Rigid catheters reduced duration of less invasive surfactant therapy procedures in manikins.

AIM: Different catheters can be used for less invasive surfactant therapy (LIST): feeding tubes inserted with or without Magill forceps, different angiocatheters and centre specific devices, such as umbilical catheters affixed to a stylet. This study compared the effectiveness of LIST devices and endotracheal tubes (ETT). METHODS: Video recordings of 20 neonatologists simulating different LIST techniques on two manikin heads were analysed. Procedural effectiveness was evaluated by the duration of procedures and failure rates. Ease of use was scored. RESULTS: The median procedure time for the Neonatal Intubation Trainer was significantly longer with feeding tubes without Magill forceps. For the more difficult ALS Baby Trainer, successful procedures lasted a median of 24 (17-32) seconds with ETT, 24 (15-36) seconds with stylet-guided catheters and 34 (27-46) seconds and 37 (29-42) seconds with 13-cm and 30-cm angiocatheters, respectively. Both methods using feeding tubes were statistically slower than ETT intubation, lasting 32 (25-44) seconds and 39 (27-95) seconds with or without Magill forceps. Failure rates (7-20%) were no different between the LIST methods. Techniques using feeding tubes were rated as more difficult. CONCLUSION: Only rigid or stylet-guided catheters required tracheal catheterisation times similar to those of endotracheal intubation and neonatologists found them easier.

Imaging of primary unilateral pulmonary hypoplasia: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary hypoplasia is a rare cause of neonatal dyspnea almost always secondary to other conditions. We report an exceedingly rare case of primary unilateral pulmonary hypoplasia. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: This case illustrates the role of prenatal magnetic resonance imaging when this condition is suspected during the fetal life. Combined with ultrasounds, this imaging modality offers a three-dimensional evaluation of the lungs that can be critical for postnatal medical management.

[Perinatal thrombocytopenia of maternal origin]. / Les thrombopénies périnatales d'origine maternelle.

Maternal causes of perinatal thrombocytopenia include neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia, autoimmune disorders, intrauterine infections and hypertensive diseases. The diagnosis of these pathologies is difficult because they can occur in sick neonates, but also in healthy babies without a history suggesting illness. The treatment has to be quickly established in order to decrease eventual hemorrhagic complications. These latter can be amplified by several clinical circumstances and especially by the platelet immaturity of this time of life. The risk of recurrence for the next pregnancies has to be determined and can lead to diagnostic or therapeutic measures during the antenatal period.

[Choanal atresia: a retrospective study of 39 cases]. / Les atrésies choanales: à propos d'une série rétrospective de 39 cas.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics and the surgical management in patients with choanal atresia. We performed a retrospective study at the Saint-Luc University hospital, Brussels, between January 1988 and June 2000. Surgical corrections were performed using different approach (transnasal endoscopic, transpalatal) and different instrumentations (urethral sounds, laser nd-YAG, laser CO2, microdebrider). Portex endotracheal tubes were inserted as nasal stents in the vast majority of the patients with bilateral choanal atresia. Thirty-nine children with choanal atresia (22 unilateral and 17 bilateral) (9: M, 30: F) were studied. 38 of them were surgically managed. Based on clinical inspection and On CT-Scan, choanal atresia was defined as membranous for 4 patients, osseous for 6 and mixte for 29. Associated congenital anomalies were found in 22.7% of unilateral and in 70.5% of bilateral choanal atresia (Total: 43.5%). Of those children with bilateral choanal atresia, 75% were asymptomatic after four surgical procedures. In children with unilateral choanal atresia, 45% were asymptomatic after one surgical correction and 100% after three surgical corrections. Four patients were managed using an endoscopic endonasal approach with the microdebrider and showed no evidence of recurrence. Outcome analyses of factors that may influence the results of surgery are difficult to establish since many different surgical options were taken during this period. However, it seems that bilateral choanal atresia is associated with more surgical corrections before achieving a normal nasal breathing than unilateral choanal atresia. After this review, our current strategy regarding the choanal atresia will be to begin with the endoscopic endonasal approach using the microdebrider (stents if bilateral) and to propose the transpalatal approach in case of recurrence.

Two-year neonatal outcome following PPROM prior to 25 weeks with a prolonged period of oligohydramnios.

BACKGROUND: Improved neonatal survival data have been reported following early preterm prelabour rupture of membranes (PPROM) prior to 25 weeks gestation with a prolonged latency to delivery and persistent oligohydramnios. However, data regarding long-term respiratory and neurological morbidity are lacking. AIMS: To evaluate the respiratory and neurological outcome data at two years of age in a cohort of infants born following PPROM prior to 25 weeks with a prolonged latency (14 days) to delivery and compare the data to an aged matched group of infants. METHODS: Retrospective case note analysis over a 43-month period at Saint Luc University Hospital, Brussels. RESULTS: 15 surviving infants born following PPROM were matched to a group of 30 control infants. Although there was no significant difference in the incidence of BPD between the groups (33% vs 27%, p=0.24), the length of hospitalisation, duration of respiratory support and number of hospital readmissions for respiratory indications were all significantly higher for infants born following a prolonged period of oligohydramnios. There were no major anomalies on cranial ultrasound in the PPROM group and Baileys developmental assessment at 20-24 months corrected gestational age showed no difference between the two groups (Mental development index 93.9 vs 94.4 and Psychomotor development index 95.5 vs 95.8 respectively p = ns). CONCLUSION: Neurodevelopmental outcome appears encouraging in this cohort although these infants are at high risk of prolonged initial hospitalisation and significant respiratory morbidity in the first two-years of life.

