Efficacy of intravenous clonazepam for paediatric convulsive status epilepticus.

AIM: To compare the efficacy of intravenous clonazepam (CLZ) for the initial management of convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) in children as a function of the first-line in-hospital dose used. METHOD: This monocentric retrospective study included children who received a first dose of CLZ for CSE at Montpellier University Hospital, France, between January 2016 and June 2019. Data from medical records (clinical, treatment, course) were collected and compared as a function of the first CLZ dose used. RESULTS: Among the 310 children treated for CSE, 105 received at least one CLZ dose (median age 3 years; quartile 1-quartile 3 [Q1-Q3] = 1 years 2 months-6 years 6 months). Among these 105 patients, 24 (22%) received a dose less than 0.03 mg/kg (low dose) and 69 (65%) received a dose of at least 0.03 mg/kg (high dose). Seizure cessation rate was not different between the low- and high-dose groups (62.5% vs 76%; odds ratio 0.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.19-1.44, p = 0.29). The administration of a second dose of CLZ was more frequent in the low- than the high-dose group (37.5% vs 16%; odds ratio 3.2, 95% CI 1.1-9.1, p = 0.04). INTERPRETATION: Our study did not find any difference in seizure termination rate as a function of CLZ dose in children with CSE. However, a second CLZ dose was more frequently needed in the group receiving low (less than 0.03 mg/kg) CLZ.

Context of a neonatal death affects parental perception of end-of-life care, anxiety and depression in the first year of bereavement.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal death is often preceded by end-of-life medical decisions. This study aimed to determine whether the context of death - after a decision of withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment (WWLST) or despite maximum care - was associated with subsequent risk of parental anxiety or depression. The secondary objective was to assess parents' perceptions of end-of-life care according to death context. METHODS: Prospective single center observational study of all neonatal deaths in a neonatal intensive care unit over a 5-year period. Data were collected during hospitalization and from face-to-face interviews with parents 3 months after the infant's death. Anxiety and depression were assessed using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaires, completed by parents 5 and 15 months after death. RESULTS: Of 179 deaths, 115 (64%) occurred after the WWLST decision and 64 (36%) despite maximum care. Parental satisfaction with newborn care and received support by professionals and relatives was higher in the first condition. Sixty-one percent of parents (109/179) attended the 3-month interview, with the distribution between groups very close to that of hospitalization. The completion rates of the HADS questionnaires by the parents who attended the 3-month interview were 75% (82/109) at 5 months and 65% (71/109) at 15 months. HADS scores at 5 months were consistent with anxiety in at least one parent in 73% (60/82) of cases and with depression in 50% (41/82). At 15 months, these rates were, respectively, 63% (45/71) and 28% (20/71). Risk of depression at 5 months was lower after a WWLST decision (OR 0.35 [0.14, 0.88], p = 0.02). Explicit parental agreement with the WWLST decision had an equivocal impact on the risk of anxiety at 5 months, being higher when expressed during hospitalization, but not at the 3-month interview. CONCLUSIONS: Context of death has a significant impact on the emotional experience of parents after neonatal loss, which underlines the importance of systematic follow-up conversations with bereaved parents.

Birth during on-call period: Impact of care organization on mortality and morbidity of very premature neonates.

