Weaning of Moderately Preterm Infants from the Incubator to the Crib: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether length of hospital stay is decreased among moderately preterm infants weaned from incubator to crib at a lower vs higher weight. STUDY DESIGN: This trial was conducted in the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network. Infants with gestational ages 29-33 weeks, birthweight <1600 g, and in an incubator were randomly assigned to a weaning weight of 1600 or 1800 g. Within 60 to 100 g of weaning weight, the incubator temperature was decreased by 1.0°C to 1.5°C every 24 hours until 28.0°C. The infants were weaned to the crib following stable temperature at 36.5°C to 37.4°C for 8 to 12 hours. Clothing and bedcoverings were standardized. The primary outcome was length of hospital stay from birth to discharge; secondary outcomes included length of stay and growth velocity from weaning to discharge. Adverse events were monitored. RESULTS: Of 1565 infants screened, 885 were eligible, and 366 enrolled-187 to the 1600-g and 179 to the 1800-g group. Maternal and neonatal characteristics did not differ among weight groups. Length of hospital stay was a median of 43 days in the lower and 41 days in the higher weight group (P = .12). Growth velocity from completion of weaning to discharge was higher in the lower weight group, 13.7 g/kg/day vs 12.8 g/kg/day (P = .005). Groups did not differ in adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Among moderately preterm neonates, weaning from incubator to crib at a lower weight did not decrease length of stay, but was safe and was accompanied by higher weight gain after weaning. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02160002.

Health-related quality of life, educational and family outcomes in survivors of congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

PURPOSE: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) survivors experience increased risk of medical and neurodevelopmental challenges. This study describes the health-related quality of life (HRQOL), special education utilization and the family impact among neonatal CDH survivors. METHODS: A single-center prospective cohort of CDH survivors born between 1995 and 2006 was followed. Parents completed the PedsQL HRQOL index and a Family Impact survey to assess the need for medical equipment, home health services, and special education and quantify the burden placed on the family by their child's medical needs. RESULTS: Parents of 32 survivors participated at a mean survivor age of 8 ± 4 years. Many survivors utilized medical equipment (62%), home health services (18%) and special education (28%). CDH survivor HRQOL (79 ± 17) did not differ significantly from that of healthy children (83 ± 15, p = 0.12). HRQOL was diminished among survivors who required special education (67 ± 8 vs 82 ± 3; p = 0.04) and those reporting increased Family Impact score (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Many CDH survivors continue to require home medical equipment and home health services at school age. Most survivors have normal parent-reported HRQOL; however, the need for special education and higher family impact of neonatal CDH correlates with decreased HRQOL.

Role of admission gas exchange measurement in predicting congenital diaphragmatic hernia survival in the era of gentle ventilation.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Neonates with significant congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) require cardiopulmonary support. Management has been characterized by progressive abandonment of hyperventilation. Ability to prognosticate outcomes using measures of ventilation and oxygenation with gentle ventilation remains unclear. We sought to determine whether assessment of gas exchange at the time of NICU admission is predictive of survival in this current era. METHODS: Neonates with CDH admitted to a Children's Hospital from 1995 to 2006 were evaluated for demographics, blood gas (ABG) measurements and ventilator settings for the first 48hours, and discharge outcome. RESULTS: One-hundred-and-nineteen CDH patients were admitted, 88 (74%) survived. Mean admission ABG pCO2 was higher in infants who died compared to survivors (86±48 versus 49±20, p≤0.001); positive predictive value (PPV) for mortality of pCO2≥80mmHg was 0.71. Mean first hour preductal oxygen saturation (preductalO2Sat) was lower in infants who died compared to survivors (81±17 versus 97±5, p<0.001); PPV for mortality of preductalO2Sat<85% was 0.82. Eleven patients met both pCO2 and preductalO2Sat criteria, and 10 (91%) died, PPV of 0.92. Within hours of admission, pCO2 and preductalO2Sat differences between survivors and nonsurvivors lost significance. CONCLUSION: Admission pCO2 and preductalO2Sat may be useful in predicting survival in neonatal CDH. The differential in gas exchange between survivors and nonsurvivors loses significance with contemporary neonatal care.