Neuroprotective Infant and Family-Centered Developmental Care for the Tiniest Babies: Perspectives from Key Members of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Small Baby Team.

Caring for extremely preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is a multidisciplinary team effort. A clear understanding of roles for each member of the delivery team, anticipation of challenges, and standardized checklists support improved outcomes for this population. Physicians and nursing leaders are responsible for being role models and holding staff accountable for creating a unit culture of Neuroprotective Infant and Family-Centered Developmental Care. It is essential for parents to be included as part of the care team and babies to be acknowledged for their efforts in coping with the developmentally unexpected NICU environment.

Baby and Family-Centered Care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Changing Perspective.

The goal of baby and family-centered care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is to recognize the baby's needs exhibited through the baby's individual behavior and communication and support parent education, engagement, and interaction with the baby to build a nurturing relationship. Health care providers and caregivers must guide rather than control the role of the parents from birth through NICU care, transition to home, and continuing care at home. Parents are health care team members, primary caregivers, and shared decision-makers in caring for their babies.

Reporting interhospital neonatal intensive care transport: international five-step Delphi-based template.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a general and internationally applicable template of data variables for reporting interhospital neonatal intensive care transports. DESIGN: A five-step Delphi method. SETTING: A group of experts was guided through a formal consensus process using email. SUBJECTS: 12 experts in neonatal intensive care transports from Canada, Denmark, Norway, the UK and the USA. Four women and eight men. The experts were neonatologists, anaesthesiologists, intensive care nurse, anaesthetic nurse, medical leaders, researchers and a parent representative. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: 37 data variables were included in the final template. RESULTS: Consensus was achieved on a template of 37 data variables with definitions. 30 variables to be registered for each transport and 7 for annual registration of the system of the transport service. 11 data variables under the category structure, 20 under process and 6 under outcome. CONCLUSIONS: We developed a template with a set of data variables to be registered for neonatal intensive care transports. To register the same data will enable larger datasets and comparing services.

How is bioelectrical impedance used in neonatal intensive care? A scoping review.

Poor growth and nutrition management in the neonatal period can have a negative impact upon both the short- and long-term outcomes for the infant. Improvements in bioelectrical impedance technology and accompanying licencing agreements now make this enhanced device available for use in infants as small as 23 weeks gestational age. An exploration of this technology and its use is now timely. The aim of the scoping review was to answer the following question: in preterm and sick term infants in the neonatal intensive care unit, how is bioelectrical impedance being utilized, in what situations, and when? The scoping review was conducted using Arksey and O'Malley's (Int J Soc Res Methodol 8(1):19-32, 2005) framework. Forty-nine papers were initially identified and 16 were included in the scoping review. Three studies were experimental designs, and 13 were observational studies. The review found that BIA was used in neonatal intensive care in three main ways, for, (1) fluid status evaluation, (2) as a measure of adequate nutrition and growth, (3) to validate the technology as an outcome measure in neonates. CONCLUSION: There is a paucity of recent robust research papers which investigate the use of bioelectrical impedance in preterm neonates. Available evidence spans a range of 30 years, with technological advancement reducing the application of older studies to the modern neonatal setting. Although this technology may be helpful for decision-making around fluid management and nutrition, in preterm infants, robust evidence is needed to demonstrate the clinical benefit of bioelectrical impedance beyond that of usual care. WHAT IS KNOWN: • Clinical decisions regarding neonatal nutrition and fluid management are currently based upon the interpretation of vital signs, fluid balance, weight trend, biochemical markers, and physical examination. • Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) is a non-invasive method of assessing body composition which is now available to be used in infants as small as 23 weeks gestation. WHAT IS NEW: • Bioelectrical Impedance has been used in three main ways in the NICU, for fluid status evaluation, for measuring nutrition and growth and to validate BIA as an outcome. • There is a lack of recent robust research data to support the use of the device within clinical decision making in neonatal intensive care.

Encontro com Especialistas - Método Canguru: papel das equipes da Atenção Primária à Saúde

Encontro com as Especialistas Zeni Lamy, médica neonatologista da UFMA e Coordenadora Nacional do Método Canguru; Zaira Custódio, psicóloga do Hospital Universitário da UFSC e consultora do Método Canguru; e Roberta Albuquerque, médica neonatologista do Hospital Universitário Materno Infantil da UFMA e consultora do Método Canguru.

