Transcatheter closure in preterm infants with patent ductus arteriosus: feasibility, results, hemodynamic monitoring and future prospectives.

Ductal patency of preterm infants is potentially associated with long term morbidities related to either pulmonary overflow or systemic steal. When an interventional closure is needed, it can be achieved with either surgical ligation or a catheter-based approach.Transcatheter PDA closure is among the safest of interventional cardiac procedures and it is the first choice for ductal closure in adults, children, and infants weighing more than 6 kg. In preterm and very low birth weight infants, it is increasingly becoming a valid and safe alternative to ligation, especially for the high success rate and the minor invasiveness and side effects. Nevertheless, being it performed at increasingly lower weights and gestational ages, hemodynamic complications are possible events to be foreseen.Procedural steps, timing, results, possible complications and available monitoring systems, as well as future outlooks are here discussed.

Impact of patent ductus arteriosus on non-invasive assessments of lung fluids in very preterm infants during the transitional period.

This prospective observational study aimed to evaluate whether lung fluids, assessed by lung ultrasonography and transthoracic electrical bioimpedance (TEB), may be influenced by the presence of a haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (hsPDA) in very preterm infants during the transitional period. Infants < 32 weeks of gestational age (GA) admitted to the neonatal intensive care units of IRCCS AOU Bologna and Niguarda Metropolitan Hospital of Milan (Italy) underwent a daily assessment of a lung ultrasound score (LUS) and of a TEB-derived index of thoracic fluid contents (TFC) during the first 72 h after birth. Echocardiographic scans were simultaneously performed to evaluate the concomitant ductal status (hsPDA vs. restrictive or closed duct). The correlation between LUS, TFC, and the ductal status was tested using generalized estimating equations. Forty-six infants (median GA: 29 [interquartile range, IQR: 27-31] weeks; median birth weight: 1099 [IQR: 880-1406] g) were included. At each daily evaluation, the presence of a hsPDA was associated with significantly higher LUS and TFC compared with a restrictive or closed ductus (p < 0.01 for all comparisons). These results were confirmed significant even after adjustment for GA and for the ongoing modality of respiratory support. Conclusion: Even during the first 72 h of life, the presence of a hsPDA determines a significant increase in pulmonary fluids which can be non-invasively detected and monitored over time using lung ultrasonography and TEB. What is Known: • Lung ultrasonography provides a non-invasive assessment of lung fluids and is widely used in neonatal settings. • In preterm infants, the persistence of a haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (hsPDA) over the first weeks can negatively affect pulmonary outcomes. What is New: • The presence of aan hsPDA is associated with increased lung fluids since early postnatal phases. • Lung ultrasonography and transthoracic electrical bioimpedance can effectively monitor lung fluid clearance in preterm infants with a hsPDA during the transitional period, with potential clinical implications.

Prediction of respiratory distress severity and bronchopulmonary dysplasia by lung ultrasounds and transthoracic electrical bioimpedance.

This study aims to evaluate whether the assessment of a lung ultrasound score (LUS) by lung ultrasonography and of thoracic fluid contents (TFC) by electrical cardiometry may predict RDS severity and the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants with respiratory distress (RDS). Infants ≤ 34 weeks' gestation admitted with RDS to two neonatal intensive care units were prospectively enrolled in this observational study. A simultaneous evaluation of LUS and TFC was performed during the first 72 h. The predictivity of LUS and TFC towards mechanical ventilation (MV) need after 24 h and BPD development was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic analysis. Sixty-four infants were included. The area under the curve (AUC) for the prediction of MV need was 0.851 (95%CI, 0.776-0.925, p < 0.001) for LUS and 0.793 (95%CI, 0.724-0.862, p < 0.001) for TFC, while an AUC of 0.876 (95%CI, 0.807-0.946, p < 0.001) was obtained for combined LUS and TFC evaluation. LUS and TFC AUC for BPD prediction were 0.769 (95%CI, 0.697-0.842, p < 0.001) and 0.836 (95%CI, 0.778-0.894, p < 0.001), respectively, whereas their combined assessment yielded an AUC of 0.867 (95%CI, 0.814-0.919, p < 0.001). LUS ≥ 11 and TFC ≥ 40 were identified as cut-off values for MV need prediction, whereas LUS ≥ 9 and TFC ≥ 41.4 best predicted BPD development.   Conclusion: A combined evaluation of LUS and TFC by lung ultrasonography and EC during the first 72 h may represent a useful predictive tool towards short- and medium-term pulmonary outcomes in preterm infants with RDS. What is Known: • Lung ultrasonography is largely used in neonatal intensive care and can contribute to RDS diagnosis in preterm infants. • Little is known on the diagnostic and predictive role of TFC, measured by transthoracic electrical bioimpedance, in neonatal RDS. What is New: • Combining lung ultrasonography and TFC evaluation during the first 72 h can improve the prediction of RDS severity and BPD development in preterm infants with RDS and may aid to establish tailored respiratory approaches to improve these outcomes.

