A retrospective study of neonatal case management and outcomes in rural Rwanda post implementation of a national neonatal care package for sick and small infants.

BACKGROUND: Despite worldwide efforts to reduce neonatal mortality, 44% of under-five deaths occur in the first 28 days of life. The primary causes of neonatal death are preventable or treatable. This study describes the presentation, management and outcomes of hospitalized newborns admitted to the neonatal units of two rural district hospitals in Rwanda after the 2012 launch of a national neonatal protocol and standards. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed routinely collected data for all neonates (0 to 28 days) admitted to the neonatal units at Rwinkwavu and Kirehe District Hospitals from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2014. Data on demographic and clinical characteristics, clinical management, and outcomes were analyzed using median and interquartile ranges for continuous data and frequencies and proportions for categorical data. Clinical management and outcome variables were stratified by birth weight and differences between low birth weight (LBW) and normal birth weight (NBW) neonates were assessed using Fisher's exact or Wilcoxon rank-sum tests at the α = 0.05 significance level. RESULTS: A total of 1723 neonates were hospitalized over the two-year study period; 88.7% were admitted within the first 48 h of life, 58.4% were male, 53.8% had normal birth weight and 36.4% were born premature. Prematurity (27.8%), neonatal infection (23.6%) and asphyxia (20.2%) were the top three primary diagnoses. Per national protocol, vital signs were assessed every 3 h within the first 48 h for 82.6% of neonates (n = 965/1168) and 93.4% (n = 312/334) of neonates with infection received antibiotics. The overall mortality rate was 13.3% (n = 185/1386) and preterm/LBW infants had similar mortality rate to NBW infants (14.7 and 12.2% respectively, p = 0.131). The average length of stay in the neonatal unit was 5 days. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that it is possible to provide specialized neonatal care for both LBW and NBW high-risk neonates in resource-limited settings. Despite implementation challenges, with the introduction of the neonatal care package and defined clinical standards these most vulnerable patients showed survival rates comparable to or higher than neighboring countries.

Donation after cardiac death: the potential contribution of an infant organ donor population.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the percentage of deaths in level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) settings that theoretically would have been eligible for donation after cardiac death (DCD), as well as the percentage of these who would have been potential DCD candidates based on warm ischemic time. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective study of all deaths in 3 Harvard Program in Neonatology NICUs between 2005 and 2007. Eligible donors were identified based on criteria developed with our transplantation surgeons and our local organ procurement organization. Potential candidates for DCD were then identified based on an acceptable warm ischemic time. RESULTS: Of the 192 deaths that occurred during the study period, 161 were excluded, leaving 31 theoretically eligible donors. Of these, 16 patients had a warm ischemic time of <1 hour and were potential candidates for DCD of 14 livers and 18 kidneys, and 14 patients had a warm ischemic time of <30 minutes and were potential candidates for DCD of 10 hearts. CONCLUSIONS: Eight percent of NICU mortalities were potential candidates for DCD. Based on the size of the potential donor pool, establishing an infant DCD protocol for level III NICUs should be considered.

Therapeutic hypothermia: treatment for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in the NICU.

Baby M was born limp, blue, and without respiratory effort at 38 weeks gestation to a 38-year-old, gravida 5, para 1, woman. Delivery was vaginal after a rapid progression of labor leaving no opportunity for a cesarean section. No other complications were noted during labor but a large surge at delivery, later diagnosed as uterine rupture, initially raised concerns about placental abruption. Apgar scores were 1, 2, and 4 at one, five, and ten minutes, respectively. She was resuscitated in the delivery room, intubated, and transferred in critical condition to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at the birth hospital. Her initial cord pH was 6.7 and was slightly improved at 7.17 on arterial blood gas after resuscitation. Our NICU team was consulted because of her severe neurologic depression. The birth hospital was within walking distance of our tertiary care center and our neurologists went to evaluate her for the hypothermia protocol. Her neurologic exam was notable for dilated and unresponsive pupils, no spontaneous movements, and diminished reflexes and tone, consistent with moderate-to-severe encephalopathy. Seizure activity began at one hour of age and consisted of lip smacking, which was later confirmed by electroencephalogram (EEG). Enrollment criteria were met based on respiratory depression at birth requiring intubation and continued need for ventilation, concern for placental abruption, cord pH less than 7, and encephalopathy on exam and EEG. After stabilizing her airway and achieving central access to treat acidosis and seizures, the team prepared her for transfer to our NICU. At this point, the primary concern became her neurologic status.

