ABSTRACT
UNLABELLED: Premature infants are at significant risk of reduced bone mineral content (BMC) and subsequent osteopenia. There are currently no standard practices regarding screening, investigation or treatment of this condition. We present a case report and findings of a national survey of 36 level 2 and 3 neonatal units (72% response rate). The findings showed widely disparate practice regarding screening, prevention and treatment. We summarize the tests currently available for osteopenia and suggest guidelines for management of the at risk group. CONCLUSION: Our survey confirms inconsistent practices regarding management of infants at risk of osteopenia of prematurity. Investigations and treatments available are summarized together with a guideline for management of this susceptible group of infants.
Subject(s)
Bone Diseases, Metabolic/congenital , Infant, Premature, Diseases/therapy , Alkaline Phosphatase/blood , Biomarkers/blood , Biomarkers/urine , Bone Diseases, Metabolic/diagnosis , Bone Diseases, Metabolic/therapy , Calcium/urine , Female , Health Care Surveys , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Male , Neonatal Screening/standards , Phosphorus/urine , Practice Guidelines as Topic , Pregnancy , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
The synthetic opioid dipipanone is infrequently used in the UK in the management of malignant pain, principally because of the inflexibility of the Diconal combination preparation (dipipanone 10 mg with cyclizine 30 mg). We present three patients in which dipipanone elixir proved to be their own drug of choice in the management of opioid responsive cancer pain, and our experience with 15 other patients. Dipipanone elixir was formulated 10 mg/5 ml, in single strength chloroform water.