Safety and Efficacy of Pamidronate in Neonatal Hypercalcemia Caused by Subcutaneous Fat Necrosis: A Case Report.

Subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn (SCFN) is a panniculitis that develops in fatty areas after fetal or perinatal distress. Prognosis is generally good with complete regression, but it can be complicated by metabolic abnormalities like hypoglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, thrombocytopenia, and also potentially life-threatening hypercalcemia. Treatments have included hydration, furosemide and corticosteroids. These treatments can be prolonged for several days and can have complications such as nephrocalcinosis. Use of bisphosphonates has been rarely reported in newborn. We describe a case of severe hypercalcemia complicating subcutaneous fat necrosis in a newborn successfully treated by a single dose of pamidronate after having obtained partial response by therapy with hyperhydration, furosemide and hydrocortisone. When high levels of calcium do not respond to first line therapy with hyperhydration and diuretic therapy, bisphosphonates treatment could be considered a valid choice to treat hypercalcemia and to avoid corticosteroids. Further studies are needed to understand if pamidronate and other bisphosphonates can be considered the first choice in hypercalcemia due to SCFN.

Electrical cardiometry in monitoring percutaneous closure of ductus arteriosus in preterm infants: a case study on five patients.

Patent ductus arteriosus closure by catheter-based interventions has become the preferred therapeutic choice. However, hemodynamic perturbances associated to this procedure have not yet been investigated. This study sought to examine the on-site hemodynamic impact caused by the procedure in preterm neonates. In this study, hemodynamic monitoring was obtained in a non-invasive way using electrical cardiometry in five preterm infants who underwent percutaneous patent ductus arteriosus closing at ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda of Milan. All five infants underwent successful transcatheter closures. All patients experienced immediate hemodynamic changes upon ductal closing. Significative modifications occurred mainly in heart contractility, cardiac output, and stroke volume. In three cases, there was also a significative increase of systemic vascular resistance which persisted for 4 h after closing. While in two cases they spontaneously reduced with an amelioration of cardiac output and contractility, in the other case they were persistently high, associated with an hypertensive crisis and a progressive reduction of cardiac functions. For these reasons, milrinone was started and hemodynamic parameters returned normal in about 3 h, so therapy was discontinued.   Conclusions: Our single-center, prospective, consecutive, case series demonstrated hemodynamic aberrations due to sudden closure of a patent ductus arteriosus. Moreover, post procedural hemodynamic monitoring is important to precociously detect possible cardiac impairment and start an adequate therapy. What is Known: • It has previously suggested a temporarily impairment in cardiac output following patent ductus arteriosus closing. • Little is known about the other hemodynamic parameters during the procedure and how they change in the next hours according to the new hemodynamic status. What is New: • The persistence of increased systemic vascular resistance after percutaneous closure of ductus arteriosus could suggest the occurrence of hemodynamic complications. • Electrical cardiometry was useful to early detect postoperative hemodynamic changes.

Neonatal Septic Shock and Hemodynamic Monitoring in Preterm Neonates in an NICU: Added Value of Electrical Cardiometry in Real-Time Tailoring of Management and Therapeutic Strategies.

OBJECTIVE: Electrical cardiometry is an impedance-based monitoring technique that provides data on several hemodynamic parameters in a noninvasive way. There is limited information on clinical utility of the application of this technique in neonates. STUDY DESIGN: In this study, we describe the case of a preterm neonate born at 302/7 weeks of gestational age who developed severe systemic infection with fluid refractory septic shock on day 2 of life. DISCUSSION: Electrical cardiometry was used and proved very helpful in real-time guiding the choice and the dosing of the most appropriate inotrope drugs in this patient. In addition, it promptly underlined an abrupt drop of systemic vascular resistances occurring after administration of the first dose of antibiotic, thus warning the attending neonatologist to institute appropriate treatment before the clinical conditions could further worsen. CONCLUSION: This case report suggests that electrical cardiometry could be a useful tool in assessing, monitoring, and guiding care of neonates who develop severe septic shock. We suggest that electrical cardiometry is a promising approach in the management strategies of such patients that warrants informative clinical trials. KEY POINTS: · Electrical cardiometry was helpful in real-time decision-making.. · Electrical cardiometry reported hemodynamic perturbations before worsening of clinical conditions.. · Electrical cardiometry should be included in the management of critical patients..

