Impact of level of neonatal care on phlebotomy and blood transfusion in extremely low birthweight infants: a prospective, multicenter, observational study.

Objectives: To explore the level of neonatal care on cumulative phlebotomy loss (cPL) and red cell transfusions in extremely low birthweight [ELBW; birthweight (BW) <1,000 g] infants, up to 40 weeks post-conceptual age (PCA). The secondary objective was to determine the associations between cPL and number of transfusions and between transfusions and hospital outcomes. Methods: A prospective, comparative, observational study was conducted in two level IV and two level III neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in Thailand. Daily cPL volume and number of blood tests were recorded. Descriptive data are reported as frequency and percentage for categorical variables and median [25th percentile (P25), 75th percentile (P75)] for continuous data according to the data distribution. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: 210 ELBW infants were included; 99 and 111 were admitted to level IV and level III NICUs, respectively. Birth weight of level IV infants was lower 780.0 [660.0, 875.0] vs. 865.0 [723.0, 930.0] g; p < 0.001]. Initial group hematocrits were similar (43.1% vs. 44.0%, p = 0.47). cPL for each infant was 28.1 [16.5, 46.4] ml. Level IV infants had more tests (n = 89 [54, 195] vs. 59 [37, 88], p < 0.001). Counterintuitively, there was a lower cPL trend in level IV infants, but this was insignificant (19.6 [12.3, 52.3] vs. 28.9 [19.3, 45.3] ml; p = 0.06). The number of transfusions in both NICUs was similar 4 [2, 6], with a strong correlation between cPL and number of transfusions (r = 0.79, p < 0.001). Transfusions were significantly associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia [BPD; adjusted RR (95% CI): 2.6 (1.2, 5.3), p = 0.01]. Conclusions: Level IV NICUs conducted more blood tests in ELBW infants without a difference in cPL, and number of transfusions. Cumulative PL correlated with number of transfusions and was associated with BPD risk. Minimizing cPL by point-of-care tests and restrictive transfusion criteria, may reduce need for transfusion.

Nasal-tragus length for estimating optimal insertion depth of endotracheal tube in Thai neonates.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a nasal-tragus length (NTL)-based table for estimating the endotracheal tube (ETT) insertion depth. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study of 110 Thai neonates was conducted in a NICU in Bangkok, Thailand. The correlation between the optimal insertion depth (Opt-Depth) and NTL was determined, and then an NTL-based table for estimating ETT depth was developed. The accuracy of using various methods in estimating ETT depth was compared. RESULTS: A strong correlation between Opt-Depth and NTL was found (r = 0.897, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between ETT depth estimated by the NTL-based table and Opt-Depth [mean difference (95% CI) -0.75 (-12.11 to 10.61) mm, p = 0.22]. The accuracies of using NTL + 1, NTL-based, GA-based, and BW-based tables for estimating ETT depth were 32.7%, 55.5%, 61.8%, and 52.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our NTL-based table for estimating the ETT depth had an acceptable accuracy while using "NTL + 1" resulted in overestimating ETT depth.

Heated Humidified High-Flow Nasal Cannula for Weaning from Continuous Positive Airway Pressure in Preterm Infants: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Heated humidified high-flow nasal cannula (HHHFNC) therapy has been widely used in preterm infants. However, evidence to support its use as a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) weaning method is still controversial. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to compare time to wean directly off CPAP vs. weaning by using HHHFNC. METHODS: Infants with a gestational age (GA) of <32 weeks who met the predefined criteria for weaning off CPAP, i.e. with a CPAP of ≤6 cm H2O and a fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) of ≤0.3 for at least 24 h, were randomly assigned to wean by using HHHFNC or wean directly from CPAP. In the HHHFNC group, flow rate was reduced by 1 liter/min every 24 h to 2-3 liters/min depending on body weight (i.e. < or ≥1,000 g), and then HHHFNC was discontinued. In the CPAP group, pressure was reduced by 1 cm H2O every 24 h until stable on CPAP 4 cm H2O and then discontinued. The primary outcome was the time it took to wean off the use of the CPAP or HHHFNC devices. RESULTS: One-hundred and one infants were enrolled, 51 in the HHHFNC and 50 in the CPAP group. Both groups had similar demographics and respiratory conditions before enrollment. There was no difference in time to successfully wean between the 2 groups [median (IQR): 11 (4-21) days in the HHHFNC group vs. 11 (4-29) days in the CPAP group; p = 0.12]. There were no differences in morbidities or related complications. Infants in the HHHFNC group had significantly less nasal trauma (20 vs. 42%; p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, the time to wean off CPAP using HHHFNC was not different from when weaning directly from CPAP.