Objectives: The evidence that risks of morbidity and mortality are higher when very premature newborns are born during the on-call period is inconsistent. This study aimed to assess the impact of this situation among other determinants of outcomes, particularly newborn characteristics and care organization. Methods: Observational study including all infants born < 30 weeks' gestation in a French tertiary perinatal center between 2007 and 2020. On-call period corresponded to weekdays between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 a.m., weekends, and public holidays. The primary endpoint was survival without severe morbidity, including grade 3-4 intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), cystic periventricular leukomalacia, necrotizing enterocolitis, severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and severe retinopathy of prematurity. The relationship between admission and outcome was assessed by an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) on the propensity of being born during on-call period and expressed vs. weekday. Secondary analyses were carried out in extremely preterm newborns (<27 weeks' gestation), in cases of early death (within 7 days), and before (2007-2013, 51.5% of the cohort) vs. after (2014-2020, 48.5% of the cohort) the implementation of a pediatrician-nurse team dedicated to newborn care in the delivery room. Results: A total of 1,064 infants [27.9 (26.3; 28.9) weeks, 947 (760; 1,147) g] were included: 668 during the on-call period (63%) and 396 (37%) on weekdays. For infants born on weekdays, survival without severe morbidity was 54.5% and mortality 19.2%. During on-call, these rates were 57.3% [aOR 1.08 (0.84-1.40)] and 18.4% [aOR 0.93 (0.67-1.29)]. Comparable rates of survival without severe morbidity [aOR 1.42 (0.87-2.34)] or mortality [aOR 0.76 (0.47-1.22)] were observed in extremely preterm infants. The early death rate was 6.4% on weekdays vs. 8.2% during on-call [aOR 1.44 (0.84-2.48)]. Implementation of the dedicated team was associated with decreased rates of mortality [aOR 0.57 (0.38, 0.85)] and grade 3-4 IVH [aOR 0.48 (0.30, 0.75)], and an increased rate of severe BPD [aOR 2.16 (1.37, 3.41)], for infants born during on-call. Conclusion: In this cohort, most births of very premature neonates occurred during the on-call period. A team dedicated to newborn care in the delivery room may have a favorable effect on the outcome of infants born in this situation.

Premedication with ketamine or propofol for less invasive surfactant administration (LISA): observational study in the delivery room.

Less invasive surfactant administration (LISA) has become increasingly popular in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), but there are currently no guidelines for the premedication prior to this procedure. The aim of this observational study was to compare the efficacy and tolerance of intravenous administrations of ketamine and propofol before LISA in neonates born before 30 weeks of gestational age (GA). The primary outcome was requirement of intubation within 2 h of the procedure. One hundred and fourteen infants, with respective GA and birthweight of 27.6 (26.4, 28.7) weeks and 940 (805, 1140) g, were prospectively included from January 2016 to December 2019. Drug doses were 1 (0.5, 1) mg/kg for ketamine and 1 (1, 1.9) mg/kg for propofol, providing comparable comfort during LISA (p = 0.61). Rates of intubation within 2 h were 5/52 after ketamine, and 5/62 after propofol [aOR 0.54 (0.11-2.68)]. No difference was observed for rates of intubation at 24 h and 72 h following LISA, mortality, or severe morbidity.Conclusion: Pending results from prospective trials, these findings suggest that ketamine or propofol can be used for premedication before LISA, as they show comparable efficacy and tolerance.Trial registration: This study was recorded on the National Library of Medicine registry (https:// clinicaltrials.gov / Identifier: NCT03705468). What is Known? • Less invasive surfactant administration (LISA) is increasingly used in spontaneously breathing premature infants supported with continuous positive airway pressure, but few data are available to guide adequate premedication for this procedure. What is New? • This observational study of 114 neonates, all less than 30-week gestational age and requiring surfactant without endotracheal tube in the delivery room, suggested that ketamine or propofol can be used for premedication before LISA with comparable efficacy and tolerance.

Near-Infrared Spectroscopy: A Tool for Diagnosing Necrotizing Enterocolitis at Onset of Symptoms in Preterm Neonates with Acute Gastrointestinal Symptoms?

OBJECTIVE: In premature neonates, bloody stools and/or abdominal distension with feeding intolerance may be inaugural signs of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). We assessed the ability of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to distinguish those neonates with NEC soon after the occurrence of these symptoms. STUDY DESIGN: We prospectively collected NIRS measurements of abdominal and cerebral regional tissue oxygen saturation (r-SO2), with values masked by an opaque cover. Two physicians, blinded to the NIRS data, determined whether the gastrointestinal symptoms were related to NEC 10 days after symptom onset. RESULTS: Forty-five neonates with mean (standard deviation [SD]) gestational, birth weight and postnatal ages of 31 (3.9) weeks, 1,486 (794) g, and 18 (14) days were enrolled over 30 months. Gastrointestinal symptoms were related to NEC in 23 patients and associated with other causes in 22. Analysis of the 48 hours of monitoring revealed comparable abdominal r-SO2 and splanchnic-cerebral oxygenation ratio (SCOR) in patients with and without NEC (r-SO2: 47.3 [20.4] vs. 50.4 [17.8], p = 0.59, SCOR: 0.64 [0.26] vs. 0.69 [0.24], p = 0.51). Results were unchanged after NIRS analysis in 6-hour periods, and restriction of the analysis to severe NEC (i.e., grade 2 and 3, 57% of the NEC cases). CONCLUSION: In this study, NIRS monitoring was unable to individualize NEC in premature infants with acute gastrointestinal symptoms.