Contemporary neonatal outcome following rupture of membranes prior to 25 weeks with prolonged oligohydramnios.

BACKGROUND: Prolonged oligohydramnios following early preterm prelabour rupture of membranes (PPROM) is traditionally associated with high neonatal mortality and significant risk of pulmonary hypoplasia. However, recent evidence points to an apparent improvement in outcome. AIMS: To document current neonatal outcomes following rupture of membranes prior to 25 weeks with severe persistent oligohydramnios and a latency to delivery of at least 14 days. METHODS: A retrospective case note analysis over a 28-month period at Saint Luc University Hospital, Brussels. RESULTS: From 23 pregnancies that were complicated by PPROM prior to 25 weeks, 15 infants were born after 24 weeks with a latency of more than 14 days and persistent oligohydramnios. Nine infants (60%) had severe respiratory failure and clinical signs compatible with pulmonary hypoplasia. Seven of these infants (78%) responded to high frequency ventilation and inhaled nitric oxide therapy with good clinical outcome but two died from severe respiratory failure. Five infants showed no clinical signs of pulmonary hypoplasia and responded to conventional neonatal management. One of these infants died at 77 days of age of necrotising enterocolitis. One infant was not resuscitated and died within minutes of birth, following prior discussion with the perinatal team and the parents. Survivors in this high-risk group (73%) had low morbidity at the time of discharge. SUMMARY: The favourable neonatal survival and morbidity figures are in keeping with recent published evidence. This study confirms improved outcome even amongst the highest risk infants with documented persistent oligohydramnios.

Sonographic evaluation of traumatic spinal cord lesions in the newborn infant.

We present a case of spinal cord injury due to birth trauma and assess the value of sonography for diagnosis, lesion characterization, and follow-up. Sonography is a non-invasive and easily reproducible imaging method for examining a ventilated child, and its initial sensitivity is comparable to that of MRI. Sonography is the method of choice for guiding diagnosis in this type of traumatic lesion to the newborn.

[Congenital paralysis due to compression. Apropos of 4 cases]. / Paralysies congénitales par compression. A propos de quatre observations.

Four cases of congenital dysfunction of major peripheral nerves are reported and discussed. The first patient was a girl born by spontaneous delivery with an area of skin and muscle necrosis on the dorsal aspect of the forearm and a palsy of the three major nerves of the upper limb. The second patient was a boy born by caesarean section with the same necrotic lesions and a palsy of the ulnar and median nerve. The third patient was a boy born uneventfully with a truncal lesion of the sciatic nerve at the thigh. The fourth who was delivered by caesarean section for alteration of the monitoring presented a severe strangulation of the arm by the umbilical cord with palsy of the radial and ulnar nerve. The palsies recovered spontaneously and the sequelae are mostly due to the muscle necrosis. Congenital dysfunction of major peripheral nerves have been described as a complication of congenital constriction band syndrome, in association with subcutaneous fat necrosis, neonatal gangrene or aplasia cutis congenita. Intrauterine compression of a limb may be favoured by decreased foetal activity, by spontaneous rupture of the amniotic sac, particularly if there is a delay in delivery and by abnormal uterine activity during labour. Our three first cases confirm that the compression may arise before the labour. The fourth demonstrates that umbilical cord strangulation may lead to anoxia of the foetus together with compression of the limb.

Sperm morphology and IVF pregnancy rate: comparison between Percoll gradient centrifugation and swim-up procedures.

Many groups currently use two methods for the separation of motile spermatozoa, swim-up (S-up) and centrifugation on discontinuous Percoll gradient (PGC), and comparison of results indicates that PGC is superior. In this study we have attempted to identify the factors explaining this difference. This laboratory has long-standing expertise in seminology, thus the parameters of sperm morphology were the obvious first choice for detailed study. First, the respective effects of S-up and PGC on sperm morphology were analysed in different types of ejaculates: 62 semen samples with normal parameters and 41 with poor parameters. Both separation techniques resulted in improved morphology in the final preparation but only the increase of morphologically normal spermatozoa in the final Percoll suspension was significant. Second, application of these techniques in our in-vitro fertilization (IVF) programme revealed that, together with the improvement of sperm morphology, a higher pregnancy rate was obtained after PGC. The ongoing pregnancy rates per oocyte retrieval were 21.1% for the S-up technique and 33.3% for the PGC technique. These data show that spermatozoa selected by PGC present an improved morphology which we believe to be linked to improvement of the quality of the in-vitro fertilized embryos and ultimately the percentage of successful IVF results.

