A pilot study of less invasive surfactant administration in very preterm infants in a Chinese tertiary center.

BACKGROUND: Less invasive surfactant administration (LISA) to spontaneously breathing preterm infants has been reported to reduce the duration of mechanical ventilation and the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in previous study. The objective of this study was to explore the feasibility and potential benefits of LISA in early preterm infants on nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) compared to conventional endotracheal instillation. METHODS: All infants with respiratory distress born at 28-32 weeks' gestational age from January 2012 to December 2012 (n=90), who were eligible for exogenous pulmonary surfactant (PS) therapy were randomized to receive PS by intubation with an endotracheal tube (Intubation group, n=43), or by intubation using a catheter while on nCPAP (LISA group, n=47). Respiratory indices were recorded every 30 seconds during PS administration, and every 1 hour thereafter for the first day. The rate of mechanical ventilation (MV) in the first 72 hours, mean duration of both MV and nCPAP, mean duration of oxygen requirement and neonatal outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: PS was successfully administered in 43 (100%) out of 43 babies using the conventional approach and in 46 (97%) out of 47 babies using LISA. The duration of both MV and nCPAP was significantly shorter in LISA group, when compared with intubation group. However, there were no significant differences in both the rate of MV in the first 72 hours and mean duration of oxygen requirement. There were also no differences in the mortality or in the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, intraventricular hemorrhage, retinopathy of prematurity and necrotizing enterocolitis, or in the duration of respiratory support. CONCLUSIONS: LISA in spontaneously breathing infants on nCPAP is an alternative therapy for PS delivery, avoiding intubation with an endotracheal tube. The method is feasible and potentially effective, and deserves further clinical trials. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ChiCTR-ICR-15006001. Registered 20 February 2015.

Total serum bilirubin levels during the first 2 days of life and subsequent neonatal morbidity in very low birth weight infants: a retrospective review.

To determine the relationship between total serum bilirubin (TSB) during the first 2 days of life and subsequent neonatal morbidity in very low birth weight (VLBW, less than 1500 g) infants. We performed a prospective study of 582 VLBW infants born between July 1, 2005 and December 31, 2009. TSB was measured in umbilical cord blood (UCB), at 24 and 48 h after birth. Demographic and clinical characteristics of infants in hospital were recorded. The interaction between TSB variables during the first 48 h of life and subsequent neonatal morbidity were assessed in logistic regression analyses adjusted for multiple risk factors. It was found that TSB in UCB was in a negative correlation with occurrence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) [OR 0.626, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.446-0.879, p = 0.007], and there was also a negative correlation between TSB in UCB and occurrence of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) [OR 0.695, 95% CI 0.826-0.981, p = 0.020]. However, TSB in UCB positively correlated with hyperbilirubinemia [OR 2.471, 95% CI 1.326-3.551, p = 0.012], and TSB at 24 h after birth was also in a positive correlation with early onset sepsis (EOS) [OR 1.299, 95% CI 1.067-1.582, p = 0.011]. VLBW infants with low TSB levels in UCB were more likely to develop RDS and IVH, and those with low TSB levels in UCB were less likely to develop hyperbilirubinemia. Infants with high TSB levels at 24 h after birth were more likely to develop EOS. The protective effect of raised TSB in UCB with respect to RDS and IVH warrants further investigation.

Total serum bilirubin level in umbilical cord blood and respiratory distress syndrome in very low birth weight infants.

AIMS: To explore the association between total serum bilirubin (TSB) level in umbilical cord blood (UCB) and the occurrence and/or severity of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. METHODS: We performed a prospective study of 579 VLBW infants. The mean TSB level in UCB (1.8 mg/dL) was used to divide the cohort into two groups: neonates with levels <1.8 mg/dL and those with levels >1.8 mg/dL. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the 2 groups, including diagnosis of RDS, need for ventilation, peak fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2), oxygenation index (OI), and duration of respiratory support, were compared. RESULTS: Three hundred and twenty-four infants were included in the low-TSB group and 255 infants were included in the high-TSB group. RDS was less frequent in the high TSB group than in the low one (46.3% vs. 56.6%, P=0.01). A negative association between TSB level in UCB and the occurrence of RDS [odds ratio (OR)=0.620; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.440-0.873, P=0.006] was observed. However, lower TSB in UCB was not associated with the maximum FiO2, OI, or duration of mechanical ventilation. CONCLUSIONS: VLBW infants with low TSB levels in UCB were more likely to develop RDS. However, in conjunction with surfactant replacement therapy, no correlation was found between TSB levels in UCB and the severity of RDS. The negative association between high TSB in UCB and RDS warrants further investigation.

No relationship between mode of delivery and neonatal mortality and neurodevelopment in very low birth weight infants aged two years.

BACKGROUND: To compare neonatal mortality and neurodevelopmental outcomes at two years of age in very low birth weight infants (≤1500 g) born by cesarean with those by vaginal delivery. METHODS: In this retrospective, case-control study, we evaluated neonatal mortality, medical conditions and neurodevelopmental outcomes at two years of corrected age in 710 very low birth weight (VLBW) infants born between January 2005 and December 2010. Of the 710 infants, 351 were born by the cesarean and 359/710 by vaginal route. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in neonatal mortality between the cesarean delivery group and vaginal delivery group [56/351 (15.9%) vs. 71/359 (19.8%), P=0.20]. VLBW infants delivered by the cesarean procedure had a higher incidence of respiratory distress syndrome than those born by the vaginal route [221/351 (63.0%) vs. 178/359 (49.6%), P<0.001]. There were no differences in other neonatal morbidities, including intraventricular hemorrhage [126/351 (35.9%) vs. 134/359 (37.3%), P=0.69], bronchopulmonary dysplasia [39/351 (11%) vs. 31/359 (8.6%), P=0.38] and necrotising enterocolitis [40/351 (11.4%) vs. 32/359 (8.9%), P=0.32] between the two groups. The incidence of poor neurodevelopment after cesarean delivery was similar to that after vaginal delivery [105/351 (29.9) vs. 104/359 (29.0%), P=0.78]. CONCLUSIONS: In neither neurodevelopment nor neonatal mortality did cesarean birth offered significant advantages to VLBW infants. Moreover, the operation might be associated with an increased risk of respiratory distress syndrome for VLBW infants. The mode of delivery of VLBW infants should be largely based on obstetric indications and maternal considerations rather than perceived better outcomes for the neonate.