Right Ventricular Outflow Tract (RVOT) Changes in Children with an Atrial Septal Defect: Focus on RVOT Velocity Time Integral, RVOT Diameter, and RVOT Systolic Excursion.

OBJECTIVE: Aim of the study was to determine the influence of right heart volume overload in children with atrial septal defect (ASD) on right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) variables. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted in 115 children (age range: 2 days-18.1 years) with a moderate to large ASD. We determined effects of age, body length (BL), body weight (BW), and body surface area (BSA) on the variables RVOT diameter, RVOT velocity time integral (VTI), and RVOT systolic excursion (SE), and tested the predictive value of published normal values for age, BW, BL, and BSA in our ASD patients. RESULTS: In our pediatric ASD patients, the age-specific RVOT diameter (z-score: +2.2, 95% CI: 2.0-2.4, P < 0.001) was significantly increased compared to normal values with 54% of our ASD patients having a z-score >2.0. The age-specific RVOT VTI z-score (z-score: +3.6, 95% CI: 3.2-3.9, P < 0.001) was significantly increased compared to normal values with 81% of our ASD patients having a z-score >2.0. The age-specific RVOT SE z-score was not increased but slightly lower compared to normal values (z-score: -0.5, 95% CI: -0.7 to -0.3, P < 0.001) with 3% of our ASD patients having a z-score >2.0 while 12% of the patients had a z-score <-2. CONCLUSION: In our study population, we show the RVOT VTI and diameter to be relevant predictors in identifying an enlarged RVOT size and flow in children with moderate to large ASD.

General Movements in preterm infants undergoing craniosacral therapy: a randomised controlled pilot-trial.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to investigate neurological short-term effects of craniosacral therapy as an ideal form of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) due to the soft kinaesthetic stimulation. METHODS: Included were 30 preterm infants, with a gestational age between 25 and 33 weeks, who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of the University Hospital of Graz, Austria. The infants were randomized either into the intervention group (IG) which received standardised craniosacral therapy, or the control group (CG) which received standard care. To guarantee that only preterm infants with subsequent normal neurodevelopment were included, follow up was done regularly at the corrected age (= actual age in weeks minus weeks premature) of 12 and 24 months. After 2 years 5 infants had to be excluded (IG; n = 12; CG: n = 13). General Movements (GMs) are part of the spontaneous movement repertoire and are present from early fetal life onwards until the end of the first half year of life. To evaluate the immediate result of such an intervention, we selected the General Movement Assessment (GMA) as an appropriate tool. Besides the global GMA (primary outcome) we used as detailed GMA, the General Movement Optimality Score (GMOS- secondary outcome), based on Prechtl's optimality concept. To analyse GMOS (secondary outcome) a linear mixed model with fixed effects for session, time point (time point refers to the comparisons of the measurements before vs. after each session) and intervention (IG vs. CG), random effect for individual children and a first order autoregressive covariance structure was used for calculation of significant differences between groups and interactions. Following interaction terms were included in the model: session*time point, session*intervention, time point*intervention and session*time point*intervention. Exploratory post hoc analyses (interaction: session*time point*intervention) were performed to determine group differences for all twelve measurement (before and after all 6 sessions) separately. RESULTS: Between groups no difference in the global GMA (primary outcome) could be observed. The GMOS (secondary outcome) did not change from session to session (main effect session: p = 0.262) in the IG or the CG. Furthermore no differences between IG and CG (main effect group: p = 0.361) and no interaction of time*session could be observed (p = 0.658). Post hoc analysis showed a trend toward higher values before (p = 0.085) and after (p = 0.075) the first session in CG compared to IG. At all other time points GMOS were not significantly different between groups. CONCLUSION: We were able to indicate that a group of "healthy" preterm infants undergoing an intervention with craniosacral therapy (IG) showed no significant changes in GMs compared to preterm infants without intervention (CG). In view of the fact that the global GMA (primary outcome) showed no difference between groups and the GMOS (detailed GMA-secondary outcome) did not deteriorate in the IG, craniosacral therapy seems to be safe in preterm infants. TRIAL REGISTRATION: German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00004258 .

Sustained decrease in latent safety threats through regular interprofessional in situ simulation training of neonatal emergencies.