Encontro com Especialistas - Cuidado Seguro de RN e crianças

Encontro com as Especialistas Roseli Calil, médica neonatologista da Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp); Eduarda Ribeiro dos Santos, enfermeira e advogada, docente na Faculdade Israelita Albert Einstein; Aline Hennemann, enfermeira especialista na área materno infantil, assessora da CACRIAD/DGCI/SAPS/MS; e Zeni Lamy, médica neonatologista da Universidade Federal do Maranhão (UFMA).

Which left atrial volume measurement should we use in the neonatal intensive care?

BACKGROUND: Increased left atrial volume (LAV) is a marker of cardiovascular risk. Echocardiography standards to assess LAV in adults and children are the biplane area-length method (AL) and method of disks (MOD). LAV in neonatology is usually derived as M-mode ratio between the LA and the Aorta (LAAo). The aim of this study is to determine feasibility and reliability of these methods in neonatal clinical practice. METHODS: Clinically indicated echocardiograms in neonatal intensive care patients were retrospectively analyzed. Feasibility was determined with an image quality score describing insonation angle, foreshortening and wall clarity. Reliability was determined with Bland-Altman and correlation coefficient analysis of intra- and inter-observer measurements. RESULTS: 104 infants ranging from 23 to 39 weeks gestation were included. The feasibility of LAAo, AL and MOD was comparable (median image score 4 out of 6 points). Linear regression between AL and MOD was excellent (R2 0.99). LAAo best-fit with MOD was reached with curve-linear regression (R2 0.28) whereby a LAAo of 1.60 correlated with 1.24 ml/kg, but with a wide 95 % CI. The correlation coefficient within and between observers for LAAo, biplane AL, biplane MOD and monoplane MOD was 0.93 (0.87-0.96), 0.98 (0.96-0.99), 0.98 (0.96-0.99), 0.99 (0.97-0.99) and 0.58 (0.11-0.81), 0.75 (0.44-0.89), 0.92 (0.88-0.98), 0.96 (0.88-0.98) respectively. CONCLUSION: All methods were equally feasible and reliable when repeated by the same observer, but LAAo reliability was poor when repeated by a different observer. Biplane MOD was the most reliable and thus recommended in neonatal practice. Monoplane MOD performed well and could be considered as alternative but might be less accurate.

Equity, inclusion and cultural humility: contemporizing the neonatal intensive care unit family-centered care model.

Existing NICU family centered care models lack the key elements of equity, inclusion and cultural humility. These models were conceived to support families during the stressful life event of an infant's NICU admission. Their development, however, occurred prior to recognition of the medical field's systematic shortcomings in providing equitable care and their impact on outcome disparities for marginalized communities; thus, they do not include cultural or equitable healthcare considerations. Given the significant neonatal care inequities for marginalized groups, incorporating the experience of these patients in a targeted manner into family centered care frameworks is of critical importance to ensure culturally humble and thus more just and equitable treatment. Here, we review past approaches to NICU family centered care and propose a novel, updated framework which integrates culturally humble care into the NICU family centered care framework.

