RESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Most neonatal deaths in industrialized countries follow a process of redirection of care. The objectives of this study were to describe how neonates die in a middle-income country, whether there was redirection of care, and the reason for this decision. METHODS: This was a prospective, multicenter, cross-sectional study. Neonates who died in the delivery room or in the neonatal intensive care unit in 97 hospitals over a 6-month period were included. After each neonatal death, one investigator interviewed a member of the healthcare team who had been involved in the end-of-life care process. Perinatal data, conditions that led to death, whether there was redirection of care, and details of the end-of-life process were recorded. RESULTS: Data from 697 neonatal deaths were analyzed, which represent 80% of the total deaths occurring in Argentina in that period. The main causes of death were complications of prematurity (47%) and congenital anomalies (27%). Overall, 32% of neonates died after a process of redirection of care, and this was less frequent in the neonatal intensive care unit (28%) than in the delivery room (70%, p < 0.001). The reasons for withholding/withdrawing care were inevitable death (75%) and severe compromise of expected quality of life (25%). Redirection of care consisted in withholding therapies in 66% and withdrawal in 34%. A diagnosis of a major congenital anomaly increased the odds of redirection of care (OR 5.45; 95% CI: 3.59-8.27). CONCLUSION: Most neonates who die in Argentina do so while receiving full support. Redirection of care mainly follows a condition of inevitable death.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive techniques for surfactant administration for infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) of moderate severity have been proposed. The laryngeal mask airway (LMA) helps in securing the airway without the need of laryngoscopy, but still requires the use of positive pressure ventilation (PPV) to flush surfactant into the lungs. OBJECTIVE: This article compares the effectiveness of two techniques for LMA surfactant administration, instillation into the LMA lumen followed by PPV versus direct laryngeal instillation through a preinserted feeding tube inside the LMA during spontaneous respirations. STUDY DESIGN: This is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of 18 rabbits with acquired respiratory distress after lung lavage. After surfactant was given, the rabbits remained on continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Gas exchange parameters were assessed at baseline and at 30 minutes and lung parenchyma pathology features were analyzed. RESULTS: Time required for surfactant administration, oxygenation improvement, and histopathologic findings did not differ between groups. The new technique decreased the need of PPV (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In this animal model, surfactant administration through a preinserted feeding tube within the LMA lumen is safe and effective while providing the benefits of a minimally invasive approach. This technique reduces the need of PPV and may prevent its potential risks.