Simulation training at trainees' actual workplace offers benefits over traditional simulation-based team training. We prospectively investigated whether regular in situ simulation training of neonatal emergencies in an interprofessional and interdisciplinary team could be used to identify and rectify latent safety threats (LSTs).For this purpose, we conducted 1-day in situ simulation trainings at the Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Feldbach, Austria, targeting anaesthesiologists, obstetricians, midwives, nurses and consultant paediatricians. Using published criteria for categorising LSTs, we collected LSTs, either recognised by trainers or training participants, categorised them qualitatively (medication, equipment, resource/system) and based on their potential for harm, discussed them with training participants, and reported them to hospital leadership.We conducted 13 trainings between June 2015 and April 2023, identifying 67 LSTs, most in the category of equipment (42/67, 62.7%), followed by resource/system (14/67, 20.9%) and medication (11/67, 16.4%). Sixty-one (91.0%) of the LSTs could be rectified by the next training. We observed a significant negative correlation between the number of delivered trainings and the frequency of identified LSTs (Pearson correlation coefficient r= -0,684, p=0.01).While we identified a higher number of LSTs in comparison to previously published studies, regular in situ simulation training of neonatal emergencies over a period of almost 8 years positively impacted patient safety, as the majority of LSTs was rectified by the next training. Even more important, the decrease in LSTs with the increasing number of delivered in situ simulation trainings underlines the sustained effect of this educational intervention.

Thermographical measuring of the skin temperature using laser needle acupuncture in preterm neonates.

In children, laser acupuncture is used more often than needle acupuncture in Western countries, due to their aversion to needles. When applying laser acupuncture to premature babies and neonates, firstly the degree of the thermal increase to the skin has to be evaluated so as to guarantee safe application. The patients were premature neonates before their discharge from hospital. The measurements were carried out by means of a polygraphy while they were asleep shortly. The large intestine 4 acupoint (LI4, Hegu) was stimulated by a microlaser needle (10 mW, 685 nm) twice (5 and 10 min). Local thermographic pictures were taken with a thermal camera (Flir i5, Flir Systems Inc., Portland, USA), and the warmest point was determined and subsequently compared. The study included 10 premature neonates (7 male, 3 female). The measurements were carried out on the 33rd day of life (weight 2030 g, gestational age 36 + 3 weeks of pregnancy). In comparison to the initial temperature (32.9°C), after 5 minutes of stimulation (33.9°C) (P = 0.025) and also after 10 minutes of stimulation (34.0°C) (P = 0.01), there was found to be a significant increase in the skin temperature. The singular maximum value of 37.9°C bears a potential danger; however, compared to the local temperatures reached in transcutaneous blood gas measurements it appears not to entail any risks.

Laser acupuncture versus oral glucose administration for pain prevention in term neonates: an observer-blinded non-inferiority randomized controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Neonates undergoing intensive care are routinely submitted to minor painful procedures such as heel lances. Pharmacological treatment is limited in neonatal care and not recommended for minor painful interventions. Hence, non-pharmacological acute pain management is an important subject. Acupuncture could be a new strategy for neonatal pain prevention. Accordingly, the aim of the present study was to investigate whether laser acupuncture is non-inferior to oral sweet solutions in pain prevention. METHODS: In total, 96 healthy term neonates were randomly assigned to receive either laser acupuncture with 10 mW at LI4 bilaterally (AG, acupuncture group) or 30% oral glucose solution (GG, glucose group) before heel lance for metabolic screening. The primary outcome was the difference in premature infant pain profile (PIPP) score between groups in a non-inferiority concept. Secondary outcomes were changes in heart rate and crying time. RESULTS: Median (interquartile range) PIPP scores were comparable in the AG and GG (12 (10-14) vs 12 (9-14), p = 0.981). Nevertheless, the 95% confidence interval (CI) of location shift exceeded the predefined margin for non-inferiority of 1 (95% CI: -1.000006 to 1.000059). Heart rate was found to be significantly lower after intervention (p = 0.048) and after heel lance (p = 0.015) in the AG versus GG. There was no difference in crying time between groups (p = 0.890). CONCLUSION: Laser acupuncture was not shown to be non-inferior to an oral glucose solution, possibly due to the higher than expected variability in PIPP scores within the studied groups. Future neonatal laser acupuncture studies for pain prevention with higher sample sizes are therefore warranted.

Paramedics' Newborn Life Support Knowledge and Skills Before and After a Targeted Simulation-Based Educational Intervention.