Reducing Benzodiazepine Exposure by Instituting a Guideline for Dexmedetomidine Usage in the NICU.

BACKGROUND: Midazolam is a benzodiazepine sedative used in NICUs. Because benzodiazepine's effects include respiratory depression and potential detrimental developmental effects, minimizing exposure could benefit neonates. Dexmedetomidine is routinely used for sedation in older pediatric populations. We implemented a quality improvement initiative with the aim of decreasing midazolam infusions by 20% through use of dexmedetomidine. METHODS: A multidisciplinary committee created a sedation guideline that included standardized dexmedetomidine dosing escalation and weaning. Baseline data collection occurred from January 2015 to February 2018, with intervention from March 2018 to December 2019. Percentage of sedation episodes with dexmedetomidine initiated was followed as a process measure. Outcomes measures were percentage of eligible infants receiving midazolam infusions and midazolam-free days per sedation episode. Bradycardia with dexmedetomidine, unplanned extubation rates, and morphine dosage were monitored as balancing measures. RESULTS: Our study included 434 episodes of sedation in 386 patients. Dexmedetomidine initiation increased from 18% to 49%. The intervention was associated with a significant reduction in midazolam initiation by 30%, from 95% to 65%, with special cause variation on statistical process control chart analysis. Midazolam-free days per sedation episode increased from 0.3 to 2.2 days, and patients receiving dexmedetomidine had lower midazolam doses (1.3 mg/kg per day versus 2.2 mg/kg per day, P = 5.97 × 10-04). Bradycardia requiring discontinuation of dexmedetomidine, unplanned extubation rates, and morphine doses were unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a quality improvement initiative was successful in reducing the percentage of patients receiving midazolam infusions and increased midazolam-free days per sedation episode, revealing an overall reduction in benzodiazepine exposure while maintaining adequate sedation.

Placental pathology in asphyxiated newborns meeting the criteria for therapeutic hypothermia.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to describe placental findings in asphyxiated term newborns meeting therapeutic hypothermia criteria and to assess whether histopathologic correlation exists between these placental lesions and the severity of later brain injury. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a prospective cohort study of the placentas of asphyxiated newborns, in whom later brain injury was defined by magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: A total of 23 newborns were enrolled. Eighty-seven percent of their placentas had an abnormality on the fetal side of the placenta, including umbilical cord lesions (39%), chorioamnionitis (35%) with fetal vasculitis (22%), chorionic plate meconium (30%), and fetal thrombotic vasculopathy (26%). A total of 48% displayed placental growth restriction. Chorioamnionitis with fetal vasculitis and chorionic plate meconium were significantly associated with brain injury (P = .03). Placental growth restriction appears to significantly offer protection against the development of these injuries (P = .03). CONCLUSION: Therapeutic hypothermia may not be effective in asphyxiated newborns whose placentas show evidence of chorioamnionitis with fetal vasculitis and chorionic plate meconium.

Can induced hypothermia be assured during brain MRI in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy?

Until now, brain MRIs in asphyxiated neonates who are receiving therapeutic hypothermia have been performed after treatment is complete. However, there is increasing interest in utilizing early brain MRI while hypothermia is still being provided to rapidly understand the degree of brain injury and possibly refine neuroprotective strategies. This study was designed to assess whether therapeutic hypothermia can be maintained while performing a brain MRI. Twenty MRI scans were obtained in 12 asphyxiated neonates while they were treated with hypothermia. The median difference between esophageal temperature on NICU departure and return was 0.1°C (range: -0.8 to 0.8°C). We found that therapeutic hypothermia can be safely and reproducibly maintained during a brain MRI. Hypothermia treatment should not prevent obtaining an early brain MRI if clinically indicated.

