Heparin versus 0.9% sodium chloride intermittent flushing for preventing occlusion in newborns with peripherally inserted central catheters: A systematic review protocol.

BACKGROUND: Mechanical factors are primary complications that justify early removal of a peripherally inserted central catheter, and thrombotic catheter occlusion is the most critical mechanical complication associated with loss of device functionality. Studies have investigated these factors in adult patients, but findings are not directly applicable to newborns. Therefore, systematic reviews focusing on this population are necessary for consolidated evidence to aid clinical practice. AIMS: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of intermittent heparin washing versus 0.9% sodium chloride solution for preventing occlusion in newborns with peripherally inserted central catheters. METHODS: We will use the PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, and Clinical Trial Databases for article search, without language or publication periods restrictions. Randomized clinical trials evaluating the use of intermittent heparin washing versus 0.9% sodium chloride solution in newborns with peripherally inserted central venous catheters will be included. The primary outcome will be peripherally inserted central catheter occlusion. Two reviewers will independently screen the studies, based on the inclusion criteria, extract the data for each included study and assess the risk of bias using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. The data will be synthesized using the Review Manager software (RevMan 5.4.1). To classify the strength of the evidence of results, we will use the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation Working Group (GRADE). The review was registered with PROSPERO (registration number CRD42021281509). EXPECTED RESULTS: We expect that this study would reveal the best method for preventing catheter occlusion in newborns with peripherally inserted central catheters.

Syphilis Notifications and the Triggering Processes for Vertical Transmission: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Syphilis is a disease that is found all over the world that causes damaging effects to the fetus through vertical transmission. This study aimed to analyze the processes that trigger the vertical transmission of syphilis through gestational and congenital syphilis notifications. It is a cross-sectional study. The sample totaled 129 notifications of syphilis in pregnant women and 132 notifications of congenital syphilis in the city of Natal, from 2011 to 2015. Data were obtained from the Information System for Disease Notification. The Chi-square, Student's and Fisher's tests were used to verify associations of interest. Diagnosis of maternal syphilis was predominant in the third trimester of pregnancy. Only 1.6% of the pregnant women were registered with an adequate treatment regimen, of these 16.3% had the concomitant treatment with their partners. Of the affected children, 78.8% were registered as asymptomatic. The factors that trigger vertical transmission are related to the late diagnosis of the pregnant woman and sexual partner(s) and the deficiencies in clinical/therapeutic management in relation to the phase of the disease. Strategies of professional training should be adopted to notify and expand the provision of information for epidemiological surveillance, aiming to strengthen care, reduce vertical transmission and enable the continuous analysis of this problem.

Nursing diagnoses of newborns with sepsis in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

OBJECTIVES: to elaborate the Nursing Diagnoses of newborns with sepsis in a neonatal intensive care unit and characterize the profile of the neonates and their mothers. METHOD: a cross-sectional and quantitative study, with a sample of 41 neonates. A physical examination and consultation of the hospital records were undertaken, using an instrument. The elaboration of the Nursing Diagnoses followed a process of diagnostic inference and was based on the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association 2012-2014. RESULTS: the mothers were around 25 years old, had a low average number of pre-natal consultations, and various complications during the pregnancy; and the newborns were predominantly premature and with very low birth weights. Five Nursing Diagnoses predominated, and all the neonates presented Risk of Shock and Risk of fluid volume imbalance. CONCLUSION: the Nursing Diagnoses of the neonates with sepsis can guide the formulating of specific assistential plans. The study contributes to the generation of new knowledge and found various relationships between the Nursing Diagnoses and the variables selected in the characterization of the neonates, which deserve to be elucidated in greater detail based on further research on the issue.

Social representations of mothers about gestational hypertension and premature birth.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the meanings attributed by mothers to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDPs) and their consequences, such as premature birth and hospitalization of the infant in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). METHOD: A qualitative study, based on the Central Nucleus Theory, with 70 women who had hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and preterm delivery. We used the technique of free word association (FWAT) with three stimuli: high blood pressure during pregnancy, prematurity and NICU. RESULTS: We obtained 1007 evocations, distributed as follows: high blood pressure during pregnancy (335) prematurity (333) and NICU (339). These constituted three thematic units: representation of HDPs, prematurity and the NICU. The categories death and negative aspects were inherent to the three units analyzed, followed by coping strategies and needs for care present in HDPs and prematurity. CONCLUSION: The study had death as its central nucleus, and highlighted the subjective aspects present in the high risk pregnancy and postpartum cycle. It is hoped that this research will contribute to qualifying nursing care for women confronting the problem of HDPs, so that they can cope with less impacts from the adverse effects of high risk pregnancy and birth.

[The meanings that postpartum women assign to gestational hypertension and premature birth]. / Significados atribuídos por puérperas às síndromes hipertensivas da gravidez e nascimento prematuro.

The objective of this study was to understand the meanings that postpartum women assign to gestational hypertension that resulted in premature birth. Participants were 70 women, with a mean age of 28 years, 85.7% of whom delivered between the 32nd and 36th gestational week. A questionnaire with subjective questions was applied to identify the meanings of gestational hypertension and premature delivery for postpartum women. Results were analyzed based on the Theory of Social Representations. We observed the construction of a negative social representation, with death as the central nucleus and negative aspects as the peripheral nuclei. The latter derive from the risks the mother and fetus were exposed to during pregnancy and later in the postpartum period with the hospitalization of the child in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Domestic maternal experience with preterm newborn children.

OBJECTIVE: Exploring maternal experience with premature newborn children in a domestic environment. METHODS: The study was qualitative and used focus group interviews with 24 women who had had preterm deliveries in a public maternity hospital located in Northeast Brazil during June and October 2005. The mothers returned to the hospital facility at least 30 days after the newborn were discharged to share their experiences in caring for a premature infant at home. RESULTS: Interview data was analysed for content, four thematic nuclei being identified: hospital discharge, preparing the family for discharge, caring for a premature baby at home and life changes arising from the premature birth. The greatest difficulties reported by the mothers in caring for their premature children at home were related to feeding and feelings of insecurity and fear were expressed which showed the need for a support network for the families following discharge. CONCLUSIONS: The mothers care of premature infants at home represented changes for parents in everyday family life, work and social life, thus showing the need for a support network for them during the transition from hospital to home when considering premature children.

[Social representation of fathers regarding their premature child in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit]. / Representação social de pais sobre o filho prematuro na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal.

Qualitative study that aimed at understanding the social representation of a parent with a premature child. The data were collected between May and June 2008, in a semi-structured interview with 17 parents whose premature children were hospitalized in the NICU of two public institutions in Natal, Brazil. The reports were analyzed based on the Social Representations Theory (SRT). The results reveal that the hospitalization of their children causes parents to experience emotions of fear, anguish, anxiety, loneliness interspersed with those of faith, joy and hope. For a parent the NICU is a frightening environment, albeit necessary for the specialized care that the conditions of the premature newborn require.

[Representations of mothers about the hospitalization of their premature child]. / Representações de mães sobre hospitalização do filho prematuro.

Qualitative study aimed at knowing the representations of mothers about the hospitalization of their premature son in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The sample was composed of eighteen mothers of premature newborns hospitalized in a school hospital in Natal, Brazil. A semi-structured interview was used and data analysis showed that hospitalization of a child is represented by the mothers as meanings, feelings, difficulties and uncertainties. It is considered that prematurity represents a maternal challenge from the moment of the premature birth, proceeding with disturbances inherent to hospitalization. These require awareness, listening and dialogue on the part of health professionals in an effective manner in order to strengthen maternal adaptation to prematurity.