15-Year trends in respiratory care of extremely preterm infants: Contributing factors and consequences on health and growth during hospitalization.

OBJECTIVES: To review 15-year trends in respiratory care of extremely preterm infants managed in a tertiary perinatal center; to identify the factors contributing to their evolution; and to determine whether these changes had an impact on infant mortality, severe morbidity, and growth. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of infants born at 23 to 26 weeks' gestation between 2003 and 2017. Changes in respiratory care were assessed in three 5-year periods. Logistic regression was used to examine the factors associated with prolonged duration (ie, greater than the median) of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), noninvasive ventilation (NIV), and overall respiratory support (ORS), and those associated with adequate weight and head circumference growth. RESULTS: Of the 396 actively treated neonates, 268 (68%) survived to discharge. Between the first and third periods, IMV duration decreased from 22 (6-37) to 4 (1-14.0) days (P < .001), that of NIV increased from 24 (14-34) to 56 (44-66) days (P < .001), and that of ORS from 50 (34-68) to 63 (52-77) days (P < .001). Study period (2003-2007 vs 2013-2017) was the main factor associated with prolonged IMV (P < .001). Use of high-flow nasal cannula was the main factor associated with prolonged NIV (P = .02) and ORS (P = .02). NIV duration was associated with adequate postnatal weight (P = .003) and head circumference (P = .03) growth. Severe morbidities in survivors, including bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and survival at hospital discharge were comparable across the study periods. CONCLUSIONS: Respiratory management was characterized by a marked reduction in IMV. NIV withdrawal protocols are necessary to limit ORS duration while respecting postnatal growth requirements.

Facilitated tucking during early neonatologist-performed echocardiography in very preterm neonates.

AIM: To assess the effect of facilitated tucking (FT), a nonpharmacologic nursing intervention, on echocardiographic parameters and infant comfort collected prospectively during neonatologist-performed echocardiography. METHODS: Echocardiography was performed twice, in standard conditions and with FT; the order was randomised by computer. Echocardiography provided data on pulmonary artery flow and pressure, right and left ventricular function, and persistent ductus arteriosus. Comfort was assessed by a behavioural scale of pain, variations in heart rate (HR) and SpO2 , and a newborn infant parasympathetic evaluation index based on the high-frequency variability in HR. RESULTS: Fifty newborns, with mean gestational age of 28 [26.6-29.0] weeks and mean birthweight of 950 [780-1190] g, were studied at a postnatal age of 13 [9-27] hours. FT was associated with longer acceleration time/right ventricular ejection time in the main pulmonary artery (p = 0.006), reduced averaged HR variations (p = 0.03) and lower pain scores (p < 0.001). The other haemodynamic parameters and the parasympathetic index were not influenced by FT. CONCLUSION: Echocardiography performed soon after birth in very premature neonates may generate mild discomfort. FT during echocardiography is associated with lower pulmonary artery pressures and improves infant's comfort during this examination.

Supraclavicular catheterization of the brachiocephalic vein: a way to prevent or reduce catheter maintenance-related complications in children.

