Survival and Developmental Outcomes of Neonates Treated with Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: A 10-Year Single-Center Experience.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the associations between the primary indication for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in neonates and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 12 and 24 months of age. STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective cohort study of neonates treated with ECMO between January 2006 and January 2016 in the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia newborn/infant intensive care unit. Primary indication for ECMO was classified as medical (eg, meconium aspiration syndrome) or surgical (eg, congenital diaphragmatic hernia). Primary study endpoints were assessed with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (Bayley-III). Groups were compared with standard bivariate testing and multivariable regression. RESULTS: A total of 191 neonates met the study's inclusion criteria, including 96 with a medical indication and 95 with a surgical indication. Survival to discharge was 71%, with significantly higher survival in the medical group (82% vs 60%; P = .001). Survivors had high rates of developmental therapies and neurosensory abnormalities. Developmental outcomes were available for 66% at 12 months and 70% at 24 months. Average performance on the Bayley-III was significantly below expected population normative values. Surgical patients had modestly lower the Bayley-III scores over time; most notably, 15% of medical infants and 49% of surgical infants had motor delay at 24 months (P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: In this single-center cohort, surgical patients had lower survival rates and higher incidence of motor delays. Strategies to reduce barriers to follow-up and improve rates of postdischarge developmental surveillance and intervention in this high-risk population are needed.

Variations in mortality and morbidity by gestational age among infants born at term.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the risks of infant death and neonatal morbidity by week of gestation at term. STUDY DESIGN: National U.S. birth cohort study on the basis of singleton live births in 1995-2001 at 37 to 41 completed weeks gestational age (GA), with exclusion of congenital anomalies. Main outcomes included neonatal, postneonatal, and cause-specific infant death; low-Apgar score at 5 minutes; receipt of neonatal mechanical ventilation >or=30 minutes; neonatal seizures; birth injury; and meconium aspiration syndrome. To reduce confounding by indication, we carried out a secondary analysis restricted to low-risk deliveries. RESULTS: In non-Hispanic white women, the mortality rate decreased with increasing GA from 37 to 39 weeks, remained stable from 39 to 40 weeks, and then (for neonatal death) increased at 41 weeks. Rates of low 5-minute Apgar score and mechanical ventilation showed a U-shaped relation across term GAs, and rates of meconium aspiration syndrome and birth injury rose with increasing GA. Results were similar among infants born to low-risk mothers and in non-Hispanic black women. CONCLUSIONS: Term infants show considerable heterogeneity across gestational age in neonatal and late infant outcomes, even when born to mothers at low risk. Recent trends toward earlier labor induction may have adverse health impacts.

The neonatal intensive care unit at the University Hospital of the West Indies: The first few years' experience.

A retrospective analysis of neonates admitted for ventilatory support to the neonatal intensive care unit at the University Hospital of the West Indies between August 2001 and December 2004 was conducted. One hundred and thirty-eight neonates fulfilled criteria for admission into the study. Ninety-eight (71%) were inborn, 88 (64%) survived and 50 (36%) died. The median age at death was 72 hours and 72% of non-survivors died within one week of life. The main reasons for admission into the unit were respiratory distress syndrome 87(63%), followed by hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy 15 (11%), surgical indications 13 (9%) and meconium aspiration syndrome 11 (8%). Babies with meconium aspiration syndrome and surgical problems had the best survival 82% and 85% respectively. Survival rates increased with increasing birthweight and gestational age. The most common complication seen was air leaks. The judicious use of neonatal intensive care measures in a developing country can result in a reduction of morbidity and mortality. However to maximize on benefits versus cost in an atmosphere of budgetary constraint evidence based management policies and protocols must be developed and implemented

The neonatal intensive care unit at the University Hospital of the West Indies: The first few years' experience / La Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Neonatales del Hospital Universitario de West Indies Primeros años de experiencia

A retrospective analysis of neonates admitted for ventilatory support to the neonatal intensive care unit at the University Hospital of the West Indies between August 2001 and December 2004 was conducted. One hundred and thirty-eight neonates fulfilled criteria for admission into the study. Ninety-eight (71) were inborn, 88 (64) survived and 50 (36) died. The median age at death was 72 hours and 72of non-survivors died within one week of life. The main reasons for admission into the unit were respiratory distress syndrome 87(63), followed by hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy 15 (11), surgical indications 13 (9) and meconium aspiration syndrome 11 (8). Babies with meconium aspiration syndrome and surgical problems had the best survival 82and 85respectively. Survival rates increased with increasing birthweight and gestational age. The most common complication seen was air leaks. The judicious use of neonatal intensive care measures in a developing country can result in a reduction of morbidity and mortality. However to maximize on benefits versus cost in an atmosphere of budgetary constraint evidence based management policies and protocols must be developed and implemented.

Se llevó a cabo un análisis retrospectivo de recién nacidos ingresados para recibir soporte respiratorio en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Neonatales (UCIN) del Hospital Universitario de West Indies, entre agosto de 2001 y diciembre de 2004. Ciento treinta y ocho neonatos cumplieron con los criterios de admisión al estudio. Noventa y ocho (71%) fueron pacientes inborn, es decir, nacidos en el mismo hospital, 88 (64%) sobrevivieron y 50 (36%) fallecieron. La edad promedio de muerte fue 72 horas y el 72% de los que no sobrevivieron murió en el transcurso de la primera semana de vida. Las razones principales de ingreso a la unidad fueron el síndrome de insuficiencia respiratoria 87(63%), seguido por la encefalopatía hipóxica isquémica 15 (11%), indicaciones quirúrgicas 13 (9%) y el síndrome de aspiración de meconio 11 (8%). Los bebés con síndrome de aspiración meconial y problemas quirúrgicos, tuvieron los mejores índices de supervivencia – 82% y 85% respectivamente. Las tasas de supervivencia experimentaron un incremento proporcional al aumento del peso al nacer y la edad gestacional. La complicación más comúnmente observable fue el escape de aire. El uso juicioso de medidas en el cuidado intensivo neonatal puede traducirse en una reducción de la morbilidad y la mortalidad. Sin embargo, a fin de maximizar los beneficios frente a los costos en una atmósfera de limitaciones presupuestarias, se hace indispensable implementar y desarrollar políticas y protocolos de administración basados en evidencias.