Levels of Care for Perinatal Health.

Since its inception in the 1970s, the stratification of perinatal health care into complexity-based levels has resulted in improved outcomes. Recent trends toward de-regionalization based on financial incentives, however, threaten to undermine these gains and should be addressed.

Effect of routine probiotic, Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938, use on rates of necrotizing enterocolitis in neonates with birthweight < 1000 grams: a sequential analysis.

BACKGROUND: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a disease in neonates, often resulting in death or serious medical or neurodevelopmental complications. The rate of NEC is highest in the smallest babies and many efforts have been tried to reduce the rate of NEC. In neonates born below 1500 grams, the rate of NEC has been significantly reduced with the use of various probiotics. This study examines the impact of routine use of a probiotic, Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 (BioGaia®), on the rate of NEC in neonates at highest risk for developing NEC, those with birth weight ≤1000 grams. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study comparing the rates of NEC in neonates with birth weight ≤ 1000 grams. The groups are separated into those neonates born from January 2004 to June 30, 2009, before introduction of L. reuteri , and neonates born July 2009 through April 2011 who received routine L. reuteri prophylaxis. The chart review study was approved by our institutional review board and exempted from informed consent.Neonates were excluded if they died or were transferred within the first week of life. The remainder were categorized as having no NEC, medical NEC, surgical NEC, or NEC associated death. Since no major changes occurred in our NICU practice in recent years, and the introduction of L. reuteri as routine prophylaxis was abrupt, we attributed the post-probiotic changes to the introduction of this new therapy. Rates of NEC were compared using Chi square analysis with Fisher exact t-test. RESULTS: Medical records for 311 neonates were reviewed, 232 before- and 79 after-introduction of L. reuteri prophylaxis. The incidence of NEC was significantly lower in the neonates who received L. reuteri (2 of 79 neonates [2.5%] versus 35 of 232 untreated neonates [15.1%]). Rates of late-onset gram-negative or fungal infections (22.8 versus 31%) were not statistically different between treated and untreated groups. No adverse events related to use of L reuteri were noted. CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic initiation of L. reuteri as a probiotic for prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis resulted in a statistically significant benefit, with avoidance of 1 NEC case for every 8 patients given prophylaxis.

Indomethacin pharmacodynamics are altered by surfactant: a possible challenge to current indomethacin dosing guidelines created before surfactant availability.

The effect of surfactant administration for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) on indomethacin (INDO) pharmacodynamics and dosing requirements for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure and renal toxicity was evaluated. A 22-year prospective cohort study including 442 INDO-treated patients given 466 INDO treatment courses. The database included demographic information, medical problems, and medications. Neonates with a PDA confirmed by echocardiography were treated with INDO, 0.25-0.3 mg/kg. Subsequent INDO dosing was based on a combined pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) approach. Data were fit to an Emax model and ANOVA was used to compare mean closure levels between groups. PDA closure was successful in 405 of 442 patients (91.6%) and in 434 of 466 treatment courses (93.1%) using an individualized PK/PD dosing approach. Renal toxicity was documented in 56 of 442 patients (12.7%) or 56 of 466 treatment courses (12.0%). Patients not treated with synthetic surfactant trended toward lower mean INDO concentrations at PDA closure compared to patients treated with synthetic surfactant (1.65 vs. 2.01 mg/l; P > 0.05) and significantly lower mean INDO concentrations at PDA closure compared to patients treated with natural surfactant (1.65 vs. 2.15 mg/l; P < 0.002). This requires an increased total dose of ~0.3 mg/kg or an individual dose increase of 0.1 mg/kg. Administration of natural or synthetic surfactant for RDS may increase the INDO concentrations and doses needed for PDA closure in premature infants.

Low-dose aminophylline for the treatment of neonatal non-oliguric renal failure-case series and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: Aminophylline is a methylxanthine with multiple physiologic actions. At low doses, aminophylline can antagonize adenosine and improve renal function via increased glomerular filtration rate. Despite its clinical use, little data exists in neonates for this indication. Therefore, the objective of this report is to describe the impact of aminophylline on renal function indices in a series of neonates with acute renal failure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective chart review of 13 neonates with acute renal failure who received aminophylline during a 15-month study period. Aminophylline was administered at 1 mg/kg intravenously or orally every twelve hours. Forty-six percent (n = 6) of the patients received a 5 mg/kg loading dose before initiation of maintenance therapy. Most patients had already received other treatments for renal failure, including diuretics and dopamine. RESULTS: Resolution of acute renal failure (with normalization of serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen) was documented in 10 patients (77%). Four of the thirteen patients died from complications due to their prematurity. Failure of low-dose aminophylline was observed in 3 of the 4 patients who died. CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose aminophylline in neonates with acute renal failure is associated with an improvement in renal function indices.

Heat loss prevention for preterm infants in the delivery room.

OBJECTIVE: Preterm infants are prone to hypothermia immediately following birth. Among other factors, excessive evaporative heat loss and the relatively cool ambient temperature of the delivery room may be important contributors. Most infants <29 weeks gestation had temperatures <36.4 degrees C on admission to our neonatal unit (NICU). Therefore we conducted a randomized, controlled trial to evaluate the effect of placing these infants in polyurethane bags in the delivery room to prevent heat loss and reduce the occurrence of hypothermia on admission to the NICU. METHODS: After parental consent was obtained, infants expected to be <29 weeks gestation were randomized to intervention or control groups just prior to their birth. Infants randomized to the intervention group were placed in polyurethane bags up to their necks immediately after delivery before being dried. They were then resuscitated per NRP guidelines, covered with warm blankets, and transported to the NICU, where the bags were removed and rectal temperatures were recorded. Control infants were resuscitated, covered with warm blankets, and transported without being placed in polyurethane bags. Delivery room temperatures were recorded so this potentially confounding variable could be assessed. RESULTS: Intervention patients were less likely than control patients to have temperature < 36.4 degrees C on admission , 44 vs 70% (p<0.01) and the intervention group had a higher mean admission temperature, 36.5 degrees C vs 36.0 degrees C (p<0.003). This effect remained significant (p<0.0001) when delivery room temperature was controlled in analysis. Warmer delivery room temperatures (>/=26 degrees C) were associated with higher admission temperatures in both intervention and control infants, but only the subgroup of intervention patients born in warmer delivery rooms had a mean admission temperature >36.4 degrees C. CONCLUSIONS: Placing infants <29 weeks gestation in polyurethane bags in the delivery room reduced the occurrence of hypothermia and increased their NICU admission temperatures. Maintaining warmer delivery rooms helped but was insufficient in preventing hypothermia in most of these vulnerable patients without the adjunctive use of the polyurethane bags.