Bilirubin Rebound After Intensive Phototherapy for Neonatal Jaundice.

This study was conducted to determine the incidence and magnitude of postphototherapy bilirubin rebound in neonates. Subjects included inborn neonates needing phototherapy for hyperbilirubinemia. Standard guidelines were used to start and stop phototherapy. Rebound bilirubin was measured 24±6 h after stopping phototherapy. Significant bilirubin rebound (SBR) was defined as postphototherapy bilirubin level needing reinstitution of phototherapy. Among 245 neonates with hyperbilirubinemia, post-phototherapy bilirubin estimation was done in 232 neonates. A total of 17 (7.3%) neonates developed SBR. In neonates with SBR, bilirubin increased by 2.3 mg/dL (95% CI 1.6-3.0) after stopping phototherapy. Risk factors for SBR included birth at <35 weeks of gestation (RR 4.3, 95% CI 1.5-12.0), birthweight <2000 g (RR 3.2, 95% CI 1.0-10.3) and onset of jaundice at <60 h of age (RR 3.3, 95% CI 1.2-9.0). Post-phototherapy discharge and follow-up planning should take into account these risk factors.

Antisnake Venom in a Neonate with Snake bite.

There is no report of the use of antisnake venom (ASV) in the neonatal age group in literature. We report a 27 days old female neonate who presented with neuroparalytic manifestations of snake bite and was treated successfully with ASV. A total of 50 vials (500 mL) of polyvalent antisnake venom were given as infusion in hourly aliquots of 50 mL, over 72 hours.

Ectrodactyly/split hand feet malformation.

Split-hand/split-foot malformation is a rare limb malformation with median clefts of the hands and feet and aplasia/hypoplasia of the phalanges, metacarpals and metatarsals. When present as an isolated anomaly, it is usually inherited as an autosomal dominant form. We report a case of autosomal recessive inheritance and discuss the antenatal diagnosis, genetic counseling and treatment for the malformation.

Medication errors in neonates admitted in intensive care unit and emergency department.

Background : Medication is the most common health-care intervention, and the errors arising out of its usage are potentially an avoidable cause of iatrogenic injuries. There are reports of medication errors from neonatal emergency setups. Aims : To study the medication errors of ordering, dispensing and administering in neonates admitted for emergency care and to compare the errors occurring in the emergency department (ED) with those occurring in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a teaching hospital in north India. Primary objective: To study the medication errors in ordering and dispensing for neonates. Secondary objective: To compare these errors in 2 different settings - ED and NICU. Materials and Methods : We did a retrospective chart review of neonatal prescriptions written in the 4 months from January to April 2004 in the neonatal intensive care unit and the pediatric emergency department. The prescriptions were analyzed from the case records bearing an even registration number, obtained from the hospital 'medical records' section. Medication error was defined as 'any preventable event that occurs in the process of ordering, transcribing, dispensing, administering or monitoring a drug irrespective of whether the injury occurred or potential for injury was present.' Results : A total of 821 prescriptions were analyzed and 81 (9.6%) errors were detected. The error rate was found to be 1.5 (54/38) and 0.7 (27/38) per patient in ED and NICU, respectively, being highly significant in ED. Every tenth prescription had medication error in ordering or dispensing; of this, every sixth prescription in ED and nineteenth prescription in NICU had medication error. Dosing errors were the commonest form of detected errors. None of the errors caused any significant harm to the patient but had the potential to cause severe injury, and majority of these errors were preventable. Conclusion : Medication errors are common in neonatology; more so, in emergency departments than in the neonatal intensive care units.

Exchange transfusion as an alternative therapy for recurrent severe Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Recurrent Guillain-Barre Syndrome is a rare condition. IVIg and plasmapheresis are costly therapies and may not be affordable. We report a 6-yr-old boy in whom two severe episodes of Guillain-Barre Syndrome were successfully treated by exchange transfusion. Possible explanation for its effectiveness is discussed with respect to available literature.

Neonatal arrhythmias.

OBJECTIVE: Neonatal arrhythmias are not uncommon; however, they rarely cause hemodynamic compromise. This paper aims to study the etiology, spectrum and outcome of neonates with arrhythmias who presented to a pediatric department. METHODS: All neonates, either inborn or brought to the pediatric emergency with rhythm disorders, between August 1999 to August 2002, were included prospectively. Evaluation including a search for secondary causes of rhythm disorder and a chest X-ray, standard 12-lead electrocardiography and echocardiography in all. The management required in each and the outcomes were noted. RESULTS: Nine neonates were identified, of which 4 were inborn. Tachycardia was seen in 8 neonates and bradycardia in only one. Three neonates had an antenatal onset of arrhythmias; in the rest it was postnatal in onset. Five neonates had a secondary rhythm disorder, secondary to metabolic derangements in 4 and a cardiac mass in 1. Five had ventricular arrhythmias and 5 had hemodynamic compromise due to the arrhythmia. The outcome was poor in 4 and was related to the underlying illness. CONCLUSION: Tachyarrhythmia is more common than bradyarrhythmia in the neonate. Arrhythmias secondary to various metabolic causes are more common than primary rhythm disorders.

Kocher Debre Semelaigne syndrome--a case report and review of literature.

A case of muscular hypertrophy in a hypothyroid 12-year-old male child, known as Kocher Debre Semelaigne syndrome, is reported with review of the relevant literature. The patient responded well to l-thyroxine therapy.

Hypokalemic respiratory paralysis in Bartter's syndrome.

Life threatening hypokalemia can be a mode of presentation in renal salt wasting (Group-1) patients of Bartter's syndrome causing hypokalemic respiratory paralysis. Treatment on an emergent basis is required. In the long run, such patients may require higher doses of supplementary potassium and potassium sparing diuretics.

Subclavian artery supply disruption sequence-Klippel-Feil and Mobius anomalies.

Fetal vascular disruptions can cause specific patterns of birth depending on the location, extent and timing of the disruptive event in the embryonic life. An example of this is subclavian artery supply disruption sequence occurring around 6 weeks of gestation which causes various combinations of Poland, Klippel-Feil and Mobius anomalies. A one-month-old child with features of all three anomalies along with other associated features is described here.