Discrete glucose profiles identified using continuous glucose monitoring data and their association with adverse pregnancy outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Continuous glucose monitoring has facilitated the evaluation of dynamic changes in glucose throughout the day and their effect on fetal growth abnormalities in pregnancy. However, studies of multiple continuous glucose monitoring metrics combined and their association with other adverse pregnancy outcomes are limited. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to (1) use machine learning techniques to identify discrete glucose profiles based on weekly continuous glucose monitoring metrics in pregnant individuals with pregestational diabetes mellitus and (2) investigate their association with adverse pregnancy outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: This study analyzed data from a retrospective cohort study of pregnant patients with type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus who used Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitoring and delivered a nonanomalous, singleton pregnancy at a tertiary center between 2019 and 2023. Continuous glucose monitoring data were collapsed into 39 weekly glycemic measures related to centrality, spread, excursions, and circadian cycle patterns. Principal component analysis and k-means clustering were used to identify 4 discrete groups, and patients were assigned to the group that best represented their continuous glucose monitoring patterns during pregnancy. Finally, the association between glucose profile groups and outcomes (preterm birth, cesarean delivery, preeclampsia, large-for-gestational-age neonate, neonatal hypoglycemia, and neonatal intensive care unit admission) was estimated using multivariate logistic regression adjusted for diabetes mellitus type, maternal age, insurance, continuous glucose monitoring use before pregnancy, and parity. RESULTS: Of 177 included patients, 90 (50.8%) had type 1 diabetes mellitus, and 85 (48.3%) had type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study identified 4 glucose profiles: (1) well controlled; (2) suboptimally controlled with high variability, fasting hypoglycemia, and daytime hyperglycemia; (3) suboptimally controlled with minimal circadian variation; and (4) poorly controlled with peak hyperglycemia overnight. Compared with the well-controlled profile, the suboptimally controlled profile with high variability had higher odds of a large-for-gestational-age neonate (adjusted odds ratio, 3.34; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-9.89). The suboptimally controlled with minimal circadian variation profile had higher odds of preterm birth (adjusted odds ratio, 2.59; 95% confidence interval, 1.10-6.24), cesarean delivery (adjusted odds ratio, 2.76; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-7.46), and neonatal intensive care unit admission (adjusted odds ratio, 4.08; 95% confidence interval, 1.58-11.40). The poorly controlled profile with peak hyperglycemia overnight had higher odds of preeclampsia (adjusted odds ratio, 2.54; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-6.52), large-for-gestational-age neonate (adjusted odds ratio, 3.72; 95% confidence interval, 1.37-10.4), neonatal hypoglycemia (adjusted odds ratio, 3.53; 95% confidence interval, 1.37-9.71), and neonatal intensive care unit admission (adjusted odds ratio, 3.15; 95% confidence interval, 1.20-9.09). CONCLUSION: Discrete glucose profiles of pregnant individuals with pregestational diabetes mellitus were identified through joint consideration of multiple continuous glucose monitoring metrics. Prolonged exposure to maternal hyperglycemia may be associated with a higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes than suboptimal glycemic control characterized by high glucose variability and intermittent hyperglycemia.

Physicochemical compatibility of caffeine citrate and caffeine base injections with parenteral medications used in neonatal intensive care settings.

PURPOSE: To investigate the physicochemical compatibility of caffeine citrate and caffeine base injections with 43 secondary intravenous (IV) drugs used in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) settings. METHODS: Caffeine citrate (20 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) or caffeine base injection (10 mg/mL) were mixed in a volume ratio of 1:1 with the secondary drug solution to simulate Y-site co-administration procedures in NICUs. Physical compatibility was evaluated based on visual observation for 2 h, against a black and white background and under polarised light, for changes in colour, precipitation, haze and evolution of gas. Chemical compatibility was determined from caffeine concentration measurements, using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography assay. RESULTS: Six of the 43 secondary drugs tested (aciclovir, amphotericin (liposomal), furosemide, hydrocortisone, ibuprofen and ibuprofen lysine) were physically incompatible with caffeine citrate undiluted injection (20 mg/mL), at their high-end, clinically relevant concentrations for NICU settings. However, when tested at lower concentrations, hydrocortisone (1 mg/mL) was physicochemically compatible, whereas furosemide (0.2 mg/mL) was physically incompatible with caffeine citrate. The six drugs which showed physical incompatibility with caffeine citrate 20 mg/mL injection were also physically incompatible with caffeine citrate 10 mg/mL solution. All 43 secondary drugs tested were physicochemically compatible with caffeine base injection. CONCLUSIONS: Most secondary test drugs, except aciclovir, amphotericin (liposomal), furosemide, hydrocortisone, ibuprofen and ibuprofen lysine, were physicochemically compatible with caffeine citrate injection. Caffeine base injection was physicochemically compatible with all 43 test drugs tested.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Brief Training for Neonatal Intensive Care Nurses on the Prevention of Medical Device-Related Nasal Pressure Injury.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a brief training in medical device-related pressure injury (MDRPI) prevention for neonatal intensive care nurses. METHODS: This single-group, pretest-posttest quasi-experimental study was conducted between April and October 2021 with 81 nurses working in the neonatal ICU of a city hospital. The participants completed a training program consisting of two 40-minute sessions that used a small-group problem-based learning approach developed in accordance with evidence-based research. Data were collected using a neonatal nurse information form, knowledge of MDRPI in preterm infants form, and training evaluation form, all of which were prepared for this study based on the literature. Data collection was performed before the training and repeated at 1 week and 1 month after the training. Data analysis was performed using the Number Cruncher Statistical System. Descriptive statistics, the Shapiro-Wilk test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Spearman correlation analysis were used. RESULTS: The participants' mean score on the knowledge of MDRPI in premature infants form was 82.44 ± 7.26 before training and increased significantly to 94.57 ± 5.03 at 1 week and 94.67 ± 3.11 at 1 month after training (P = .001 and P = .001, respectively). No significant relationship was detected between the participants' descriptive characteristics and their knowledge scores before or after the training (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Brief training on the prevention of nasal pressure injury caused by noninvasive ventilation increased nurses' knowledge level.