Prone positioning can be safely performed in critically ill infants and children.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the effects of prone positioning on airway management, mechanical ventilation, enteral nutrition, pain and sedation management, and staff utilization in infants and children with acute lung injury. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of data collected in a multiple-center, randomized, controlled clinical trial of supine vs. prone positioning. SETTING: Seven pediatric intensive care units located in the United States. PATIENTS: One hundred and two pediatric patients (51 prone and 51 supine) with acute lung injury. INTERVENTIONS: Patients randomized to the supine group remained supine. Patients randomized to the prone group were positioned prone per protocol during the acute phase of their illness for a maximum of 7 days. Both groups were managed using ventilator and sedation protocols and nutrition and skin care guidelines. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Airway management and mechanical ventilatory variables before and after repositioning, enteral nutrition management, pain and sedation management, staff utilization, and adverse event data were collected for up to 28 days after enrollment. There were a total of 202 supine-prone-supine cycles. There were no differences in the incidence of endotracheal tube leak between the two groups (p = .30). Per protocol, 95% of patients remained connected to the ventilator during repositioning. The inadvertent extubation rate was 0.85 for the prone group and 1.03 for the supine group per 100 ventilator days (p = 1.00). There were no significant differences in the initiation of trophic (p = .24), advancing (p = .82), or full enteral feeds (p = .80) between the prone and supine groups; in the average pain (p = .81) and sedation (p = .18) scores during the acute phase; and in the amount of comfort medications received between the two groups (p = .91). There were no critical events during a turn procedure. While prone, two patients experienced an obstructed endotracheal tube. One patient, supported on high-frequency oscillatory ventilation, experienced persistent hypercapnea when prone and was withdrawn from the study. The occurrence of pressure ulcers was similar between the two groups (p = .71). Compared with the supine group, more staff (p

Effect of Parent Presence During Multidisciplinary Rounds on NICU-Related Parental Stress.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of parent presence during multidisciplinary rounds on NICU-related parental stress. DESIGN: Quasi-experimental study. SETTING: University-affiliated, 24-bed NICU located within a children's hospital that admits infants from birth to 6 months of age. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred thirty-two parents of infants admitted to the NICU for the first time. METHODS: All parents completed the Parent Stressor Scale: NICU (PSS:NICU) on Study Days 0 and 3. In addition to usual family communication practices, parents in the experimental group were offered the opportunity to participate in multidisciplinary rounds on their infants. RESULTS: A total of 132 parents completed the study; the first 46 parents were enrolled in the control group, and the subsequent 86 parents in the experimental group. Overall PSS:NICU scores decreased significantly in the experimental group between Study Days 0 and 3 (mean ± standard error [SE] = -0.24 ± 0.07, p < .001), but the change was not significantly different between the control and experimental groups (mean ± SE = -0.12 ± 0.10, p = .25). The PSS:NICU Parental Role Alteration subscale decreased by the largest margin in the experimental group (mean ± SE = -0.42 ± 0.09, p < .0001), but the change was not significantly different between groups (mean ± SE = -0.26 ± 0.14, p = .06). Overall PSS:NICU stress scores were higher in mothers than fathers (mothers, mean ± SE = 3.4 ± 0.81; fathers, mean ± SE = 2.7 ± 0.67; p < .001). CONCLUSION: Providing parents with the opportunity to participate in multidisciplinary rounds did not affect NICU-related parental stress. Mothers reported higher levels of stress than fathers.

Early versus late MRI in asphyxiated newborns treated with hypothermia.

OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this feasibility study were to assess: (1) the potential utility of early brain MRI in asphyxiated newborns treated with hypothermia; (2) whether early MRI predicts later brain injury observed in these newborns after hypothermia has been completed; and (3) whether early MRI indicators of brain injury in these newborns represent reversible changes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All consecutive asphyxiated term newborns meeting the criteria for therapeutic hypothermia were enrolled prospectively. Each newborn underwent one or two early MRI scans while receiving hypothermia, on day of life (DOL) 1 and DOL 2-3 and also one or two late MRI scans on DOL 8-13 and at 1 month of age. RESULTS: 37 MRI scans were obtained in 12 asphyxiated neonates treated with induced hypothermia. Four newborns developed MRI evidence of brain injury, already visible on early MRI scans. The remaining eight newborns did not develop significant MRI evidence of brain injury on any of the MRI scans. In addition, two patients displayed unexpected findings on early MRIs, leading to early termination of hypothermia treatment. CONCLUSIONS: MRI scans obtained on DOL 2-3 during hypothermia seem to predict later brain injuries in asphyxiated newborns. Brain injuries identified during this early time appear to represent irreversible changes. Early MRI scans might also be useful to demonstrate unexpected findings not related to hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy, which could potentially be exacerbated by induced hypothermia. Additional studies with larger numbers of patients will be useful to confirm these results.