Within-subject variations of sperm parameters and their importance in an in vitro fertilization program.

Spermiograms of 150 males were assessed, in view of studying them before an in vitro fertilization attempt. Within subject variations were determined with regard to sperm count and spermatozoal motility pattern. Ultimately these results were compared to the seminological parameters studied at the time of the in vitro-fertilization attempt. Overall results showed a clear drop in semen parameters at the time of egg retrieval. This drop was more marked when semen parameters were amongst the higher values at the start.

Fetal liver hemangioma and chorioangioma: two unusual cases of severe fetal anemia detected by ultrasonography and its perinatal management.

Severe anemia was diagnosed by cordocentesis in two fetuses, one with a large chorioangioma, the other with a liver hemangioma. Despite the presence of a chronic fetotumoral shunt, both cases were partly treated by a fetal intravascular transfusion, followed by an elective Cesarean section. This 'predelivery' management of anemia should improve neonatal morbidity associated with severe hematological and acid-base balance disorders.

Techniques of sperm selection, improvement and separation in an in vitro fertilization program.

The Authors present a review of the various techniques used for improving the fertility potential of sperm within the context of an in vitro fertilization (IVF) program. After a brief description of the mechanisms leading to normal in vivo fertilization, they discuss the different methods of selecting and improving sperm for IVF. They conclude that centrifugation on discontinuous Percoll gradients would seem to be the most efficient separation method from all points of view, while the addition of pharmacological agents to improve sperm quality and motility lead to extremely unsatisfactory results.

Severe exacerbation of liver disease during pregnancy in a thalassemic GBV-C/HGV-positive patient and neonatal hepatitis in offspring.

The case of a young woman with GB virus C/hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV) infection and with a severe exacerbation of chronic hepatitis of unknown etiology during pregnancy is described. In the offspring, severe neonatal hepatitis with subsequent mild chronic liver disease of at least 16-month duration was followed by the development of antibodies to the envelope protein (E2) of GBV-C/HGV, suggesting that the child was recovering from GBV-C/HGV infection. There was an improvement in clinical and biochemical parameters in the mother following delivery and alpha-interferon therapy was associated with a transient biochemical response.

Recurrence of neonatal haemochromatosis in half sibs born of unaffected mothers.

We report two families in which neonatal haemochromatosis was observed in half sibs. In the first family, two successive girls were born of different fathers. In the second family, an affected brother and sister were followed by an affected half brother born after donor insemination. These observations, as well as a previous abstract describing two affected half sisters, revive the debate over the inheritance of neonatal haemochromatosis. Incomplete penetrance or gonadal mosaicism for a dominant disorder, a maternal "environmental factor", or mitochondrial defect may be more suitable explanations than autosomal recessive inheritance in this condition. Alternative modes of fertilisation, such as donor insemination or in vitro fertilisation with donor eggs, should be considered with caution.

Lymphatic malformations of the head and neck: a retrospective review and a support for staging.

BACKGROUND: Lymphatic malformations (LM) are rare benign congenital tumors appearing mainly in the head and neck with a considerably variable outcome. A need exists to validate a staging system, taking into account the prognosis of the malformation, including preoperative and postoperative complications, long-term sequelae, and persistence of the disease to improve parental counseling and evaluate the outcome of a surgical treatment of such tumors. METHODS: Twenty-two patients treated for LM were selected from a series of 129 patients operated on for congenital malformations of the head and neck between 1986 and 1997 at St-Luc University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium. Their charts were reviewed retrospectively, with a special focus on the anatomic location of the lesions and all the complications reported. According to de Serres et al, LM up to now have been divided into six possible categories according to their unilateral or bilateral infrahyoid and/or suprahyoid locations. RESULTS: Stage I (unilateral infrahyoid): nine patients, 11% of complications (without mediastinal extension: 0%, with mediastinal extension: 50%); stage II (unilateral suprahyoid): three patients, 33% of complications; stage III (unilateral suprahyoid and infrahyoid): eight patients, 75% of complications; stage V (bilateral suprahyoid and infrahyoid): two patients, 100% of complications. None of the children was initially seen with stage IV (bilateral suprahyoid) or stage VI (bilateral infrahyoid) LM. Overall complications, preoperative complications, postoperative com- plications, and long-term morbidity showed a significant in- crease from stage I to V (p <.01, p =.002, p =.02, and p =.03, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: A staging system of cervicofacial LM based on the anatomic location can be reliably used for prognostic purposes, allowing a more accurate assessment of the global risk of complications and determination of surgical outcome. Mediastinal extension in stage I patients seems to be associated with a higher rate of complications. Such information can be used to inform parents more appropriately regarding the management and long-term prognosis of their children's malformation.