Objective: Resuscitation of neonates after birth in the out-of-hospital setting is challenging. Thus, we aimed to assess paramedics' newborn life support knowledge and skills before and after targeted simulation-based training. Methods: Voluntary paramedics were recruited from a single Red Cross division. During a 1-day simulation-based educational intervention, essential aspects of neonatal resuscitation were taught and practiced. Before and after simulation-based training, we assessed (1) knowledge of current European Resuscitation Council (ERC) guidelines using a 20-item-questionnaire and (2) the quality of simulated bag-valve-mask ventilation by measuring face mask leakage, using a respiratory function monitor (Standardized Measurement of Airway Resuscitation Training [SMART], GM Instruments Ltd., United Kingdom). Results: Forty-one paramedics participated in the initial survey and 12 took part in the simulation-based educational intervention. There was a significant increase in the number of correctly answered questions: median 62.1% (IQR 37.5-77.4%) vs. 91.7% (IQR 83.3-100%; p = 0.001). A total of 1,332 inflations were analyzed. The incidence of substantial mask leakage >75% decreased significantly after training (15.8 vs. 6.1%; p < 0.001), while median mask leakage was similar (17.0% [IQR 0.0-55.0%] vs. 18.0% [IQR 6.0-34.0%]; p = 0.414). Conclusions: Among paramedics, theoretical knowledge of current ERC guidelines was moderate in this study. Participation in a targeted simulation-based educational intervention was associated with a significant increase in theoretical knowledge. The initially high incidence of substantial mask leakage >75% was decreased after simulation-based training using respiratory function monitoring.

Invasive and non-invasive acupuncture techniques for pain management in neonates: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal pain is an extensive research field and there are many possibilities to treat pain in neonates. Acupuncture is one new and non-pharmacological option and a promising tool to reduce pain in neonates undergoing minor painful interventions during routine medical care. OBJECTIVES: This review summarises trials of acupuncture for pain reduction in neonates undergoing painful interventions during routine medical care. DATA SOURCE: MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, electronic clinical trials registry platforms and reference lists were systematically screened for trials from their dates of inception to February 2017 (English language database search). STUDY SELECTION: Inclusion criteria were (1) preterm or term neonates, (2) acupuncture for painful medical interventions and (3) formal pain assessment as a primary or secondary study outcome. We included only randomised controlled trials. DATA EXTRACTION: Data were extracted using a standardised protocol and individual risk of bias was assessed. RESULTS: The literature search revealed a total of 12 196 records. After application of inclusion criteria, five studies were included in this review. Two studies demonstrated significant pain reduction, one found equal outcomes in comparison to standard care, and two showed significantly higher pain scores with acupuncture alone. LIMITATIONS: The main limitation of the results is the heterogeneity across trials in acupuncture modality, acupuncture point selection, control groups and pain assessment (heterogeneity: I2=87%). CONCLUSION: The results of this review suggest that acupuncture may have a positive pain-relieving effect in neonates. However, due to the low number of available high-quality trials and heterogeneity across the studies it is not possible to state clear recommendations.

Auricular Medicine in Neonatal Care.

This article explores the possibilities of applying ear acupuncture to newborn infants. In addition to the use of needle acupuncture, there are also noninvasive applications that are preferred for patients in this particular age group. Based on the limited literature, ear acupuncture could be an effective nonpharmacologic approach for the treatment of pain in newborn infants and for addressing symptoms of neonatal abstinence syndrome. However, studies on safety, side-effects, and other indications are still lacking.

Active Ear Acupuncture Points in Neonates: Initial Results in a New Research Field.

Background: Little is known about active ear acupuncture points (EAP) in neonates. Previous unblinded studies by Stähler van Amerongen et al. showed that neonates have detectable active EAP, and that sick neonates could have more EAP relative to healthy neonates. EAP was investigated in an unblinded trial involving neonates with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Furthermore, a blinded, controlled observational trial was conducted to compare active EAP present in healthy neonates with EAP of sick neonates. Materials and Methods: An electrical point search device (PS3, Silberbauer, Vienna, Austria) was used to detect EAP. Active EAP were detected with an integrated optical and acoustical signal, and readings were transferred to a standardized ear map. A Mann-Whitney-U test and Spearman's correlation were used for statistical analysis. Results: A total of 94 neonates were enrolled across both trials. EAP were detectable in all healthy and sick neonates. In the blinded trial, sick neonates had a significantly higher number of active EAP than did healthy neonates. Conclusions: A notable difference in the number of active EAP was detected between healthy and sick neonates. More trials with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm the diagnostic power of EAP in neonates.

Use of Acupuncture in an Infant with Restlessness and Agitation.

Background: We are reporting here about a 3-month-old boy with a history of failure to thrive, hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy and neurological misbehaviour including hypotension in body muscles, who was found to have screaming attacks, agitation and restlessness. Methods/Results: Body and ear acupuncture was used both as supporting and integrative therapy to reduce the phases of restlessness and screaming and, simultaneously, the use of hypnotic drugs, as well as to improve the baby’s thriving. Conclusions: Our case has proved that standardised ear and body acupuncture applied by trained acupuncturist paediatricians is a helpful non-pharmacological treatment tool. While acupuncture is typically used in the outpatient setting, it can equally be used in the inpatient setting, as exemplified by the positive outcome of the presented case.

Severe Brief Resolved Unexplained Event in a Newborn Infant in Association with Maternal Sertralin Treatment during Pregnancy.

