NT-PROBNP as a screening tool for low-risk patent ductus arteriousus: a follow-up validation study.

The purpose of the study is to test whether NT-proBNP serves as a screening tool for low-risk patent ductus arteriosus and safely avoids routine early echocardiography. This is a prospective observational study in preterm infants ≤32 weeks of gestational age. Infants with ≥5100 pg/ml (positive screening) at 48-72 hours of life received comprehensive echocardiography and were treated according to shunt severity. Infants with NT-proBNP below 5100 pg/ml (negative screening) were managed expectantly. The main outcome was need for ductus treatment within the first 7 days of life. One hundred twenty-five infants were included; 82 had a negative NT-proBNP screening and 43 had a positive NT-proBNP screening. No infant (0%) with a negative screening was treated for ductus while 26 (60.4%) with a positive screening were treated (p < 0.001). NT-proBNP avoided a 65.6% of routine echocardiograms. NT-proBNP had an excellent performance to predict PDA treatment (AUC = 0.967).Conclusion: NT-proBNP at 48-72 hours of life has an excellent performance to detect low risk and avoids unnecessary echocardiograms. This may contribute to optimize PDA management in terms of resource utilization.

Bedside Ultrasound for Early Diagnosis of Necrotizing Enterocolitis: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess whether bedside ultrasound (BUS) as the first imaging modality allows an earlier diagnosis of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) compared with abdominal radiography. STUDY DESIGN: A before-after controlled study in preterm infants with suspected NEC. The intervention group (October 2019-October 2021) received BUS as the first imaging modality and was managed accordingly to BUS findings. The control group (October 2015-September 2019) received radiography as the first imaging modality. The main outcome was NEC confirmation at the time of initial imaging. Secondary outcomes included time to diagnosis, laboratory data, and treatment requirements. RESULTS: Thirty-five episodes of suspected NEC with 14 (40%) confirmed NEC cases and 49 episodes of suspected NEC with 22 (44.9%) confirmed NEC cases were included in the intervention and control groups, respectively. In the intervention group, 11 of 14 (78.6%) NEC cases were confirmed at initial evaluation compared with 5 of 22 (22.7%) in the control group (p = 0.001). Infants in the intervention group developed thrombocytopenia and coagulopathy less frequently, were exposed to less radiation, and required less days of parenteral nutrition compared with the control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The use of BUS as the first imaging modality allowed an earlier diagnosis and timely treatment of NEC compared with abdominal radiography.Key Points · This is the first study that has assessed the role of BUS as the first imaging modality in NEC.. · BUS improves early diagnosis of NEC compared with abdominal radiography.. · BUS shortens time to NEC confirmation and treatment initiation which may reduce clinical severity of the NEC episode..