Placement of a central venous catheter (CVC) in the brachiocephalic vein (BCV) via the ultrasound (US)-guided supraclavicular approach was recently described in children. We aimed to determine the CVC maintenance-related complications at this site compared to the others (i.e., the femoral, the subclavian, and the jugular). We performed a retrospective data collection of prospectively registered data on CVC in young children hospitalized in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) during a 4-year period (May 2011 to May 2015). The primary outcome was a composite of central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) and deep-vein thrombosis (CLAT) according to the CVC site. Two hundred and twenty-five children, with respective age and weight of 7.1 (1.3-40.1) months and 7.7 (3.6-16) kg, required 257 CVCs, including 147 (57.2%) inserted in the BCV. The risk of the primary outcome was lower in the BCV than in the other sites (5.4 vs 16.4%; OR: 0.29; 95% CI: 0.12-0.70; p = 0.006). CLABSI incidence density rate (2.8 vs 8.96 per 1000 catheter days, p < 0.001) and CLAT incidence rate (2.7 vs 10%, p = 0.016) were also lower at this site. CONCLUSION: BCV catheterization via the US-guided supraclavicular approach may decrease CVC maintenance-related complications in children hospitalized in a PICU. What is Known: • Placement of a central venous catheter (CVC) in children is associated with mechanical risks during insertion, and with infectious and thrombotic complications during its maintenance. • Ultrasound (US)-guided supraclavicular catheterization of the brachiocephalic vein (BCV) is feasible in infants and children. What is New: • This observational study suggested that BCV catheterization via the US-guided supraclavicular approach was associated with a lower risk of CVC insertion and maintenance-related complications, compared with the other catheterization sites.

Nasal midazolam vs ketamine for neonatal intubation in the delivery room: a randomised trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of sedation by intranasal administration of midazolam (nMDZ) or ketamine (nKTM) for neonatal intubation. DESIGN: A multicentre, prospective, randomised, double-blind study. SETTING: Delivery rooms at four tertiary perinatal centres in France. PATIENTS: Preterm neonates with respiratory distress requiring non-emergent endotracheal intubation for surfactant instillation. INTERVENTIONS: Treatment was randomly allocated, with each neonate receiving a bolus of 0.1 mL/kg in each nostril, corresponding to 0.2 mg/kg for nMDZ and 2 mg/kg for nKTM. The drug was repeated once 7 min later at the same dose if adequate sedation was not obtained. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Success was defined by adequate sedation before intubation and adequate comfort during the procedure. Intubation features, respiratory and cardiovascular events were recorded. RESULTS: Sixty newborns, with mean (SD) gestational age and birth weight of 28 (3) weeks and 1100 (350) g, were included within the first 20 min of life. nMDZ was associated with a higher success rate (89% vs 58%; RR: 1.54, 95% CI 1.12 to 2.12, p<0.01) and shorter delays between the first dose and intubation (10 (6) vs 16 (8) min, p<0.01).Number of attempts, time to intubation, mean arterial blood pressure measures over the first 12 hours after birth and length of invasive ventilation were not different. CONCLUSIONS: nMDZ was more efficient than nKTM to adequately sedate neonates requiring intubation in the delivery room. The haemodynamic and respiratory effects of both drugs were comparable. CLINICAL TRIAL: This clinical trial was recorded on the National Library of Medicine registry (NCT01517828).

High flow nasal cannula (HFNC) versus nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) for the initial respiratory management of acute viral bronchiolitis in young infants: a multicenter randomized controlled trial (TRAMONTANE study).

PURPOSE: Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) is currently the gold standard for respiratory support for moderate to severe acute viral bronchiolitis (AVB). Although oxygen delivery via high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is increasingly used, evidence of its efficacy and safety is lacking in infants. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was performed in five pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) to compare 7 cmH2O nCPAP with 2 L/kg/min oxygen therapy administered with HFNC in infants up to 6 months old with moderate to severe AVB. The primary endpoint was the percentage of failure within 24 h of randomization using prespecified criteria. To satisfy noninferiority, the failure rate of HFNC had to lie within 15% of the failure rate of nCPAP. Secondary outcomes included success rate after crossover, intubation rate, length of stay, and serious adverse events. RESULTS: From November 2014 to March 2015, 142 infants were included and equally distributed into groups. The risk difference of -19% (95% CI -35 to -3%) did not allow the conclusion of HFNC noninferiority (p = 0.707). Superiority analysis suggested a relative risk of success 1.63 (95% CI 1.02-2.63) higher with nCPAP. The success rate with the alternative respiratory support, intubation rate, durations of noninvasive and invasive ventilation, skin lesions, and length of PICU stay were comparable between groups. No patient had air leak syndrome or died. CONCLUSION: In young infants with moderate to severe AVB, initial management with HFNC did not have a failure rate similar to that of nCPAP. This clinical trial was recorded in the National Library of Medicine registry (NCT 02457013).

