Anti-inflammatory and immune-mediated therapy for a case of febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome with rapid recurrence.

Febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES) is a disease of unknown etiology, characterized by refractory frequent focal seizures, which require prolonged intensive care. We successfully treated a boy with FIRES with anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive therapy. This case suggests that an autoimmune mechanism may play a role in the development of FIRES.

Vascular injury due to a peripherally inserted central catheter in a neonate born during the 24th week of gestation.

We investigated a case of a peripherally inserted central venous catheter associated with iliolumbar venous extravasation in an infant. Hyperosmolar infusion and calcium gluconate caused phlebitis and vascular perforation. Daily monitoring of the catheter length at the insertion site and serial radiography may aid in detecting catheter movement.

Multidrug-Resistant Corynebacterium striatum Developed During Treatment of Ommaya Reservoir Infection.

Corynebacterium striatum, a common component of the skin and mucosal microbiota of both immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals, has become an emerging pathogen, colonizing indwelling medical devices and causing infections at multiple sites. A 3-year-old boy with an Ommaya reservoir in the right ventricle and a medical history of grade 3 intraventricular hemorrhage, Hirschsprung disease, catheter-related methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia, and congenital central hypoventilation syndrome was hospitalized for Ommaya reservoir infection with C. striatum. He was treated with ampicillin, to which the initial isolate was susceptible. C. striatum may have acquired multiple-drug resistance during the antibiotic treatment due to biofilm production. The Ommaya reservoir was replaced by external ventricular drainage. Cultures of the removed Ommaya reservoir, and cerebrospinal fluid samples grew C. striatum, which was susceptible to meropenem and vancomycin and resistant to other antibiotics. The antibiotic was switched to vancomycin to treat this new multidrug-resistant strain. After 8 days of vancomycin treatment, the cerebrospinal fluid culture obtained by a lumbar puncture was negative for C. striatum. In cases of device-associated infections caused by biofilm-producing bacteria, it is desirable to remove the device as soon as possible.

Incubator humidity and temperature control in infants born at 22-23 weeks' gestation.

BACKGROUND: Preterm infants, especially those born at ≤23 gestational weeks (GW), present with extremes in insensible water loss (IWL) and changes in water balance. AIMS: To prevent water loss from the skin and achieve skin maturation without infection, we investigated transepidermal water loss (TEWL), IWL from the skin (IWL-s), and electrolyte balance with differences in high incubator humidity and temperature control from birth to postnatal 1 month in 22-23 GW and 24-25 GW infants. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SUBJECTS: Extremely preterm infants born at 22-23 GW (n = 11) and 24-25 GW (n = 11), admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit between September 2018 and October 2019. OUTCOME MEASURES: Total fluid intake (TFI), fluid output volume, TEWL, IWL-s, and electrolyte balance were compared between the two groups with controlled incubator humidity and temperature, gradually decreasing the humidity and ambient temperature from 95% to 50% and from 37.0 to 34.0 °C, respectively, while maintaining the central body temperature at 36.5-37.5 °C. RESULTS: TEWL and IWL-s between the 22-23 and 24-25 GW was not significantly different for infants at postnatal age. No significant difference in electrolyte imbalance was noted between the two groups, within the first 7 days. Differences in TEWL and IWL-s were eliminated with corresponding humidity and temperature adjustments. CONCLUSIONS: Incubator humidity and temperature control should aid management of 22-23 GW infants to reduce IWL, facilitate skin maturation, and prevent infection.

Recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator treatment in an extremely low birth weight infant.

Tissue plasminogen activator can effectively treat clinical thrombosis in premature infants 11 hours after birth.

Risk Factors for Mortality and Neurodevelopmental Impairment among Neonates Born at 22-23 Weeks' Gestation.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to evaluate the risk factors for mortality and neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) among infants of 22-23 weeks' gestational age, which currently remain unclear. METHODS: This retrospective case-control study included 104 infants delivered at 22-23 weeks' gestation at Kagoshima City Hospital from 2006 to 2015. We compared 65 and 34 cases of survival to discharge and postnatal in-hospital death (5 excluded), respectively, and 26 and 35 cases with and without NDI, respectively, using maternal, prenatal, and postnatal records. A high rate of survivors' follow-up (61/65) was achieved in this study. RESULTS: The survival rate was 75.0% (21/28) and 62.0% (44/71) among infants born at 22 and 23 weeks' gestation, respectively. Infants who died weighed less (525.5 vs. 578 g, p = 0.04) and their intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) rate (<5th percentile) was higher (14.7 vs. 1.5%, p = 0.02). Mortality was associated with an increased incidence of bradycardia on fetal heart rate monitoring (11.8 vs. 1.5%, p = 0.046), periventricular hemorrhagic infarction (PVHI; 32.4 vs. 6.2%, p = 0.001), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC, surgery or drain tube; 14.7 vs. 0.0%, p = 0.004), and tension pneumothorax (29.4 vs. 6.2%, p = 0.004). There were significant differences in the proportion of PVHI (15.4 vs. 0%, p = 0.03) between infants with and without NDI. CONCLUSIONS: IUGR, bradycardia, PVHI, NEC, and tension pneumothorax were associated with neonatal mortality among infants born at 22-23 weeks' gestation. NDI at 36-42 months' chronological age was associated with PVHI.

