Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition最新文献

Objective: To determine the prevalence of bradycardia in the first minute after birth and association with positive pressure ventilation (PPV).

Method: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2019 to December 2021 at Stavanger University Hospital, Norway. Parents consented to participation during pregnancy, and newborns ≥28 weeks' gestation were included at birth. Heart rate (HR) was captured immediately after birth and continuously for the first minute(s). Time of birth was registered on a tablet. Provision of PPV was captured using video.

Results: Of 4876 included newborns, 164 (3.4%) did not breathe (two-thirds) or breathed ineffectively (one-third) and received PPV at birth. HR in the first minute had a wide distribution. The prevalence of first measured HR <100 and <60 beats/minute at median 16 s was 16.3% and 0.6%, respectively. HR increased in most cases. At 60 s, 3.7% had HR <100 beats/minute, of which 82% did not require PPV. In total, 25% of newborns had some registered HR <100 beats/minute during the first minute, of which 95% did not require PPV. Among newborns who received PPV, 76% and 62% had HR ≥100 beats/minute at 60 s and at start PPV, respectively.

Conclusion: Bradycardia with HR <100 bpm in the first minute of life was frequent, but mostly self-resolved. Among the 4% of newborns that remained bradycardic at 60 s, only 20% received PPV. Two-thirds of resuscitated newborns had HR ≥100 beats/minute at start PPV. None of the ventilated newborns were breathing adequately at start PPV.

Trial registration number: NCT03849781.

The placenta contains valuable clinical information that is linked to fetal development, neonatal morbidity and mortality, and future health outcomes. Both gross inspection and histopathological examination of the placenta may identify intrinsic or secondary placental lesions, which can contribute directly to adverse neonatal outcomes or indicate the presence of an unfavourable intrauterine environment. Placental examination therefore forms an essential component of the care of high-risk neonates and at perinatal post-mortem examination. In this article, we describe the clinical value of placental examination for paediatricians and perinatal clinicians. We discuss common pathological findings on general inspection of the placenta with photographic examples and provide an overview of the placental pathological examination, including how to interpret key findings. We also address the medico-legal and financial implications of placental examinations and describe current and future clinical considerations for clinicians in regard to placental examination.

Objective: To compare the association of the severity categories of the 2001-National Institutes of Health (NIH), the 2018-NIH and the 2019-Jensen bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) definitions with neurodevelopmental and respiratory outcomes at 2 and 5 years' corrected age (CA), and several BPD risk factors.

Design: Single-centre historical cohort study with retrospective data collection.

Setting: Infants born between 2009 and 2015 at the Amsterdam University Medical Centers, location Amsterdam Medical Center.

Patients: Preterm infants born at gestational age (GA) <30 weeks and surviving up to 36 weeks' postmenstrual age.

Interventions: Perinatal characteristics, (social) demographics and comorbidities were collected from the electronic patient records.

Main outcome measures: The primary outcomes were neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) or late death, and respiratory morbidity at 2 and 5 years' CA. Using logistic regression and Brier scores, we investigated if the ordinal grade severity is associated with incremental increase of adverse long-term outcomes.

Results: 584 preterm infants (median GA: 28.1 weeks) were included and classified according to the three BPD definitions. None of the definitions showed a clear ordinal incremental increase of risk for any of the outcomes with increasing severity classification. No significant differences were found between the three BPD definitions (Brier scores 0.169-0.230). Respiratory interventions, but not GA, birth weight or small for GA, showed an ordinal relationship with BPD severity in all three BPD definitions.

Conclusion: The severity classification of three BPD definitions showed low accuracy of the probability forecast on NDI or late death and respiratory morbidity at 2 and 5 years' CA, with no differences between the definitions.

Objective: To characterise the effects of early and exclusive enteral nutrition with either maternal or donor milk in infants born very preterm (28^0/7-32^6/7 weeks of gestation).

Design: Parallel-group, unmasked randomised controlled trial.

Setting: Regional, tertiary neonatal intensive care unit.

Participants: 102 infants born very preterm between 2021 and 2022 (51 in each group).

Intervention: Infants randomised to the intervention group received 60-80 mL/kg/day within the first 36 hours after birth. Infants randomised to the control group received 20-30 mL/kg/day (standard trophic feeding volumes).

Main outcome measures: The primary outcome was the number of full enteral feeding days (>150 mL/kg/day) in the first 28 days after birth. Secondary outcomes included growth and body composition at the end of the first two postnatal weeks, and length of hospitalisation.