360-degree phenomenology: A qualitative approach to exploring the infant experience of hospitalisation in neonatal intensive care.

This paper describes the development and justification of a qualitative methodology aimed at exploring the infant's personal experience of hospitalisation in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). We begin by briefly reviewing existing methods for documenting and recording infant experiences. These methods focus on the clinical needs of the infant predominantly through quantifiable medical outcome data. Research understanding their experience of receiving clinical care is lacking. By exploring newborn infant behaviour, cues, and communication strategies we assert the infant as a capable participant in neonatal research. We then describe the methodology and methods which we have named 360-degree phenomenology that draws directly from the capabilities and knowledge of the infants themselves. We propose this methodology will address the gap in the literature by enabling a rich and comprehensive overview of the early life experiences of infants hospitalised in NICU.

National Rapid Genome Sequencing in Neonatal Intensive Care.

Importance: National implementation of rapid trio genome sequencing (rtGS) in a clinical acute setting is essential to ensure advanced and equitable care for ill neonates. Objective: To evaluate the feasibility, diagnostic efficacy, and clinical utility of rtGS in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) throughout Israel. Design, Setting, and Participants: This prospective, public health care-based, multicenter cohort study was conducted from October 2021 to December 2022 with the Community Genetics Department of the Israeli Ministry of Health and all Israeli medical genetics institutes (n = 18) and NICUs (n = 25). Critically ill neonates suspected of having a genetic etiology were offered rtGS. All sequencing, analysis, and interpretation of data were performed in a central genomics center at Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center. Rapid results were expected within 10 days. A secondary analysis report, issued within 60 days, focused mainly on cases with negative rapid results and actionable secondary findings. Pathogenic, likely pathogenic, and highly suspected variants of unknown significance (VUS) were reported. Main Outcomes and Measures: Diagnostic rate, including highly suspected disease-causing VUS, and turnaround time for rapid results. Clinical utility was assessed via questionnaires circulated to treating neonatologists. Results: A total of 130 neonates across Israel (70 [54%] male; 60 [46%] female) met inclusion criteria and were recruited. Mean (SD) age at enrollment was 12 (13) days. Mean (SD) turnaround time for rapid report was 7 (3) days. Diagnostic efficacy was 50% (65 of 130) for disease-causing variants, 11% (14 of 130) for VUS suspected to be causative, and 1 novel gene candidate (1%). Disease-causing variants included 12 chromosomal and 52 monogenic disorders as well as 1 neonate with uniparental disomy. Overall, the response rate for clinical utility questionnaires was 82% (107 of 130). Among respondents, genomic testing led to a change in medical management for 24 neonates (22%). Results led to immediate precision medicine for 6 of 65 diagnosed infants (9%), an additional 2 (3%) received palliative care, and 2 (3%) were transferred to nursing homes. Conclusions and Relevance: In this national cohort study, rtGS in critically ill neonates was feasible and diagnostically beneficial in a public health care setting. This study is a prerequisite for implementation of rtGS for ill neonates into routine care and may aid in design of similar studies in other public health care systems.