Validation of nosocomial infection in neonatology: a new method for standardized surveillance.

BACKGROUND: Nosocomial infections (NIs) are a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in premature infants. We present a new method for detecting and confirming NIs in a neonatal intensive care unit. METHODS: Newborns with birth weight < 1,500 g or gestational age (GA) < 33 weeks were included prospectively over 2 years in a single-center tertiary neonatal intensive care unit. The computerized physician order entry system (CPOE) generated alerts when antibiotics were prescribed for at least 5 consecutive days and these cases were reviewed by an expert group following international recommendations. RESULTS: Four hundred sixty-one neonates were included, with a mean GA of 30 weeks (range, 26-32 weeks) and mean birth weight 1,270 g (range, 950-1600 g). The CPOE flagged 158 cases of potential NI, 85.1% of which were classified as true NI and 14.9% of which were false positive. Incidence and device-associated nosocomial bloodstream infection rates were 21.9% and 10.8 per 1,000 central venous catheter days, respectively. GA ≤ 28 weeks (odds ratio, 2.18; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-4) and > 7 central venous catheter days (odds ratio, 1.47; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-1.7) were independently associated with the risk of nosocomial bloodstream infection. CONCLUSION: Combining CPOE and interdisciplinary review may improve the accuracy of NI recording in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Intubation in the delivery room: experience with nasal midazolam.

BACKGROUND: Neonates are often intubated in the delivery room (DR) without anesthesia because vascular access is impossible. AIMS: To assess neonatal comfort and adverse events after use of nasal midazolam (nMDZ) for intubation in the DR. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective data collection over 6months on the intubation of neonates with respiratory distress requiring tracheal instillation of surfactant. SUBJECTS: Twenty-seven neonates with median (Q25-75) gestational age and birthweight of, respectively, 29 (27-33)weeks and 1270 (817-1942)g received a 0.1mg/kg dose of nMDZ, and intubation was performed at the onset of tonus resolution or apnea. OUTCOME MEASURES: Comfort was assessed with a scale of hetero-pain assessment and electrical skin conductance monitoring. Continuous pulse oximetry was recorded in the first postnatal hour, with oscillometric blood pressure measurement every 10min. RESULTS: Seventy percent of the patients required a single dose, with intubation performed 4.8 (3-9)min after administration. Combined electro-clinical assessment found adequate comfort during the procedure in 68% of neonates. Mean blood pressure decreased from 39 (34-44)mmHg before to 31 (25-33)mmHg 1h following nMDZ (p=0.011). CONCLUSION: nMDZ provided rapid and effective sedation to intubate neonates in the DR but potentially exposed them to hypotension, thus requiring close hemodynamic monitoring.

Is treatment with a high flow nasal cannula effective in acute viral bronchiolitis? A physiologic study.