Results: The mean birth weight was 1477 g (SD: 334). Half of the infants were male, and 44% were black. Early and exclusive enteral nutrition increased the number of full enteral feeding days (+2; 0-2 days; p=0.004), the fat-free mass-for-age z-scores at postnatal day 14 (+0.5; 0.1-1.0; p=0.02) and the length-for-age z-scores at the time of hospital discharge (+0.6; 0.2-1.0; p=0.002). Hospitalisation costs differed between groups (mean difference favouring the intervention group: -$28 754; -$647 to -$56 861; p=0.04).

Conclusions: In infants born very preterm, early and exclusive enteral nutrition increases the number of full enteral feeding days. This feeding practice may also improve fat-free mass accretion, increase length and reduce hospitalisation costs.

Trial registration number: NCT04337710.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of non-invasive high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (NHFOV) and nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) in preterm infants.

Design: The study conducted a comprehensive analysis across three databases, namely EMBASE, MEDLINE and Cochrane Central, to identify randomised controlled trials comparing NHFOV and NCPAP. Statistical analysis was performed using Review Manager V.5.3 software.

Main outcomes measures: The primary outcomes of the study were the intubation or reintubation rate in the NHFOV and NCPAP groups. Additionally, secondary outcomes included the partial pressure of carbon dioxide levels and major complications associated with non-invasive respiratory support ventilation.

Results: Ten randomised controlled studies, involving 2031 preterm infants, were included in this meta-analysis. When compared with NCPAP, NHFOV demonstrated a significant reduction in the intubation or reintubation rate (p<0.01, relative risk=0.45, 95% CI 0.37 to 0.55), and there was no statistical difference in related complications.

Conclusion: In preterm infants, NHFOV appears to be an effective intervention for decreasing the intubation or reintubation rate compared with NCPAP, with no increase in associated complications.

Trial registration number: CRD42023403968.

Objective: The optimal time for neonatal stoma closure is unclear and there have been calls for a trial to compare early and late surgery. The feasibility of such a trial will depend on the population of eligible infants and acceptability to families and health professionals. In this study, we aimed to determine current UK practice and characteristics of those undergoing stoma surgery.

Design: A retrospective cohort study of neonates who had undergone stoma surgery (excluding anorectal malformations and Hirschsprung's disease) using three national databases: the National Neonatal Research Database (NNRD, 2012-2019), British Association of Paediatric Surgeons Congenital Anomalies Surveillance System (BAPS-CASS, 2013-2014) and Hospital Episode Statistics-Admitted Patient Care (HES-APC, 2011-2018).

Results: 1830 eligible neonates were identified from NNRD, 163 from BAPS-CASS, 2477 from HES-APC. Median (IQR) duration of stoma in days was 57 (36-80) in NNRD, 63 (41-130) in BAPS-CASS and 78 (55-122) for neonates identified from HES-APC. At the time of closure, there were low rates of invasive ventilation (13%), inotrope use (5%) and recent steroids use (4%). Infants who underwent earlier closure (<9 weeks) were less preterm (median 28 weeks vs 25 weeks), have higher birth weight (median 986 g vs 764 g) and more likely to have stoma complications (29% vs 5%).

Conclusion: There are sufficient UK neonates undergoing stoma formation for a trial. Stoma closure is performed at around 2 months, with clinical stability, gestation, weight and stoma complications appearing to influence timing. The variation in practice we document indicates there is opportunity to optimise practice through a trial.

Background: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a rare birth defect with substantial mortality. This study aims to generate a population-based overview of CDH care and outcomes in the Netherlands. Moreover, it assesses interhospital variations between the two Dutch CDH expert centres.

Methods: This study uses data from the Dutch branch of the European Pediatric Surgical Audit, a prospective clinical audit for congenital anomalies. Data of all patients with CDH treated between 2014 and 2021 were included for epidemiological analysis. For comparative analyses, patients presenting after the neonatal period or not treated in the two CDH expert centres were excluded. Identified interhospital variations were assessed using regression analysis.

Results: In the study period, 283 children with CDH were born, resulting in a national prevalence rate of 2.06/10 000 live births. The patient population, treatment and outcomes at 1 year were comparable between the hospitals, except for length of hospital stay. Regression analysis identified the treating hospital as the strongest significant predictor thereof. Other factors associated with longer length of stay include the presence of other malformations, intrathoracic liver position on prenatal ultrasound, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation treatment, patch repair, complicated postoperative course and discharge to home rather than to another care facility.

Conclusion: Outcomes of CDH care throughout the Netherlands are comparable. However, the length of stay differed between the two hospitals, also when adjusting for other covariates. Further qualitative analysis to explain this interhospital variation is indicated. Our findings underscore the potential of clinical auditing as a quality measurement tool in rare conditions.