Can a Risk Factor Based Approach Safely Reduce Screening for Retinopathy of Prematurity?

Objective. Current American retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening guidelines is imprecise for infants ≥ 30 weeks with birth weights between 1500 and 2000 g. Our objective was to evaluate a risk factor based approach for screening premature infants at low risk for severe ROP. Study Design. We performed a 13-year review from Intermountain Health Care (IHC) data. All neonates born at ≤32 weeks were reviewed to determine ROP screening and/or development of severe ROP. Severe ROP was defined by stage ≥ 3 or need for laser therapy. Regression analysis was used to identify significant risk factors for severe ROP. Results. We identified 4607 neonates ≤ 32 weeks gestation. Following exclusion for death, with no retinal exam or incomplete data, 2791 (61%) were included in the study. Overall, severe ROP occurred in 260 (9.3%), but only 11/1601 ≥ 29 weeks (0.7%). All infants with severe ROP ≥ 29 weeks had at least 2 identified ROP risk factors. Implementation of this risk based screening strategy to the IHC population over the timeline of this study would have eliminated screening in 21% (343/1601) of the screened population. Conclusions. Limiting ROP screening for infants ≥ 29 and ≤ 32 weeks to only those with clinical risk factors could significantly reduce screening exams while identifying all infants with severe ROP.

Short-term outcomes after perinatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy: a report from the Children's Hospitals Neonatal Consortium HIE focus group.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize infants affected with perinatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) who were referred to regional neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and their related short-term outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: This is a descriptive study evaluating the data collected prospectively in the Children's Hospital Neonatal Database, comprised of 27 regional NICUs within their associated children's hospitals. A consecutive sample of 945 referred infants born ⩾36 weeks' gestation with perinatal HIE in the first 3 days of life over approximately 3 years (2010-July 2013) were included. Maternal and infant characteristics are described. Short-term outcomes were evaluated including medical comorbidities, mortality and status of survivors at discharge. RESULT: High relative frequencies of maternal predisposing conditions, cesarean and operative vaginal deliveries were observed. Low Apgar scores, profound metabolic acidosis, extensive resuscitation in the delivery room, clinical and electroencephalographic (EEG) seizures, abnormal EEG background and brain imaging directly correlated with the severity of HIE. Therapeutic hypothermia was provided to 85% of infants, 15% of whom were classified as having mild HIE. Electrographic seizures were observed in 26% of the infants. Rates of complications and morbidities were similar to those reported in prior clinical trials and overall mortality was 15%. CONCLUSION: Within this large contemporary cohort of newborns with perinatal HIE, the application of therapeutic hypothermia and associated neurodiagnostic studies appear to have expanded relative to reported clinical trials. Although seizure incidence and mortality were lower compared with those reported in the trials, it is unclear whether this represented improved outcomes or therapeutic drift with the treatment of milder disease.

Short-term outcomes for preterm infants with surgical necrotizing enterocolitis.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the population and short-term outcomes in preterm infants with surgical necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). STUDY DESIGN: Preterm infants with surgical NEC were identified from 27 hospitals over 3 years using the Children's Hospitals Neonatal Database; infants with gastroschisis, volvulus, major congenital heart disease or surgical NEC that resolved prior to referral were excluded. Patient characteristics and pre-discharge morbidities were stratified by gestational age (<28 vs 28(0/7) to 36(6/7) weeks' gestation). RESULT: Of the 753 eligible infants, 60% were born at <28 weeks' gestation. The median age at referral was 14 days; only 2 infants were inborn. Male gender (61%) was overrepresented, whereas antenatal steroid exposure was low (46%). Although only 11% had NEC totalis, hospital mortality (<28 weeks' gestation: 41%; 28(0/7) to 36(6/7) weeks' gestation: 32%, P=0.02), short bowel syndrome (SBS)/intestinal failure (IF) (20% vs 26%, P=0.06) and the composite of mortality or SBS/IF (50% vs 49%, P=0.7) were prevalent. Also, white matter injury (11.7% vs 6.6%, P=0.02) and grade 3 to 4 intraventricular hemorrhages (23% vs 2.7%, P<0.01) were commonly diagnosed. After referral, the median length of hospitalization was longer for survivors (106 days; interquartile range (IQR) 79, 152) relative to non-survivors (2 days; IQR 1,17; P<0.001). These survivors were prescribed parenteral nutrition infrequently after hospital discharge (<28 weeks': 5.2%; 28(0/7) to 36(6/7) weeks': 9.9%, P=0.048). CONCLUSION: After referral for surgical NEC, the short-term outcomes are grave, particularly for infants born <28 weeks' gestation. Although analyses to predict outcomes are urgently needed, these data suggest that affected infants are at a high risk for lengthy hospitalizations and adverse medical and neuro-developmental abnormalities.

High flow nasal cannula versus nasal CPAP for neonatal respiratory disease: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective is to assess the frequency of usage, safety and clinical utility of humidified high flow nasal cannula (HHFNC) in two tertiary care hospitals and compare outcomes to a historical control group of premature infants who received nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP). STUDY DESIGN: The first part of the study describes the increased HHFNC usage in two tertiary neonatal intensive care units. The second part compares outcomes of infants, born at less than 30 weeks gestation, who received either NCPAP or HHFNC as an early respiratory support mode. RESULTS: HHFNC usage increased (64%) after its introduction in infants of all gestational ages whereas the usage of NCPAP decreased from 19 to 4%. Ninety-five percent of infants born at less than 30 weeks gestation received HHFNC at some point during their hospital stay whereas only 12% received NCPAP. There were no differences in death or bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), but ventilator-days per patient were decreased (19.4 to 9.9) following introduction of HHFNC. Comparing the cohort of infants who received either NCPAP or HHFNC as an early mode of respiratory support, there were no differences in deaths, ventilator-days, BPD, blood infections or other outcomes. More infants were intubated for failing early NCPAP compared to early HHFNC (40 to 18%). CONCLUSIONS: HHFNC was well-tolerated by premature infants. Compared to infants managed with NCPAP, there were no apparent differences in adverse outcomes following the introduction of HHFNC. Additional research is needed to better define the utility and safety of HHFNC compared to NCPAP.