PURPOSE: The high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) has recently been proposed to support infants with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-related respiratory distress. However, in this disease, no physiologic data are currently available on the effects of this device. We assessed the capacity of HFNC to generate positive airway pressure, as well as the resulting effects on breathing pattern and respiratory effort. METHODS: Twenty-one infants less than 6 months old with acute RSV bronchiolitis were studied prospectively in the pediatric intensive care unit of a university hospital. Pharyngeal pressure (PP) and esophageal pressure (Pes) were measured simultaneously at four increasing flows of 1, 4, 6 and 7 L/min delivered through HFNC. RESULTS: The PP was correlated with flow rate (r = 0.65, p ≤ 0.0001), reaching mean and end-expiratory values of, respectively, 4 (95% CI 3-5) cmH2O and 6.5 (95% CI 5-8) cmH2O at 7 L/min. A flow ≥2 L/kg/min was associated with the generation of a mean pharyngeal pressure ≥4 cmH2O with a sensitivity of 67 %, a specificity of 96 %, a positive predictive value of 75 %, and a negative predictive value of 94.5%. Only flows ≥6 L/min provided positive PP throughout the respiratory cycle. From baseline to maximal flow rate, breathing frequency (p < 0.01), T i/T tot (p < 0.05), Pes swing (p < 0.05) and PTPesinsp/min (p < 0.01), an index of respiratory effort, were reduced. CONCLUSIONS: HFNC with a flow rate equal to or above 2 L/kg/min generated a clinically relevant PP, with improved breathing pattern and rapid unloading of respiratory muscles, in young infants with acute RSV bronchiolitis.

6 cmH2O continuous positive airway pressure versus conventional oxygen therapy in severe viral bronchiolitis: a randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) and conventional oxygen therapy on the clinical signs of respiratory distress and the respiratory muscle workload in acute viral bronchiolitis. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, monocentric study carried out in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a university hospital. PATIENTS: Infants <6 months old, admitted to the PICU with severe respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis. INTERVENTION: The patients were randomized into two groups for 6 hr. The nCPAP group (n = 10) received 6 cmH(2)O pressure support delivered by a jet flow generator and the control group (n = 9) received an air/oxygen mixture from a heated humidifier. Respiratory distress was assessed by the modified Wood's clinical asthma score (m-WCAS), and inspiratory muscle work was evaluated by calculating the pressure-time product per breath (PTP(insp) /breath) and per minute (PTP(insp) /min) from the esophageal pressure (Pes) recordings. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Compared with control condition, nCPAP decreased m-WCAS [-2.4 (1.05) vs. -0.5 (1.3), P = 0.03], PTPes(insp)/breath [-9.7 (5.7) vs. -1.4 (8.2), P = 0.04], PTPes(insp) /min [-666 (402) vs. -116 (352), P = 0.015], and FiO(2) [-7 (10) vs. +5 (15), P = 0.05]. Significant worsening of m-WCAS was only observed in the control group (4/9 vs. 0/10, P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: nCPAP rapidly decreased inspiratory work in young infants with acute bronchiolitis. Improvement in the respiratory distress score at 6 hr was proportional to the initial clinical severity, suggesting the importance of rapid nCPAP initiation in the more severe forms of the disease.

Implementation of a neonatal pain management module in the computerized physician order entry system.

BACKGROUND: Despite the recommended guidelines, the neonatal management of pain and discomfort often remains inadequate. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether adding a pain and discomfort module to a computerized physician order entry (CPOE) system would improve pain and discomfort evaluation in premature newborns under invasive ventilation. METHODS: All newborns <37 weeks gestational age (GA) and requiring invasive ventilation were included in a prospective study during two 6-month periods: before and after the inclusion of the pain and discomfort evaluation module. The main outcome measure was the percentage of patients having at least one assessment of pain and discomfort per day of invasive ventilation using the COMFORT scale. RESULTS: A total of 122 patients were included: 53 before and 69 after the incorporation of the module. The mean age was 30 (3) weeks GA. After the module was included, the percentage of patients who benefited from at least one pain and discomfort assessment per day increased from 64% to 88% (p < 0.01), and the mean number (SD) of scores recorded per day increased from 1 (1) to 3 (1) (p < 0.01). When the score was not within the established range, the nursing staff adapted analgesia/sedation doses more frequently after module inclusion (53% vs. 34%, p < 0.001). Despite higher mean doses of midazolam after module introduction [47 (45) vs. 31 (18) µg/kg/hr, p < 0.05], the durations of invasive ventilation and hospital stay, and the number of nosocomial infections, were not significantly modified. CONCLUSIONS: Adding a pain and discomfort tool to the CPOE system was a simple and effective way to improve the systematic evaluation of premature newborns who required ventilatory assistance.

Can a clinical decision rule help ductus arteriosus management in preterm neonates?

