected life-threatening sepsis. Blood was obtained from neonates before and after FFP transfusion for assessment of PMN chemotaxis. An increase in PMN chemotaxis was noted in 12 of the 13 neonates following FFP transfusion, with a mean percentage increase of 12 +/- 3% (p less than 0.01). PMN chemotaxis increased 13 +/- 2% (p less than 0.01) in four bacteremic infants and 11 +/- 5% (p = 0.06) in nine infants without bacteremia. Adult FFP transfusion may enhance impaired neonatal PMN motility and improve outcome from infection in newborn infants.
Subject(s)
Bacterial Infections/therapy , Blood Transfusion , Chemotaxis, Leukocyte/physiology , Plasma , Adult , Bacterial Infections/blood , Female , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Male , Micropore Filters , Neutrophils/physiology , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
A historical cohort study was designed to examine high (T6-T11) versus low (L3-L5) umbilical artery catheter (UAC) positioning as a risk factor for subependymal/intraventricular hemorrhage (SEH/IVH) in very low birthweight infants. High and low UAC groups were similar for mode of delivery, severity of pulmonary disease, weight, gestation, Apgar scores, and air leak. Seventeen of 36 infants with high UACs and 6 of 44 infants with low UACs developed SEH/IVH. The incidence (P less than .001) and severity (P less than .01) of SEH/IVH was significantly greater in the high UAC positioning group. Retrograde arterial flow with or without embolization to the cerebral circulation from high UAC positioning is suggested as a possible cause for the association between high UAC positioning and SEH/IVH.
Subject(s)
Catheterization, Peripheral/adverse effects , Cerebral Hemorrhage/etiology , Infant, Premature, Diseases/etiology , Umbilical Arteries , Cerebral Hemorrhage/epidemiology , Cohort Studies , Humans , Incidence , Infant, Low Birth Weight , Infant, Newborn , Infant, Premature, Diseases/epidemiology , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
The medical records of 23 infants with stable chronic lung diseases of prematurity who were treated with corticosteroids during the second month of life were reviewed. Thirteen (56.5%) had significant improvement in lung function as evidenced by a mean decrease in delta AaPO2 of 49.5% and a mean decrease in PaCO2 of 15.4%. These proved to be long-lasting effects. Infants who responded to corticosteroids had significantly lower mean gestational age, birthweight, and percent loss of birthweight when compared with the infants who did not improve with this treatment. In addition, the number of days they required supplemental oxygen were fewer. Thus, corticosteroids may be beneficial therapeutically for some premature infants with chronic lung disease. Alternatively, corticosteroid responsiveness may differentiate types of chronic lung disease with improved prognoses. Controlled clinical trials are necessary before corticosteroids can be recommended in treating or evaluating chronic lung disease of prematurity.
Subject(s)
Adrenal Cortex Hormones/therapeutic use , Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia/drug therapy , Birth Weight , Body Weight , Carbon Dioxide/analysis , Combined Modality Therapy , Gestational Age , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Oxygen/analysis , Positive-Pressure Respiration , Respiratory Function Tests , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
Thirty-three of 616 consecutively admitted newborn infants had trombocytopenia (platelet count less than 150,00/mm). Only 16 of these were among the 356 infants with lung disease. However, 12 of the 16 were among the 90 infants with a diagnosis of a perinatal aspiration syndrome. The 12 thrombocytopenic infants were the only infants with PAS considered to have pulmonary hypertension. The duration of significant right-to-left shunting of blood paralleled the duration of thrombocytopenia in these infants; PHN was not associated with thrombocytopenia in other neonatal lung diseases. Thus, platelets appear to be important in the pathogenesis of PHN complicating PAS.
