Massive pleural effusion on the contralateral side of a venous peripherally inserted central catheter.

A preterm newborn infant, delivered at 30 weeks of gestation and 965 g birth weight, developed respiratory distress with resistant hypoxia after a central catheter line was inserted via the right venae brachialis on postnatal day 21. Left-sided massive pleural effusion, collapsed left lung with air bronchograms, and bidirectional shunting through reopened ductus arteriosus were detected by targeted neonatal echocardiography. Hydrothorax was drained under sonographic guidance, producing a milky-white fluid biochemically compatible with parenteral nutrition. We report this case of hydrothorax secondary to a misplaced central catheter on the contralateral side of its peripheral insertion. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 46:140-144, 2018.

Continuous Venovenous Hemodiafiltration in the Treatment of Maple Syrup Urine Disease.

BACKGROUND: The study aims to define the efficacy of continuous renal replacement therapy in acute metabolic decompensation treatment of maple syrup urine disease (MSUD). METHODS: All the neonates, infants and children who have had life threatening conditions due to MSUD and were treated with continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Fourteen patients underwent 15 sessions of CVVHDF (age range 15 days to 87 months, mean 40.8 ± 31.4 months). One patient required additional CVVHDF 1 week after cessation of CVVHDF. Twenty seven percent (n = 4) of the patients were intubated and mechanically ventilated. Twelve patients responded to treatment and dramatic neurological improvement was observed within 24 h. Two of the 14 patients required 36 h of CVVHDF for neurological improvement. The mean duration of CVVHDF was 20.2 ± 8.6 (9-36) h. The mean leucine level was 1,648 ± 623.8 (714-2,768) µmol/l before and was 256.5 ± 150.6 (117-646) µmol/l at the end of treatment. No mortality was observed. CONCLUSION: Continuous hemodiafiltration is an effective and safe method in correcting metabolic disturbances in MSUD.

Effect of Single Intravitreal Bevacizumab on Ophthalmic and Middle Cerebral Arterial Blood Flow in Retinopathy of Prematurity.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of a single intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injection on blood flow parameters in the ophthalmic artery (OA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) in infants with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective and interventional study included 15 infants with ROP who were treated with IVB. Peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity, mean velocity (MV) and resistivity index were measured using pulse wave Doppler ultrasonography (Philips En Visor C, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) in the OA and MCA, before IVB injection and 1 day, 1 week and 1 month after IVB injection. RESULTS: Measurements of PSV-OA, MV-OA and PSV-MCA showed significant changes after IVB treatment (p = 0.01, p = 0.02, p = 0.02, respectively). The PSV-OA measurements at 1 week and 1 month were significantly lower than the baseline PSV-OA measurement (p = 0.03 and p = 0.01, respectively). The MV-OA measurement was significantly lower at 1 month following IVB as compared to the baseline MV-OA measurement (p = 0.03). The PSV-MCA showed a significant decline 1 day after IVB injection (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated that IVB causes significant alterations in blood flow parameters in the OA and MCA predicted by Doppler ultrasonography in infants with ROP.

Efficacy of levetiracetam in premature infants: our experience and review of the literature.

Objective: To evaluate levetiracetam (LEV) efficacy in preterm infants admitted in NICU.Study design: Clinical characteristics of 26 preterm infants treated with LEV were evaluated retrospectively. The results were compared with those of 44 preterm infants from the literature who were given LEV.Result: The mean gestational week of the infants receiving LEV was found as 26.7 ± 3.3 weeks, mean birth weight as 938 ± 561 g and mean dose of LEV as 17 ± 9.23 mg/kg. Overall seizure control rate with LEV was found as 65%, while seizure control was achieved by 11.5% when it was used as the first drug, 35% as the second drug and 15.3% as the third drug. The incidence of sepsis and intraventricular hemorrhage in seizure etiology was 73% in infants who received LEV. There was no side effect observed during LEV treatment.Conclusions: Seizure control was better achieved with LEV given as the 2nd antiepileptic in premature infants. Further studies with randomization of LEV and other antiepileptics in seizure control are needed.

A pioneering study: oral clarithromycin treatment for feeding intolerance in very low birth weight preterm infants.

