Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Network Neurobehavioral Scale Profiles in Full-Term Infants: Associations with Maternal Adversity, Medical Risk, and Neonatal Outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: To examine healthy, full-term neonatal behavior using the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Network Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS) in relation to measures of maternal adversity, maternal medical risk, and infant brain volumes. STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective, longitudinal, observational cohort study of pregnant mothers followed from the first trimester and their healthy, full-term infants. Infants underwent an NNNS assessment and high-quality magnetic resonance imaging 2-5 weeks after birth. A latent profile analysis of NNNS scores categorized infants into neurobehavioral profiles. Univariate and multivariate analyses compared differences in maternal factors (social advantage, psychosocial stress, and medical risk) and neonatal characteristics between profiles. RESULTS: The latent profile analysis of NNNS summary scales of 296 infants generated 3 profiles: regulated (46.6%), hypotonic (16.6%), and fussy (36.8%). Infants with a hypotonic profile were more likely to be male (χ2 = 8.601; P = .014). Fussy infants had smaller head circumferences (F = 3.871; P = .022) and smaller total brain (F = 3.522; P = .031) and cerebral white matter (F = 3.986; P = .020) volumes compared with infants with a hypotonic profile. There were no differences between profiles in prenatal maternal health, social advantage, or psychosocial stress. CONCLUSIONS: Three distinct neurobehavioral profiles were identified in healthy, full-term infants with hypotonic and fussy neurobehavioral features related to neonatal brain volumes and head circumference, but not prenatal exposure to socioeconomic or psychosocial adversity. Follow-up beyond the neonatal period will determine if identified profiles at birth are associated with subsequent clinical or developmental outcomes.

Neonatal nurses' and therapists' perceptions of positioning for preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit.

PURPOSE: Determine perceptions about positioning for preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NI CU). DESIGN: Twenty-item survey. SAMPLE: Neonatal nurses (n = 68) and speech, physical, and occupational therapists (n = 8). MAIN OUTCOME VARIABLE: Perceptions about positioning were obtained, and differences in perceptions between nurses and therapists were explored. RESULTS: Ninety-nine percent of respondents agreed that positioning is important for the well-being of the infant. Sixty-two percent of nurses and 86 percent of therapists identified the Dandle ROO as the ideal method of neonatal positioning. Forty-four percent of nurses and 57 percent of therapists reported that the Dandle ROO is the easiest positioning method to use in the NICU. Some perceptions differed: Therapists were more likely to report that the SleepSack does not hold the infant in good alignment. Nurses were more likely to report that the infant does not sleep well in traditional positioning.

Nursing Perceptions of Clinical Research in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

PURPOSE: To determine perceptions of clinical research in the NICU. DESIGN: Survey study. SAMPLE: Nurses (n=68) employed in a level III NICU in the midwestern United States. MAIN OUTCOME VARIABLE: Cross-sectional analysis of responses to a survey exploring perceptions of clinical research. RESULTS: Ninety-seven percent of nurses (n=66) agree that clinical research is important for improving care, while 57% (n=39) report that it affects their day positively. Thirty-seven percent reported excellent communication between clinical and research teams. In addition, 27% (n=18) of nurses reported research presents complications for families, and 79% (n=54) reported that it is acceptable to cease a research protocol for infant benefit. Years of practice and whether nurses read research affected various responses. CONCLUSION: Clinical research is imperative to inform best practice, and nurses are an integral part of care. Therefore, it is essential to better define strategies to bridge the gap between clinical and research teams.

Electrographic seizures in preterm infants during the first week of life are associated with cerebral injury.

The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of electrographic seizure activity in a prospective cohort of preterm infants and relate it to the presence of cerebral injury. Infants born <30-wk gestation received a median 74 h of continuous 2-channel EEG with amplitude-integrated EEG monitoring in the first week of life. Infants were classified in the abnormal outcome group if they died in the neonatal period and/or had grades 3-4 intraventricular hemorrhage and/or moderate or severe abnormalities on cerebral MRI. Seizures were defined as rhythmic spike and/or wave activity lasting at least 10 s on the raw EEG trace. Eleven of 51 infants monitored had electrographic seizures. These infants were more premature had lower birth weights and a greater proportion had abnormal outcomes. In four infants, seizures preceded ultrasound findings of grades 3-4 intraventricular hemorrhage. Three of the four infants with seizures and concurrent physiologic recordings displayed concurrent rises in heart rate and one showed a fall in respiratory rate. In conclusion, electrographic seizures were more likely to occur in the sicker and more premature infants with abnormal outcomes. Seizures detected on continuous amplitude-integrated EEG monitoring with the raw EEG were associated with poor outcome.

Suction rectal biopsy yields adequate tissue in children.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Hirschsprung disease (HD) is diagnosed by rectal biopsy, with suction rectal biopsy (SRB), the preferred technique in neonates. Reported SRB adequacy has varied overall with concern for decreased diagnostic yield in older children. The study aim was to assess SRB adequacy by age in children with the current device used at our institution. METHODS: Following IRB approval, a retrospective cohort of children (1 to 18years) evaluated by SRB for HD was identified through billing records. Data regarding demographics, procedure, results, and complications were collected and analyzed using SPSS. RESULTS: 56 children (median age 3.9years) underwent SRB with an 80.4% overall success rate. Patients older than 5years had 90.5% adequacy rate compared to 74.3% in those younger. Univariate analysis revealed weak association of inadequate specimens with younger age and males, and no association with insurance, race/ethnicity, weight-height or BMI percentile, sedation type, or procedure location. SRB under general anesthesia (GA) had 100% adequacy (n=6). Patients with inadequate initial biopsy achieved diagnosis by SRB with increased sedation (n=5) or full thickness biopsy under GA (n=5). CONCLUSION: With adequacy of 80.4% overall and 90.5% for patients greater than 5years, SRB is effective in evaluating the older child for HD.