Background: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are a very common choice of antidepressive drug-therapy during pregnancy. In up to 30% of cases, they have been found to cause neonatal abstinence syndrome in newborn infants. Although often both time-limiting and self-limiting, severe symptoms of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) can occur. Methods/Results: We report a term male infant suffering from a severe brief resolved unexplained event caused by his mother's sertraline intake during pregnancy. Conclusions: Newborn infants exposed to selective serotonine reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) during pregnancy should be evaluated very carefully concerning NAS and monitored for NAS symptoms for a minimum of 72⁻96 h, or until symptoms have fully recovered using standardized protocols. There is a risk of severe NAS symptoms which might occur, and this circumstance should be discussed with the parents and taken into account before administering the drug.

Laser Acupuncture at Large Intestine 4 Compared with Oral Glucose Administration for Pain Prevention in Healthy Term Neonates Undergoing Routine Heel Lance: Study Protocol for an Observer-Blinded, Randomised Controlled Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Nonpharmacological strategies have actually become more important in neonatal pain management during routinely applied minor painful procedures. However, commonly used nonpharmacological strategies are inferior to orally administered sweet solutions. Therefore, we will compare laser acupuncture, as a recent nonpharmacological method, with the standard care of oral glucose solution for pain prevention. METHODS: Ninety-five healthy term neonates will be allocated into one of two groups. Before routine heel lance for metabolic screening, one group will receive laser acupuncture at acupuncture point Large Intestine 4 (LI 4) bilaterally for 60 seconds per point (acupuncture group) and the other will receive the standard care with orally administered glucose solution (glucose group). The complete procedure of blood sampling will be recorded on video, excluding the intervention before heel lance. A paediatric nurse, blinded with respect to the allocation, will evaluate these video recordings and determine the Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) for each neonate. Primary outcome will be the mean difference in PIPP scores between groups. DISCUSSION: This observer-blinded randomised controlled trial has been designed to explore potential advantages of laser acupuncture in the management of neonatal pain because more data are required to provide information about its efficacy and safety. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial is registered with DRKS00010122.

Correction: Germline mutations in the oncogene EZH2 cause Weaver syndrome and increased human height.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.385.].

Active Somatic and Psychic Ear Acupuncture Points in Newborn Infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) occurs within the first days after birth in newborns of mothers with a history of drug abuse. It may also occur in newborns whose mothers are undergoing substitution therapy. OBJECTIVE: To determine the presence of active ear acupuncture points in newborn infants with NAS. METHODS: Among newborn infants with NAS admitted to the Division of Neonatology at the University Hospital Graz between March 2009 and November 2014, an acupuncture-point detector (PS3 Silberbauer, Vienna, Austria) was used to identify active ear acupuncture points. An integrated optical and acoustical signal detects the ear points, which were then assigned to the ear map. A total of 31 newborn infants were assessed; 1 infant was excluded, however, because the mother had already weaned herself off opiates before admission. RESULTS: The excluded infant did not develop signs of NAS, had a low Finnegan score (3 points), and did not present any detectable active psychic ear acupuncture points. In all included newborn infants with NAS, active ear acupuncture points were identified: The psychovegetative rim was the most common active somatic area in each infant, followed by a few somatic and psychic ear acupuncture points. In all infants with symptoms of NAS, active psychic ear points were identified, of which the most frequently found points were the Frustration point and the R point. CONCLUSION: The activity of psychic ear acupuncture points may be specific for neonates with NAS.

Esophageal Perforation with Unilateral Fluidothorax Caused by Nasogastric Tube.

Preterm infants are highly susceptible to injuries following necessary and often life-saving medical interventions. Esophageal perforation is a rare, yet serious complication that can be caused by aerodigestive tract suction, endotracheal intubation, or nasogastric tube placement. We present the case of a neonate born at 23 weeks plus three days of gestation with chest radiography showing malposition of the nasogastric feeding tube and massive right-sided effusion of Iopamidol in the pleural cavity due to esophageal perforation. In addition, the article summarizes common signs and symptoms associated with esophageal perforation in infants and discusses diagnostic approaches.

Acupuncture in the treatment of infantile colic.

Regarding the recently published review "Looking for new treatments of Infantile Colic" by Savino et al. we want to add that positive effects of acupuncture have been demonstrated to release pain and agitation and that acupuncture seems to be a safe treatment when performed by trained acupuncturists. Inconclusive results in the few published articles on the subject can be due to different acupuncture points, different insertion time, different needling methods, differences in the outcome variables, in how the crying was measured and insufficient sample sizes. Further research is needed on understanding the utility, safety, and effectiveness of acupuncture in infants with colic.