AIM: Patent ductus arteriosus (DA) occurs frequently in premature neonates with respiratory distress syndrome. We assessed a combination of clinical, biological and echocardiographic parameters to derive a decision rule for selecting candidates for treatment based on the criteria in use in our unit. METHODS: Hundred and forty neonates with a mean (SD) gestational age of 28 (2.3) weeks and a mean birth weight of 1159 (386) g, all requiring invasive ventilation with FiO(2) > 0.3 or catecholamines for severe hypotension, were assessed prospectively using echocardiography in conjunction with N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NTpBNP) levels within 24-72 h of birth. Independent predictors of DA treatment were identified with univariate analysis and combined in a clinical decision rule. RESULTS: Early treatment of significant DA was adopted for 26 (18.6%) neonates. A clinical decision rule suggesting treatment in patients with NTpBNP > 8500 pg/mL, ductal diameter >1.5 mm and, for infants with a birth weight > 830 g, left pulmonary artery end-diastolic velocity >0.20 m/sec showed 88% sensitivity and 94% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: A decision rule using realistic and/or commonly used parameters for significant patent ductus arteriosus assessment could be derived. External validation of this rule is needed before any application.

Pertinence of the self-report mother-to-infant bonding scale in the neonatal unit of a maternity ward.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relevance of the self-report Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale (MIBS) to evaluate mother-infant bonding in the neonatal unit of a maternity ward. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-eight hours after delivery, 78 mothers responded to the MIBS, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the Adult Attachment Questionnaire (AAQ), and the Mother's Assessment of the Behavior of her Infant (MABI) questionnaire. They were then interviewed 24h later by a pediatric psychiatrist, who assessed the mother-infant relationship. The neonatology nurses also filled out the MIBS, imagining the mothers' responses, and responded anonymously to questionnaires on the use of the MIBS in their daily practice. RESULTS: MIBS satisfactorily detected difficulties in mother-child bonding: the area under the ROC curve was 0.93, with a sensitivity of 0.9 and a specificity of 0.8 for a threshold score ≥2. MIBS was independent of EPDS (r=0.11, p=0.29) and AAQ (r=0.05, p=0.63). However, it was influenced by the infant's behavioral characteristics (r=0.3, p=0.01). MIBS scores of the mothers and nurses showed low correlation (r=0.31, p=0.004) and the item-by-item responses were rarely concordant. Fully 100% of the nurses stated that the MIBS was helpful in evaluating mother-child bonding and 85% of the mothers found it beneficial. CONCLUSION: New mothers need to express their feelings about their babies, as hospital staff observation of mother-infant interactions is not sufficiently reliable for assessing the attachment process. The self-report MIBS is a useful tool for detecting difficulties in early mother-infant bonding.

Continuous positive airway pressure ventilation with helmet in infants under 1 year.

OBJECTIVE: To report the feasibility of helmet use in infants between 1 and 12 months old with acute respiratory failure. DESIGN AND SETTING: Observations were made before and 2 h after helmet CPAP of 6 cm H(2)O. Failure was defined as recourse to intratracheal ventilation. Patient stabilization or improvement was defined as a variation <10% or a decrease >10% in one of the following: respiratory rate, inspired oxygen fraction, or capillary partial pressure of CO(2). Tolerance was assessed by the pain and discomfort score, the systematic search for pressure sores, and the measurement of helmet humidity and noise level. RESULTS: Twenty-three infants with a median age of 5 (2-8) months were included. Helmet CPAP failed in two (9%) patients. Stability or improvement occurred in 16 (70%) patients. The pain and discomfort score was stable or improved in 22 (96%). Pressure sores were found in three (13%) infants. Humidity was 98% (98-99%) and fell to 40% (39-43%) after the humidifier was stopped. The noise level in the helmet was 81 (77-94) dB-SPL. CONCLUSIONS: The helmet was a satisfactory interface for CPAP delivery in young infants in more than two-thirds of the cases. Pressure sores can be prevented by placing a cushion in the helmet. Caregivers need to take into account the high humidity and noise levels of this interface.