Reduced platelet function in preterm neonates compared with term neonates.

Background: A reduced platelet function might contribute to the longer bleeding time seen in preterm neonates. However, the previously used platelet function testing in neonates is limited due to methodological limitations, mainly caused by difficulties in obtaining adequate blood volume. Therefore, the platelet function in preterm neonates is sparsely investigated. The aim of this study was to compare platelet function in preterm neonates at birth and at expected term age with platelet function in term neonates at birth. Methods: We included 43 preterm neonates born at gestational age (GA) 28 + 0 to 34 + 0 and 21 term neonates born at GA 38 + 0 to 41 + 0. Within the first 24 hours of life, 1-1.5 mL peripheral blood was obtained and for preterm neonates, resampling was performed at expected term age (GA 38 + 0 to 41 + 0). Platelet function testing included impedance aggregometry and platelet activation measured by flow cytometry. In addition, platelet count was determined. Results: Platelet count and platelet activation were reduced in preterm neonates compared with term neonates at birth, but we found no difference in impedance aggregometry at birth. At expected term age, platelet count and aggregation exceeded term levels, but platelet activation remained impaired in the preterm. Conclusion: Preterm neonatal function is decreased at birth and does not seem to reach term levels during the first 4 to 13 weeks of life.

Efficacy and Safety of Antifibrinolytic Drugs in Pediatric Surgery: A Systematic Review.

Antifibrinolytic drugs are used to reduce blood loss and subsequent transfusions during surgery and following trauma, but the optimal dosing regimen in the pediatric population is still unresolved. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate efficacy and safety of antifibrinolytic drugs in pediatric surgery and trauma to determine the optimal dosing regimen. A literature search was performed in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science on May 3, 2020. We included randomized controlled studies investigating the effect of tranexamic acid (TXA), aprotinin, and epsilon-aminocaproic acid, in terms of reducing blood loss, blood transfusions, reoperations, and rebleeds in pediatric patients aged 0 to 18 years undergoing cardiac surgery, noncardiac surgery, or trauma. Fifty randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included; 28 RCTs investigated cardiac surgery and 22 investigated noncardiac surgery. No RCTs regarding trauma met the inclusion criteria. All antifibrinolytic drugs reduced postoperative blood loss and transfusions when used in pediatric surgery. The dosing regimen varied between studies, but similar effect sizes were found in terms of reduced blood loss regardless of the cumulative dose used. Few studies found adverse events, and no difference in incidence or type of adverse events was seen between the antifibrinolytic and the placebo group. In conclusion, use of antifibrinolytics is efficient and safe in children undergoing surgery. We propose TXA as the drug of choice based on its level of evidence and safety profile; we recommend a dosing regimen composed of a loading dose of 10 to 15 mg/kg prior to surgery followed by 1 to 5 mg/kg/h as continuous infusion throughout surgery.

Infant botulism in Denmark from 1995 to 2015.

INTRODUCTION: Infant botulism is a rare, probably underdiagnosed, life-threatening disease caused by the toxin-producing bacterium Clostridium botulinum. METHODS: We investigated reported cases of infant botulism in Denmark from 1995 to 2015, and compared the incidence with that of other western countries. RESULTS: We found nine cases of infant botulism in Denmark from 1995 to 2015. The incidence of infant botulism in Denmark was similar to that seen in other western countries, but likely underestimated. The source of infection was only confirmed in a single case. Four cases received botulism immune globulin, intravenous (BIG-IV), which was administered within 7-10 days from admission. CONCLUSIONS: Infant botulism is probably underdiagnosed. Increased awareness is crucial to be able to recognise the condition. The time delay from hospital admission to administration of BIG-IV is challenging. Studies have shown that BIG-IV reduces both mean duration of intensive care and mean length of hospital stay; however, this was not confirmed in our work due to the limited number of patients. FUNDING: none. TRIAL REGISTRATION: not relevant.

Risk of respiratory morbidity in term infants delivered by elective caesarean section: cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between elective caesarean sections and neonatal respiratory morbidity and the importance of timing of elective caesarean sections. DESIGN: Cohort study with prospectively collected data from the Aarhus birth cohort, Denmark. SETTING: Obstetric department and neonatal department of a university hospital in Denmark. PARTICIPANTS: All liveborn babies without malformations, with gestational ages between 37 and 41 weeks, and delivered between 1 January 1998 and 31 December 2006 (34 458 babies). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Respiratory morbidity (transitory tachypnoea of the newborn, respiratory distress syndrome, persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn) and serious respiratory morbidity (oxygen therapy for more than two days, nasal continuous positive airway pressure, or need for mechanical ventilation). RESULTS: 2687 infants were delivered by elective caesarean section. Compared with newborns intended for vaginal delivery, an increased risk of respiratory morbidity was found for infants delivered by elective caesarean section at 37 weeks' gestation (odds ratio 3.9, 95% confidence interval 2.4 to 6.5), 38 weeks' gestation (3.0, 2.1 to 4.3), and 39 weeks' gestation (1.9, 1.2 to 3.0). The increased risks of serious respiratory morbidity showed the same pattern but with higher odds ratios: a fivefold increase was found at 37 weeks (5.0, 1.6 to16.0). These results remained essentially unchanged after exclusion of pregnancies complicated by diabetes, pre-eclampsia, and intrauterine growth retardation, or by breech presentation. CONCLUSION: Compared with newborns delivered vaginally or by emergency caesarean sections, those delivered by elective caesarean section around term have an increased risk of overall and serious respiratory morbidity. The relative risk increased with decreasing gestational age.

[Gas embolization as a complication of hysteroscopic surgery]. / Gasemboli som komplikation i forbindelse med hysteroskopisk kirurgi.

Gas embolism has been described as a complication of operative hysteroscopy. We present one of two non-fatal case stories where gas embolization was suspected due to symptoms observed by the anaesthesiologist and discuss how to prevent it.

Elective caesarean section and respiratory morbidity in the term and near-term neonate.

AIM: The aim of this review was to assess the relationship between delivery by elective caesarean section and respiratory morbidity in the term and near-term neonate. METHODS: Searches were made in the MEDLINE database, EMBASE, Cochrane database and Web of Science to identify peer-reviewed studies in English on elective caesarean section and respiratory morbidity in the newborn. We included studies that compared elective caesarean section to vaginal or intended vaginal delivery, with clear definition of outcome measures and information about gestational age. RESULTS: Nine eligible studies were identified. All studies found that delivery by elective caesarean section increased the risk of various respiratory morbidities in the newborn near term compared with vaginal delivery, although the findings were not statistically significant in all studies. It was inappropriate to carry out a meta-analysis with a pooled risk estimate because of a variety of methodological differences between the studies. The overall risk for respiratory morbidity, however, seemed to increase about 2 to 3 times, though some studies presented much higher risk estimates. A decreasing risk with increasing gestational age was shown in 2 studies. CONCLUSION: Delivery by elective caesarean section was shown to increase the risk of respiratory morbidity in all studies eligible for inclusion. The magnitude of this relative risk seemed to depend on gestational age even in deliveries after 37 completed weeks of gestation.