The use of a hemoglobin-based oxygen-carrying solution (HBOC-201) for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in a porcine model with acute respiratory distress syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether hemoglobin-based oxygen-carrying solution (HBOC)-201 (Biopure) is an effective alternative to donor blood for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support in a porcine model of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). DESIGN: Randomized animal clinical trial. SETTING: Animal surgical research laboratory. SUBJECTS: Immature Yorkshire swine were assigned to one of three groups: 1, noninjured animals, donor porcine blood primed circuit; 2, ARDS-injured, HBOC-201 primed circuit; or 3, ARDS-injured, donor blood primed. INTERVENTIONS: ARDS injury was induced in groups 2 and 3 with oleic acid infusion before bypass. All animals were placed on full venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support for 8 hrs. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Physiologic variables and laboratory samples were measured at baseline and hourly for 8 hrs. Data analysis consisted of repeated-measures analysis of variance with post hoc analysis. We found that 100% of animals survived on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for the duration of the study period. HBOC-supported animals had comparable oxygen delivery to both donor blood groups. Mean pulmonary artery pressure, heart rate, and lactate concentrations were higher in the injury groups. Blood pressure was mildly increased in HBOC animals (p <.05 vs. control animals). Methemoglobin concentrations in the HBOC group were elevated and increased over time on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (p <.001). CONCLUSIONS: HBOC-201 appears to be an effective alternative circuit-priming agent for use during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. HBOC offers the advantages of rapid availability and diminished donor blood cell exposure. The efficacy of HBOC in longer duration bypass, and its associated methemoglobinemia, need to be further investigated.

Persistent central diabetes insipidus presenting in a very low birth weight infant successfully managed with intranasal dDAVP.

We report a case of a premature very low birth weight infant who presented shortly after birth with idiopathic central diabetes insipidus that persisted beyond the neonatal period and has been successfully managed with intranasal 1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin. Although this condition is rare in neonates, early recognition, evaluation, and therapy may prevent more severe morbidity. Long-term successful management resulting in normal growth and development during infancy can be achieved with intranasal 1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin therapy.

Adenosine depletion alters postictal hypoxic cerebral vasodilation in the newborn pig.

Altered postictal cerebral blood flow dilatory responses may contribute to brain injury following neonatal seizures. We developed an initial series of experiments to characterize the effects of seizure activity on cerebral vascular dilatory responses during the immediate postictal period. Significant attenuation of postictal hypoxic cerebral vasodilation was noted. We hypothesize that this diminished cerebral dilator response to hypoxia involves depletion of adenosine (Ado) activity resulting from seizure ictus. Additional experiments were designed to evaluate whether the altered postictal responses were related to a depletion of Ado stores or a decreased response to Ado in the postictal state. Farm-bred piglets were equipped with closed cranial windows. Responses to hypercapnia (10% CO2), hypoxia (fractional inspired O2 = 0.10), and topical sodium nitroprusside (10(-6) M) were compared before and after bicuculline-induced seizures (1 mg/kg). Hypoxia-induced cerebral vasodilation was significantly attenuated in the first 90 min postictal (control: 56.5 +/- 6%, 10 min postictal: 6.3 +/- 2%, 60 min postictal: 21.7 +/- 6%, and 90 min postictal: 21.6 +/- 5%; P < 0.01), whereas the dilator responses to hypercapnia and topical sodium nitroprusside remained intact. In a separate group of piglets, both a dilating (10(-5) M) and a nondilating concentration of Ado (10(-11) M) were topically administered postictally to measure their effects on pial vessel dilatory response to hypoxia. Dilation to topical Ado (10(-5) M) was not altered postictally compared with control. Ado (10(-11) M) restored hypoxia-induced vasodilation to preseizure control values in the immediate postictal period (control: 51.0 +/- 8%, postictal: 46.7 +/- 8%, P > 0.05). Postictal administration of Ado will restore hypoxia-induced cerebral vasodilation in piglets even when a nondilating concentration is employed. This suggests that depletion of Ado with seizure activity is a mechanism for the loss of postictal cerebral vasodilation to hypoxia, and the role of Ado in hypoxic cerebral vasodilation is permissive.

Near-hanging injury in childhood: a literature review and report of three cases.

Near-hanging injury is not an uncommon occurrence in children. Surprisingly, little discussion of this topic occurs in the pediatric literature. Previous reports note that children who present with an initial pH less than 7.2, apnea or agonal respiration, or who subsequently require mechanical ventilation, either die or survive with severe neurologic residua. We report a series of three pediatric patients aged 12 years or younger who initially presented with a combination of the above morbid criteria, all of whom survived with good neurologic outcomes. Children who suffer significant near-hanging injury should be considered at high risk to develop cerebral edema and therefore should be managed aggressively. Early cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the field is essential to reestablish cerebral blood flow. A good response to initial resuscitation is an important prognostic factor for eventual recovery. After arrival to the emergency department, therapy should include controlled hyperventilation, fluid restriction, and other supportive measures to limit intracranial pressure in high-risk patients.