Noninvasive Cardiac Output Monitoring in Newborn with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe the first two cases of electrical cardiometry applied to newborn with hypoplastic left heart syndrome for hemodynamical assessment in the first days of life before surgical correction and see if this can help decision making process in these patients. STUDY DESIGN: We describe two case series of two full-term newborn with hypoplastic left heart syndrome in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, between December 2019 and January 2020. RESULTS: Case 1 was persistently hemodynamically stable with prostaglandin E1 infusion at 0.01 mcg/kg/min, showing good capillary refill time, good diuresis, no difference between pre- and postductal values of oxygen saturation or blood pressure. Electrical cardiometry monitoring constantly showed cardiac output values higher than 300 mL/kg/min. Case 2 showed poor clinical condition needing prostaglandin E1 infusion up to 0.05 mcg/kg/min, intubation and septostomy associated with low cardiac output around 190 mL/kg/min. Once cardiac output has begun to rise and reached values constantly over 300 mL/kg/min, clinical condition improved with amelioration in oxygen saturation, diuresis, blood pressure, and blood gas analysis values. She was then extubated and finally clinically stable until surgery with minimal infusion of prostaglandin E1 at 0.01 mcg/kg/min. CONCLUSION: This case highlights how hemodynamic information provided by electrical cardiometry can be used to supplement the combined data from all monitors and the clinical situation to guide therapy in these newborns waiting surgery. KEY POINTS: · This is the first report of electrical cardiometry (EC) use in newborn with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS).. · In HLHS patients, it is impossible to measure cardiac output without being invasive.. · EC helps in guiding therapy in HLHS patients in a noninvasive way..

SpO2 and retinopathy of prematurity: state of the art.

AIM: To evaluate the relationship between arterial saturation values determined by pulse oximetry in the first weeks of life on the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). METHODS: Randomized and observational studies were sought that compare the incidence of ROP in babies with high or low oxygen saturation targeting assisted by pulse oximetry. RESULTS: Over the last 15 years, evidence from experimental models of ROP and clinical studies, albeit not randomized trials, has shown a reduction in the incidence of ROP and other neonatal morbidities when very preterm newborns were targeted to a lower level of arterial oxygen saturation during their hospitalization, particularly in the first few weeks after birth. More recent evidence from randomized controlled trials confirms that targeting to a lower vs higher level of oxygenation from birth to 36 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA) or to hospital discharge reduces the incidence of ROP requiring treatment by 50% but is correlated with higher mortality rates. CONCLUSION: Future randomized, controlled trials should be designed including a cohort of infants in which a more dynamic approach to saturation targeting is adopted, i.e. lower saturation levels in the first few weeks of life and higher saturation levels after the 32 weeks of PMA.

Whole blood fatty acid composition differs in term versus mildly preterm infants: small versus matched appropriate for gestational age.

To investigate the associations between whole blood fatty acid (FA) profile and restricted intrauterine growth, any small for gestational age (SGA) infant born in our maternity ward through 1 y was matched with two appropriate for gestational age (AGA), of the same GA +/- 0.5 wk, infants, further subdivided into term and preterm. Whole blood was collected at d 4 on a strip and FA % composition assessed by means of gas chromatography. The whole sample consisted of 28 SGA versus 56 AGA born at term and 20 SGA versus 40 AGA born preterm at around 35 wks. Parent FA of the n-6 and n-3 FA families were higher in preterm groups, whereas docosahexaenoic acid was higher in term AGA (median % values, 3.9 versus 3.7 in term SGA, 2.8 in preterm AGA, and 2.5 in preterm SGA, p < 0.001). Term AGA had markedly higher values for the docosahexaenoic acid/alpha-linolenic acid ratio (median value: 91, versus 18 in term SGA, 12 in preterm AGA, and 10 in preterm SGA, p < 0.001). Term SGA had significantly lower levels of total monounsaturated FA and higher levels of eicosapentaenoic acid. Therefore, the 4-d whole blood FA pattern is associated with both GA and birth weight.

Benefits of breastfeeding in cystic fibrosis: a single-centre follow-up survey.

AIM: To study the effect of breastfeeding (BF) on growth, lung function and number of infections during the first 3 years of life in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred forty-six CF patients, 5-18 years old, were recruited at their annual care visit. Information about infant feeding, psychosocial and socioeconomic conditions and smoking exposure was obtained by interviews. Anthropometric parameters at 1 year of age and the number of infections and hospitalisations during the first 3 years of life were obtained from clinical charts. Anthropometrics and pulmonary function parameters were obtained at enrollment. RESULTS: In CF patients, particularly those with pancreatic insufficiency, the prevalence of BF was lower than the general Italian population. After multivariate analysis patients with prolonged BF showed higher values of CED expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV-1) (p = 0.001) and a lower number of infections during the first 3 years of life (p = 0.098). CONCLUSION: Prolonged BF is beneficial in children with CF and may protect them against decline of pulmonary function. Particular attention should be paid to promote BF in infants with CF.