PURPOSE: To examine the prokinetic effect of clarithromycin in very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: VLBW preterm infants who have not achieved half of the full enteral feeding in the second week of life were enrolled in the study. The infants enrolled in the study were randomized. Twenty infants received oral clarithromycin (7.5 mg/kg, twice a day) and 20 control infants did not receive any treatment. RESULTS: Full enteral feeding was attained earlier in the clarithromycin group than in the control group [7 (6-9) versus 9 (9-11) days, respectively; p < .001]. Duration of parenteral nutrition and number of withheld feeds were significantly lower in the clarithromycin group (p = .013 and p < .001, respectively). Parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis (n = 1 versus 3, p = .1) and length of hospital stay (50 versus 59 median days, p = .1) tend to be lower in the clarithromycin group without any statistical significance. We observed no adverse effect of clarithromycin therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Clarithromycin treatment in VLBW preterm infants resulted in better toleration of enteral feeding. Larger randomized controlled trials are needed to establish routine use of clarithromycin in the treatment of feeding intolerance.

Major determinants of survival and length of stay in the neonatal intensive care unit of newborns from women with premature preterm rupture of membranes.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the predictors of outcome in terms of length of stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and survival of neonates from women with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). METHODS: A population-based retrospective study including 331 singleton pregnant women with PPROM at 24-34 gestational weeks between January 2013 and December 2015 was conducted. Gestational age at delivery, birth weight, route of delivery, newborn gender, maternal age, oligohydramnios, premature retinopathy (ROP), necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), sepsis, fetal growth retardation (FGR), intracranial hemorrhagia (ICH), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH), congenital cardiac disease (CCD), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), use of cortisol (betamethasone) and maternal complications including gestational diabetes, preeclampsia and chorioamnionitis were used to predict neonatal outcomes in terms of length of stay in the NICU and survival. RESULTS: In linear regression analyses, birth weight, ROP, CCD, BPD, PDA, NEC and preeclampsia were significant confounders for length of stay in the NICU. Among them, birth weight was the most powerful confounder for prolongation of the NICU stay (t: -6.43; p < 0.001). In multivariate logistic regression analyses, birth weight, PDA, ROP and PPH were significantly correlated with neonatal survival. PPH was the most powerful confounder in neonatal survival (ß: 7.22; p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: Prematurity-related complications are the most important problems for which precautions should be taken. Therefore, premature deliveries should be avoided to prevent infection and to prolong the latent period in cases of PPROM in order to decrease prematurity-related outcomes.

Serum lactate levels and perfusion index: are these prognostic factors on mortality and morbidity in very low-birth weight infants?

AIM: Early hemodynamic assessment of global parameters in critically ill newborns fails and requires mostly invasive measurements in neonatal intensive care unit. Clinical signs are frequently used for assessment of peripheral perfusion. Perfusion index (PI) is a new noninvasive numerical value of peripheral perfusion. Serum lactate levels and PI are the indicators that are important in determining prognosis of preterm infants. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship of serum lactate levels and PI with mortality and morbidity in very low-birth weight infants (VLBW). STUDY DESIGN: This study was conducted between July 2014 and July 2015 in a Level III NICU. The study enrolled preterm infants with a gestational age ≤ 32 weeks, birth weight ≤ 1500 g. Serum lactate levels from blood gases and PI, SpO2 measurements were recorded at 1st, 12th and 24th hours by using a new generation pulse-oximeter. Morbidities and mortalities were documented. RESULTS: A total of 60 VLBW infants were enrolled the study. Mean birth weight and gestational age were 991 ± 288 g and 27.5 ± 2.5 w, respectively. Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) was significantly higher in the patients with high lactate levels (>4 mg/dl) at 1st hour and low-PI levels (<0.5) at 12th hour of life (p = 0.042, p = 0.015), respectively. Bronchopulmonary displasia (BPD) was significantly higher in the patients with low PI (< 0.5) at 1st hour. Lactate and PI values were not significantly correlated with necrotizing enterocolitis, intraventricular hemorrhage, patent ductus arteriosus, sepsis and mortality. CONCLUSION: High lactate levels (> 4 mg/dl) and low PI (< 0.5) could be used as early parameters for prediction of ROP and BPD. This data suggests that in VLBW infants lactate levels and PI parameters during the first 24 h will be effective in determining the prognosis of the disease. We believe that larger, randomized controlled clinical trials are likely to establish the true benefit.

