Comparison of Respiratory Outcomes between Preterm Small-For-Gestational-Age and Appropriate-For-Gestational-Age Infants.

Objective This study aims to determine whether preterm infants who are small for gestational age (SGA) are more likely to have respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) compared with appropriate-for-gestational-age infants. Methods Secondary analysis of a multicenter trial evaluating magnesium for neuroprotection. Nonanomalous, singleton gestations delivered between 22 0/7 and 36 6/7 weeks were included. Large-for-gestational-age infants were excluded. We performed a nested case-control study. Cases were infants with RDS; controls were infants without RDS. The sample size estimates revealed 779 subjects/group were needed to achieve a 80% power to demonstrate a 1/3 difference in RDS. We fit a multivariable logistic regression model to adjust for confounders. We assessed the association of SGA with RDS and a composite adverse respiratory and neonatal outcome. Results Overall, 947 cases and 920 controls were included. The groups differed by gestational age at delivery, antibiotic exposure, mode of delivery, infant gender, and birth weight. SGA was not associated with RDS (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.07, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.48-2.38) or the composite respiratory (aOR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.37-2.04) or adverse neonatal outcome (aOR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.27-1.54). RDS and the composite respiratory outcome were most associated with earlier gestational age at delivery, cesarean delivery, and male gender. Conclusion SGA is not associated with RDS or other adverse respiratory and neonatal composites.

Maternal obesity mediated predisposition to respiratory complications at birth and in later life: understanding the implications of the obesogenic intrauterine environment.

More women than not are entering pregnancy either overweight or obese. This presents a significant health care burden with respect to maternal morbidities and offspring complications at birth and in later life. In recent years it has also become clear that maternal obesity is an even greater global health problem than anticipated, because the effects are not limited to the mother but are also programmed in the fetus, known as the 'intergenerational cycle of obestiy'. Despite a large body of epidemiological evidence reporting outcomes of obese pregnancies, including offspring respiratory complications, much less is known about the molecular effects of maternal obesity on fetal lung development. This review focuses on the influence of altered substrate supply associated with the obesogenic intrauterine environment on fetal lung development. Understanding the molecular mechanisms contributing to altered fetal lung development will lead to improved respiratory outcomes for offspring at birth and in later life.

Decreased Cystatin C-Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate Is Correlated with Prolonged Hospital Stay in Transient Tachypnea of Newborn Infants.

BACKGROUND: Transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) is a benign disorder with a variable clinical course that often leads to hospitalization. The aim of this study was to assess and validate the relationship between the serum cystatin C level and symptom duration in infants with TTN. METHODS: Forty newborns presenting with TTN and who had undergone serum cystatin C (Cys C) tests on the first day of admission to the Kyung Hee University Hospital (Seoul, Korea) from 2009 to 2013 were included. The serum Cys C level, creatinine (Cr) level, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and tachypnea duration were correlated retrospectively. RESULTS: The median gestation period was 37.8 ± 3.8 weeks and the mean birth weight was 3.2 ± 0.4 kg. Tachypnea duration was 3.3 ± 2.0 days. Serum Cys C and Cr levels were 1.7 ± 0.2 mg/L and 0.8 ± 1.2 mg/dL, respectively. Tachypnea duration was significantly positively correlated with the serum levels of Cys C and significantly negatively correlated with Cys C-based eGFR (p = 0.016), but was not significantly correlated with the serum Cr level or Cr-based eGFR. When tachypnea duration was compared between infants with Cys C level <1.6 mg/L (n = 15; Group A) and infants with Cys C level ≥ 1.6 mg/L (n = 25; Group B), the symptom duration was significantly shorter in Group A infants (p = 0.011). CONCLUSION: Tachypnea duration was shorter with higher Cys C-based eGFR in infants with TTN.

Impact of Respiratory Morbidities on Neurodevelopmental Outcome of Late Preterm Infants.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate impact of respiratory and other neonatal comorbidities on neurodevelopmental outcome in late preterm infants (LPT). METHOD: Retrospective study of LPT infants (34 (0/7)-36 (6/7) weeks' gestation) discharged from the New York University Langone Medical Center neonatal intensive care unit, during January 2006 to December 2010 and received follow-up care up to 2 years of age. Neonatal morbidities were correlated with neurodevelopmental outcomes and assessed by performance on the Mullen Scales of Early Learning during three developmental follow-up visits. RESULTS: A total of 99 LPT completed neurodevelopmental assessment up to 2 years of age. Infants with diagnosis of moderate-to-severe respiratory distress syndrome showed a significantly lower performance in the visual reception on the second (p<0.01) and third visit (p=0.02), as well as lower performance in the receptive language (visit 2, p=0.02; visit 3, p<0.01). A diagnosis of persistent pulmonary hypertension was found to be associated with significantly lower performance in the visual reception at all visits (p<0.01; p=0.02; p=0.02) and in the receptive language on the second and third visit (p=0.03; p=0.02). Combined respiratory morbidities were also associated with lower developmental scores in fine motor (visit 2, p<0.01; visit 3, p=0.04) as well as expressive language (visit 3, p=0.02). CONCLUSION: LPT with significant respiratory morbidities are at higher risk for long-term developmental delays, mainly affecting cognitive developmental domains.

Surfactant treatment for neonatal respiratory disorders other than respiratory distress syndrome.

