ABSTRACT
The authors report two cases of sudden unexpected cardiorespiratory arrest occurring in a normal newborn nursery. They discuss the impact on the families and hospital personnel. The nursing and medical staff demonstrated many of the reactions experienced by families of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) victims, including shock, anger, guilt, disbelief, fear, and doubt. The manner in which hospital personnel were supported and counseled is discussed. Specific clinical implications of these cases, including the need to provide for appropriate monitoring and resuscitation in normal newborn nurseries, are presented.
Subject(s)
Grief , Heart Arrest/psychology , Nurseries, Hospital , Personnel, Hospital/psychology , Sudden Infant Death , Adult , Family , Female , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Male , PregnancyABSTRACT
Fifty-six premature infants with a mean gestational age at birth of 30 weeks were randomly assigned to a transfusion group, for whom the hemoglobin level was kept above 10.0 g/dL, and a nontransfusion group, who were transfused only for specific clinical indications. The groups were followed up longitudinally with weekly determinations of reticulocyte count, the partial pressure of oxygen at which 50% of hemoglobin is saturated, and hemoglobin F percentage, as well as weight gain, length of stay, hospital cost, and frequency and severity of apnea. At birth, there was no significant difference in birth weight, gestational age, and hemoglobin level between the two groups. At discharge, laboratory differences were noted between the two groups, but there was no clinical difference. We found no clinical advantage to the use of "booster" RBC transfusions in growing premature infants.
Subject(s)
Blood Transfusion , Erythrocyte Transfusion , Infant, Premature , Age Factors , Birth Weight , Body Weight , Erythrocyte Count , Fetal Hemoglobin/analysis , Follow-Up Studies , Gestational Age , Hospitalization/economics , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Intensive Care Units, Neonatal , Length of Stay , Random Allocation , ReticulocytesABSTRACT
The infant rumination syndrome has not been previously reported in a neonatal intensive care setting. We recently managed three infants in our newborn intensive care unit who developed rumination following chronic courses in the unit. The events leading to this condition in each infant are described, as well as the successful treatment program that was instituted. With recognition of factors predisposing to this disorder, the problem may be avoided, providing these infants with the best chance for optimal development despite the need for prolonged intensive care.