Cuidados al final de la vida en unidades de cuidado intensivo neonatal de Iberoamérica: una mirada desde la perspectiva de enfermería / End-of-life care in neonatal intensive care units in Iberoamerica: A look from the nursing perspective

Introducción: Los cuidados al final de la vida (CFV) son una parte fundamental de la asistencia al recién nacido ingresado en una unidad de cuidados intensivos neonatal (UCIN). El objetivo de este estudio fue explorar cómo se implementan los CFV en UCIN de Iberoamérica. Métodos: Estudio transversal realizado en 2022 mediante encuesta vía correo electrónico y redes oficiales de SIBEN a profesionales de enfermería de UCIN de países de Iberoamérica, sobre aspectos relacionados con los CFV. Recolección y análisis de datos con REDCap y STATA 14.0. Resultados: Obtuvimos 400 respuestas de enfermeros/as de 11 países, el 73% procedentes de hospitales terciarios. El 86% de los respondedores eran responsables directos de brindar CFV, si bien un 48% dijeron no haber recibido formación. Solo 67 (17%) afirmaron que la UCIN en la que trabajan cuenta con un protocolo. Las acciones que se implementan durante los CFV fueron infrecuentes (≤50%) en todos los ítems explorados y muy poco frecuentes (<20%) en permitir el acceso libre de familiares, contar con privacidad, brindar asistencia psicológica, registrar el proceso en la historia clínica, asistir con los procesos burocráticos u otorgar un plan de seguimiento para el duelo. Conclusión: La mayoría de los profesionales de enfermería encuestados eran responsables directos de proveer CFV, pero no contaban con protocolos, no habían recibido capacitación y consideraron que los CFV podrían mejorarse significativamente. Las estrategias para los CFV en la región iberoamericana requieren ser optimizadas.(AU)

Introduction: End-of-life care (ELC) represents a quality milestone in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). The objective of this study was to explore how ELC are carried out in NICUs in Iberoamerica. Methods: Cross-sectional study, carried out in 2022 through the administration of an anonymous survey sent to neonatal nursing professionals. The survey included general data and work activity data; existence and contents of ELC protocols in the NICU and training received. The survey was distributed by email and published on official SIBEN social networks. REDCap and STATA 14.0 software were used for data collection and analysis. Results: We obtained 400 responses from nurses from 11 countries, 73% working in third level hospitals. A percentage of 86 of the respondents are directly responsible for providing ELC, although 48% of them said they had not received training on this subject. Only 67 (17%) state that the NICU in which they work has a protocol that establishes a strategy for performing the ELC. Finally, the actions that are implemented during the ELC are globally infrequent (≤50%) in all the items explored and very infrequent (<20%) in relation to allowing free access to family members, having privacy, providing psychological assistance, register the process in the medical record, assist with bureaucratic processes or grant a follow-up plan for grief. Conclusion: Most of the nursing professionals surveyed are directly responsible for this care, do not have protocols, have not received training, and consider that the ELC could be significantly improved. Strategies for ELCs in the Ibero-American region need to be optimized.(AU)

Transient abnormal myelopoiesis requiring advanced neonatal intensive care treatment.

AIM: Five to thirty percent of neonates with trisomy 21 develop transient abnormal myelopoiesis (TAM) with a high mortality rate. The aim of the study was to identify contributing factors that determine mortality and need for chemotherapy in this patient group. METHODS: Six-year, single-centre, retrospective study of neonatal TAM cases requiring admission to intensive care. Data were collected from electronic patient records, laboratory and genetic results. The odds ratio was calculated to assess the likelihood of neonates with certain clinical characteristics having short-term mortality and needing chemotherapy. RESULTS: Twenty-one neonates were studied with a mortality rate of 28%. Neonates requiring inotropic support (OR 19, 95% CI: 0.9-399, p = 0.05) and inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) (OR 13, 95% CI: 1.4-124.3, p = 0.03) were less likely to survive to discharge. Neonates needing mechanical ventilation (OR 14, 95% CI: 1.1-185.5, p = 0.04), or a white cell count >50 × 109/L (OR 27, 95% CI: 1.2-605.7, p = 0.04) were more likely to receive chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: A high mortality rate was identified in TAM neonates with symptomatic pulmonary hypertension (PH) needing active treatment strategies, such as inotropes and iNO. The presence of PH should be considered in the clinical management, prognosis and parental counselling.