BACKGROUND: It is suggested that there may be expanded use of surfactant replacement for the neonatal diseases such as meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS), pneumonia and possibly bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the characteristics and short-term outcome of the neonates given exogenous surfactant because of the diseases other than respiratory disease syndrome (RDS). METHODS: This retrospective study included 35 neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit from January 2012 to December 2012 for an expanded use of surfactant. Data related to gestational age, birth weight, gender and perinatal risk factors were obtained from the patients' records. The short-term prognosis was also noted. RESULTS: The diagnosis was sepsis in 16 patients, eight MAS, seven transient tachypnea of the newborns (TTN) and four BPD. Mean gestational age was 35.6 ± 4.5 weeks and mean birth weight was 2661 ± 981 g. Of overall cases, 65% were boys and 35% girls. The mortality rate was 17%. Of six fatal cases, three was with BPD, two with sepsis and one with MAS. CONCLUSION: We think that surfactant replacement may be life saver in the neonatal diseases other than RDS such as BPD, MAS and sepsis by rapidly improving oxygenation. Further investigation is necessary to validate the significance of expanded use of surfactant.

Incidence and etiology of late preterm admissions to the neonatal intensive care unit and its associated respiratory morbidities when compared to term infants.

OBJECTIVE: To determine etiology of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission and acute morbidities in late preterm (LPT) neonates. METHODS: Neonates admitted at New York University Langone Medical Center's NICU were grouped as follows: period 1: all LPT neonates with gestational age between 34(0)/(7) and 36(6)/(7) weeks and born between January 2006 and June 2007; period 2: all term neonates born between January 2007 and June 2008. Neonatal and maternal data were collected from both the groups and compared. RESULTS: Thirty-three percent of LPT births were admitted to the NICU, compared with 7% of term births (p < 0.05). LPT neonates had an increased incidence of low birth weight, hypoglycemia, hypothermia, and hyperbilirubinemia as an admission diagnosis (p < 0.001). The overall incidence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) was 9%, 4%, 3%, 0.7%, 0.2% and 0% in 34-week, 35-week, 36-week, 37-week, 38- to 39-week, and 40-week gestational age neonates (p < 0. 001).There was an increased incidence of RDS and persistent pulmonary hypertension, along with an increased need for surfactant replacement therapy, continuous positive airway pressure, and ventilator support in the LPT group when compared with the term neonates (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: LPT neonates are at increased risk for hypothermia, hypoglycemia, hyperbilirubinemia, and respiratory morbidity requiring increased respiratory support when compared with term neonates.

[Respiratory disorders in preterm and term neonates: an update on diagnostics and therapy]. / Respiratorische Erkrankungen bei Früh- und Neugeborenen - Aktuelle Diagnostik und Therapie.

Respiratory disorders remain a major problem in postnatal adaptation. In term neonates, an increased incidence of the risk for transient tachypnoea of the neonate has been observed during the past decade, most likely secondary to an increased usage of primary Caesarean section. The disorder is mainly caused by a delayed resorption of foetal lung fluid. Further disorders in term neonates include meconium aspiration syndrome and congenital diaphragmatic hernia leading to impaired gas exchange and pulmonary hypertension. In preterm neonates, respiratory distress syndrome is the main disorder leading to severe acute and long-term impaired gas exchange. Prenatal administration of glucocorticoids and postnatal surfactant therapy remains an established principle in perinatal care for very preterm neonates. The most relevant long-term sequelae, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, is currently being observed in about 15% of preterms with less than 32 weeks of gestation and is associated with severe pulmonary and extrapulmonary consequences. Due to the overall improvement in perinatal care, respiratory disorders still remain a major problem in pulmonary adaptation. However, mortality secondary to neonatal lung failure has been decreased substantially by the improvements in the whole field of perinatal medicine.

Taquipnea transitoria del recién nacido en el Hospital General Docente "Ciro Redondo García": Artemisa 2009 / Transitory taquipnea of the New Born One In The Educational General Hospital "Ciro Redondo García". Artemisa 2009

Entre 40-50 por ciento de los casos con síndrome de dificultad respiratoria (SDR) evolucionan como una Taquipnea Transitoria (TTRN). Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo descriptivo, con el objetivo de conocer el comportamiento de la (TTRN) en la Unidad de Cuidados Especiales de Neonatología (UCEN) del Hospital General Docente Ciro Redondo García, en el período comprendido enero 2008 hasta diciembre 2009. El universo fue 113 recién nacidos (RN) con SDR y 72 constituyeron la muestra con diagnóstico de (TTRN) por un muestreo no probabilístico. Se confeccionó un formulario y se recogieron variables relacionadas con el parto y examen físico del RN. Los datos se procesaron estadísticamente por el sistema Excel. Aproximadamente 3 de cada 4 RN con (TT) nacen por cesárea, a término, del sexo masculino, normopesos, conteo de apgar normal y tiempo de evolución inferior a 120 horas. Se concluye que el comportamiento de la TTRN en nuestro servicio resultó elevado(AU)

Among 40-50 percent of the cases with syndrome of breathing (SDR) they evolve like a transitory Taquipnea (TTRN). He/She was carried out a descriptive retrospective study, whith the objective of knowing the behaviour of the TTRN in the Unit of Special Cares of Neonatology (UCEN) of the educational general Hospital Ciro Redondo García, in the Period understood January 2008 until December 2009. The universe was 113 new born (RN) with SDR and 72 constituted the simple with diagnostic of TTRN for a sampling non probabilistic. A form was made and variables related with the childbirth and physical exam of the RN were picked up. The data were processed statistically by the system Excel. Approximately 3 of each 4 RN with (TT) they are born for caesarean operation, to term, of the masculine sex, norm weight, count of normal apgar and time of inferiority evolution at 120 hours. You conclude that the behaviour of the TTRN in our service is high(AU)