Characteristics of Severe Retinopathy of Prematurity in Infants with Birth Weight above 1500 Grams at a Referral Center in Turkey.

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in preterm infants with birth weight (BW) above 1500 g in Turkey. METHODS: A retrospective review of 5920 ROP records was performed in Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Diseases Training and Research Hospital. The records were obtained from ROP treatment center of the same institute between 2011 and 2016. The data comprised the demographic and clinical characteristics including, gestational age, BW, systemic risk factors, zone and stage of ROP, ROP type, treatment modality, treatment outcomes and inborn/outborn status of the babies. RESULTS: A total of 36 infants (71 eyes) with severe ROP and BW> 1500 g were retrieved. There were 30 infants (83.3%) with type 1 ROP and 6 infants (16.7%) with aggressive posterior ROP (APROP). 3 infants (8.3%) were born at our hospital whereas 33 (91.7%) were referred from outer private neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) centers. Zone I APROP was detected during the initial screening. 21 infants (58.3%) underwent laser treatment while 15 (41.7%) received intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injections. No unfavorable structural outcome was observed following either treatment modality. CONCLUSION: Severe ROP may occur in heavier preterm infants. Laser treatment and IVB injections were useful in selected cases. Presence of APROP at first examination suggests an earlier screening in heavier babies. Standardization of private NICU centers as well as establishing a national ROP protocol is necessary in Turkey.

Evaluation of the maternal and fetal risk factors associated with neonatal care unit hospitalization time.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate maternal and neonatal risk factors associated with the length of hospital stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). MATERIAL AND METHOD: This retrospective observational study was based on 3607 newborns who were admitted to the NICU of a tertiary teaching hospital from January 2012 through December 2014. Known obstetric risk factors associated with duration of hospitalization in NICUs were assessed including intrauterine growth restriction, maternal diabetes, oligohydramnios, chorioamnionitis, premeture rupture of membranes, preeclampsia, congenital malformations, neonatal sepsis, premature retinopathy, intracranial bleeding, necrotizing enterocolitis, meconium aspiration, maternal hypertension, fetal congenital cardiac malformations, congenital metabolic diseases, congenital hypothyroidism, pneumonia, pulmonary hypertension, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, pneumothorax and respiratory distress syndrome. RESULTS: Gestational age (beta coefficient: -0.244, p<0.001) and birth weight (beta coefficient: -0.237, p<0.001) were significant confounders for duration of hospitalization in newborns. CONCLUSION: Gestational age and the birth weight were the most important confounders for duration of hospitalization. Neonate care in developing countries would further benefit from additional large population-based long-term studies with broad parameters.

Does platelet mass influence the effectiveness of ibuprofen treatment for patent ductus arteriosus in preterm infants?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate whether the platelet mass in the first 24 h of life is effective on closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) or not. STUDY DESIGN: Preterm infants with a gestational age of < 32 weeks, hospitalized at a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and requiring medical treatment (intravenous or oral ibuprofen) for hemodinamically significant PDA (hsPDA) were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into two groups after first course of pharmacologic treatment according to closure of PDA (Group 1: PDA closure, Group 2: PDA without closure). Groups were compared in terms of demographics findings, morbidities, platelet measurements like counts, mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet mass (platelet count × mean platelet volume). RESULTS: The study included 77 preterm newborns in Group 1, and 30 preterms in Group 2. There were no differences in birth weight, gestational age, gender and maternal risk factors between the study groups. The mean platelet count in the first postnatal blood count was in Group 1: 211.3 ± 89.2 × 10(3)/mm(3) and in Group 2: 216.5 ± 26 × 10(3)/mm(3), respectively (p = 0.783). The mean platelet volumes (MPV) were similar in both groups (p = 0.535). No statistically significant difference between platelet mass values was detected (Group 1: 1811 ± 884 fl/nl, Group 2: 1868 ± 717 fl/nl) (p = 0.753). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that platelet count, MPV and platelet mass did not affect the closure of hsPDA with ibuprofen.