Safety, speed, and effectiveness of air transportation for neonates.

BACKGROUND: In Japan, 44.3% of neonates are delivered in private clinics without an attending pediatrician. Obstetricians in the clinics must resuscitate asphyxiated neonates in unstable condition, such as respiratory failure, and they are frequently transferred to tertiary perinatal medical centers. There has been no study comparing the physiological status and prognosis of neonates transported by ambulance with those transported by helicopter. METHODS: Medical and transport records were used to compare the physiological status of neonates transported to Kagoshima City Hospital by land and those transported by air between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2017. RESULTS: Data from 425 neonates transferred by land and 143 by air were analyzed. There were no significant differences between the two groups in mean gestational age, mean birthweight, fetal blood pH, Apgar score, or the Score for Neonatal Acute Physiology with Perinatal Extension-II (SNAPPE-II) on arrival to the tertiary center (16.3 ± 15.4 [95% confidence interval (CI): 13.2-17.7] vs 16.4 ± 15.4 [95% CI: 13.9-19.0], respectively; P = 0.999); both groups had SNAPPE-II score 10-19, indicating no difference in mortality risk. The times to starting first aid and to admission to the intensive care unit were significantly reduced in neonates transported by air than by land. In subgroup analysis of patients of a gestational age ≤28 weeks, all cases of severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) were observed in the land transportation group. CONCLUSIONS: Neonatal transportation by air is as safe as land transportation, and time to first aid and intensive care are significantly reduced by transportation by air than by land. Air transport could also contribute to the prevention of IVH in neonatal transportation.

Assessment of risk factors for cystic periventricular leukomalacia.

AIM: Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is an important cause of cerebral palsy in premature infants, and cystic PVL is the most serious form of the disease. The risk factors for cystic PVL in singleton fetuses at a gestational age of <35 weeks are unclear. METHODS: This study included 2013 singleton birth infants delivered at a gestational age of <35 weeks in Kagoshima City Hospital between 2006 and 2017. The findings for 30 infants with cystic PVL were compared with those for 63 matched control infants by gestational age and birth weight. RESULTS: The cystic PVL was associated with increased incidence of recurrent late deceleration (L/D) (43.4% vs. 15.9%, P = 0.004) and loss of variability (LOV) (10.0% vs. 0.0%, P = 0.03) in fetal heart rate monitoring and late-onset circulatory dysfunction (LCD) (33.3% vs. 11.1%, P = 0.02). Logistic regression analysis revealed that recurrent L/D (odds ratio [OR] = 3.57, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29-10.15, P = 0.01) and LCD (OR = 3.41, 95% CI: 1.09-11.04, P = 0.03) were risk factors associated with cystic PVL. LOV was not included in the multivariate analysis as there were too few cases in both the cystic PVL and control groups. CONCLUSION: Recurrent L/D, LOV and LCD are strongly associated with cystic PVL. In cases of fetal acidosis related to recurrent L/D or loss of variability, cystic PVL may occur.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in 61 neonates: Single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: There have been few reports on the outcome of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in newborn Japanese infants. METHODS: A review was carried out of 61 neonates with ECMO between January 1995 and December 2015 at a single center. ECMO was used in neonates with oxygenation index >20 after conventional treatment. Background factors, such as etiology, vascular access mode (veno-venous [VV] or veno-arterial [VA]), number of days with ECMO, and early ECMO (within 24 h after birth), were analyzed in relation to outcome with respect to survival to hospital discharge (SHD). RESULTS: Survival to hospital discharge was achieved in 35 infants (57%), while the remaining 26 died during hospital stay. Gestational age at birth was significantly higher and number of days with ECMO was significantly lower in SHD infants compared with those with adverse outcome (median, 4.0 vs 5.5 days, respectively; P = 0.008). The SHD rate was significantly higher for those with VV than VA vascular access mode (78%, 18/23 vs 45%, 17/38, respectively; P = 0.016), and for those with than without early ECMO (72%, 28/39 vs 32%, 7/22, respectively; P = 0.003). The SHD rate was relatively high in neonates with meconium aspiration syndrome (86%, 12/14), persistent pulmonary hypertension associated with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (75%, 6/8), and emphysema (80%, 4/5). On stepwise logistic regression analysis two independent factors of SHD were identified: early ECMO (OR, 9.63; 95%CI: 2.47-37.6) and ECMO length <8 days (OR, 8.05; 95%CI: 1.94-33.5). CONCLUSIONS: Neonates with early ECMO and those with ECMO duration <8 days may benefit from ECMO with respect to SHD.