Hypogammaglobulinemia Causing Multiple Abscesses and Osteomyelitis of Calcaneus Following a Heel Puncture in a Preterm Neonate.

Osteomyelitis is a challenging diagnosis for a neonate. It might result from hematogenous spread or direct extension of a skin infection. The most common organism is Staphylococcus aureus. Preterm infants are at high risk for osteomyelitis because of their immature immune system, hypogammaglobulinemia, frequent blood draws, and invasive monitoring and procedures. We report a case of a male neonate born at 29 weeks by cesarean section, requiring intubation and transfer to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). At 34 weeks, he was noted to have an abscess in the lateral aspect of the left foot, which required incision, drainage, and antibiotic coverage of cefazolin as S. aureus was sensitive to penicillin. Four days later (34 + 4 weeks), a left inguinal abscess was noticed, which grew Enterococcus faecium on drainage, which is considered a contaminant initially, but one week later, another left-sided inguinal abscess was noticed growing E. faecium, and the patient was subsequently treated with linezolid. Immunoglobulin levels were found to be low for IgG and IgA. After two weeks of antibiotics, a repeat x-ray of the foot demonstrated changes likely due to osteomyelitis. The patient received seven weeks of antibiotics targeting methicillin-sensitive staphylococcus and three weeks of treatment with linezolid for an inguinal abscess. A repeat x-ray of the lower left extremity after the patient received one month of antibiotics in an outpatient setting showed no signs of acute osteomyelitis in the calcaneus. Immunoglobulin levels continued to be low during the outpatient immunology follow-up. During the third trimester of pregnancy, the transfer of maternal IgG across the placenta begins, leading to lower IgG levels in premature infants and predisposing them to severe infections. The usual site of osteomyelitis is the metaphyseal region of the long bones, but any bone can be affected. The depth of penetration of the puncture site during routine puncture of the heel can cause a local infection. Early x-rays can aid in diagnosis. Antimicrobial treatment is frequently administered intravenously for two to three weeks and then switched to oral medication.

Obstructed Hemivagina and Ipsilateral Renal Agenesis Syndrome in a Neonate.

Obstructed hemivagina with an ipsilateral renal anomaly (OHVIRA) syndrome is a congenital malformation that presents as a uterine didelphys with an obstructed hemivagina and an associated ipsilateral renal aberration. The clinical symptoms usually manifest after menarche. Unlike the typical presentation in adolescence, this case report features a neonatal presentation of OHVIRA syndrome with an unusual renal association. A female twin delivered at 35 weeks of gestation was transferred to our institution after birth from an outside hospital due to respiratory distress and for evaluation of the left multicystic dysplastic kidney identified on prenatal ultrasound. Physical examination and lab results, including a complete blood count, and a basic metabolic panel, including blood urea and serum creatinine, were within the normal range for age. Abdominal and pelvic ultrasound showed multicystic dysplastic left pelvic kidney, congenital hepatic cyst measuring 6 mm, uterine didelphys with duplication of the vaginal canal, and obstructed left hemivagina corresponding to the OHVIRA syndrome. Further testing revealed a normal chromosomal microarray, small patent foramen ovale on the echocardiogram, no vertebral or rib anomalies on the spinal x-ray, normal hearing test, and mild optic cupping on the ophthalmological evaluation. The pediatric surgeon and urologist recommended an outpatient follow-up and elective surgery in the future. This is a unique case presenting in the neonatal period with an unusual association. Timely intervention can help prevent obstetric complications.

Next-Day Discharge vs Early Discharge After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

With the growing utilization of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) as an alternative option to surgical valve replacement (SAVR) in patients considered to be suboptimal for surgery, there is a need to explore the possibility of next day discharge (NDD) and its potential outcomes. The aim of our study is to compare outcomes and complications following NDD vs the standard early discharge (ED) (less than 3 days). A comprehensive literature search was performed in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane to identify relevant trials. Summary effects were calculated using a DerSimonian and Laird random effects model as odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals for all the clinical endpoints. Studies comparing same-day or next-day discharge vs discharge within the next three days were included in our analysis. 6 studies with 2,672 patients were identified. The risk of bleeding and vascular complications was significantly lower in patients with NDD compared to ED (OR 0.10, P < 0.00001 and OR 0.22, P = 0.002 respectively). The incidence of permanent pacemaker (PPM) implants was significantly lower in patients who had NDD compared to ED (OR 0.21, P = 0.0005). The incidence of 30 day mortality, stroke, AKI and readmission rates was not different between the two groups. NDD after TAVR allows for reduction in hospital stay and can mitigate hospital costs without an increased risk of complications. Our analysis shows that complication rate is comparable to ED, NDD is a reasonable option for certain patients with severe aortic stenosis who undergo TAVR. Further studies are needed to elucidate whether higher risk patients who would benefit from an extended inpatient monitoring post TAVR.