Iloprost inhalation for the treatment of severe persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn, experience at QSNICH.

BACKGROUND: Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is the most serious condition that causes high mortality in term and post term infants. The authors have an experience of using high frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) and inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) for treatment of this condition with a good result. However, due to high cost of iNo, other pulmonary vasodilators have been use. Sildenafil had some side effects of systemic hypotension. Thus, inhaled iloprost was introduced for treatment of PPHN at our institute. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcome of inhaled iloprost for the treatment of PPHN. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This was a retrospective study. The data from medical records of newborns, diagnosed as persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn and had received inhaled iloprost from October 1st, 2008-October 31st, 2012, were reviewed. RESULTS: Nineteen cases of PPHN treated with inhaled iloprost were reviewed. Male to female ratio was 1.3 7:1 (11:8). Mean birth weight and gestational age of these patients were 2,997 ± 531.63 grams and 37.9 ± 2.51 weeks, respectively. Meconium aspiration syndrome was the leading underlying cause of this condition. The mortality rate in this study was 21% (4 from 19 cases). After the addition of inhaled iloprost, the oxygen index (OI) in the survivor group decreased significantly at one hour after treatment (from 32.89 to 22.06, 18.76, 13. 76 at 1, 6, 12 hours, respectively). Oxygen saturation (SpO2) continued increasing after treatment in the survivor group (from 82.40% to 92.20%, 95.00%, 95.80% at 1, 6, 12 hours, respectively) with significant difference at one hour. There was a significant difference of OI and SpO2 between the survivor and non-survivor groups after treatment. Low Apgar score at 5 minutes and early diagnosis of PPHN were found statistically significant different in the non-survivor compared to the survivor groups. CONCLUSION: Inhaled iloprost could be used as an alternative treatment of PPHN without side effects of systemic hypotension.

Effects of temperature and time delay on arterial blood gas and electrolyte measurements.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the changes in pH, PaO2, PaCO2 and Na, K, Cl in arterial blood samples stored at room temperature or on ice, at 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Arterial blood samples were collected in heparinized capillary tubes and stored at room temperature (24-26 degrees C) and on ice (0-4 degrees C). ABG and electrolytes were measured at 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 minute intervals. RESULTS: There were significant decreases in the pH, PaO2, Na, Cl and significant increases in PaCO2 and K over time in both groups. The changes were greater and faster at room temperature. The significant decrease in pH over time was not found until 30 minutes at room temperature and 45 minutes on ice. There were significant decreases in PaO2, concurrent with significant increases in PaCO2 from 15 minutes onwards in both groups. Both Na and K exhibited a significant change at 60 minutes in the room temperature group. Significant decreases of Cl over time were not found until 15 minutes at room temperature, and 30 minutes on ice. CONCLUSION: For ABG and electrolytes analysis, the blood sample should be analyzed within 15 minutes and be stored at either room temperature or on ice.

Compare severity of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in neonates with respiratory distress syndrome treated with surfactant to without surfactant.

BACKGROUND: The utilization of surfactant replacement therapy had been limited in treatment of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) due to the high cost especially in developing countries. Nowadays, the National Health Insurance Policy has covered the cost of surfactant for the patients. Therefore, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) may be found increasing due to increased survival in patients with severe RDS. OBJECTIVE: To compare immediate treatment outcome of severity of BPD and outcome after hospital discharge in neonates with RDS who were treated with or without surfactant. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The data of 54 infants who developed BPD after RDS at Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health between January 1st, 2003 and December 31th, 2005 were kept in database format. The database was analyzed for difference between groups and the outcome of immediate treatment, severity of BPD and outcome after hospital discharge were compared. The study group was BPD cases from RDS treated with surfactant compared to control (BPD cases from RDS treated without surfactant) groups. RESULTS: Forty-three (80%) from fifty-four cases had completed data and were included into the present study. There was no statistically significant difference in maternal conditions and neonatal conditions between groups. Antenatal steroid was prescribed more often in RDS without surfactant group than surfactant group. The mean birth weight and gestational age in surfactant and without surfactant groups were 1,179.1 +/- 274.3 gm vs. 1,114.4 +/- 338.3 gm and 29 +/- 1.6 weeks vs. 29.2 +/- 2.7 weeks respectively, but no significant differences were observed between groups. To compare the severity of RDS, only 17.6% of moderate to severe RDS in the control group was found, whereas 100% was found in the study group. Moderate to severe BPD cases were found more often in the control group (70.6%) than in the study group (61.6%), but no statistically significant difference was shown. The immediate complications, e.g. pneumothorax (5.9%) and pneumomediastinum (5.9%) were found in the control group, but pulmonary hemorrhage occurred more often in the study group than the control group (11.5% vs. 5.9%). For long-term follow-up, the development outcome was not different between groups. CONCLUSION: The present study revealed no statistically significant difference in severity of BPD in neonates with RDS treated with and without surfactant groups. In addition, surfactant was useful in moderate to severe RDS because no early complication such as air leak syndrome was found in this group.

Comparison outcomes of surfactant therapy in respiratory distress syndrome in two periods.

BACKGROUND: Exogenous surfactant replacement therapy has been a part of the routine care of preterm neonates with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) since 1990s. In Thailand, the utilization of surfactant replacement therapy had been limited due to the high cost until the National Health Insurance Policy began in 2003 which covered the cost of surfactant. Nowadays surfactant replacement therapy is more frequently used at Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health, so the authors were interested in evaluating its use in RDS. OBJECTIVES: To compare the outcome and complications of surfactant replacement therapy in newborns who were diagnosed with moderate to severe RDS during two times period. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The data of infants who were diagnosed as moderate to severe RDS and treated with surfactant at Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health between January 1st, 2003 and December 31th, 2005 were reviewed. The outcome of this study (Group II) was compared to the previous study conducted in 1999-2002 (Group I). The complications, mortality rate, association time of start surfactant and duration of ventilation were reviewed. RESULTS: The data of ninety-one moderate to severe RDS patients who received surfactant replacement therapy were reviewed. The mean birth weight and gestational age in this group were 1250 +/- 435.57 gm and 29.38 +/- 2.2 week less than in the first group 1,344 +/- 452.37gm and 29.69 +/- 2.61 week. The second group showed statistical differences in antepartum hemorrhage (4.4%) and pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) (17.6%) while the first group had 33.3% ofantepartum hemorrhage and 3% of PIH. In neonatal conditions, there were statistical significant differences in anemia 28.6% in group II compared to 9% in group I and patent ductus arteriosus 67% in group II compared to 39.4% in group I. Surfactant was given earlier in life (4.75 +/- 2.76 hours) in the second group compared to the first group (7.21 +/- 4.92 hour) and the overall duration ofpatients on mechanical ventilation in Group II (6 days) was shorter than in Group I (16 days). This was especially more evident in patients who received surfactant within the first six hours of life. The immediate complication, pulmonary hemorrhage was found in more cases in Group I (33.3%) than in Group II (12.1%) but bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) was found to be a late complication in more cases in Group II (46.1%) than in Group I (21.2%). The mean length of admission was longer in Group II (61.23 +/- 41.08 days) compared to Group I (38.5 +/- 23.48 days) and the mortality rate in Group II was 18.7% (17 cases) lower than Group I 33.3% (11 cases). CONCLUSION: Surfactant therapy in moderate to severe RDS can shorten the duration of ventilation and decrease the mortality rate, but has no effect in decreasing the incidence of chronic lung disease. Nevertheless the earlier the surfactant therapy is started, the higher the survival rate.