Effects of Pacifier Use on Transition Time from Gavage to Breastfeeding in Preterm Infants: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Nonnutritive sucking (NNS) has been identified as having many benefits for preterm infants. NNS may improve the efficacy of oral feeding, reduce the length of time spent in orogastric (OG) tube feeding, and shorten the length of hospital stays for preterm infants. AIM: This study aimed to assess the effect of pacifiers on preterm infants in the transition from gavage to oral feeding, their time to discharge, weight gain, and time for transition to full breastfeeding. METHODS: A prospective, randomized controlled trial was conducted in our center. Ninety infants were randomized into two groups: a pacifier group (PG) (n = 45) and a control group (n = 45). Eligibility criteria included body weight less than or equal to 1,500 g, gestational age (GA) younger than 32 weeks, tolerating at least 100 kcals/kg/day by OG feeding, growth parameters appropriate for GA, and a stable clinical condition. RESULTS: Mean GAs were 29.2 ± 1.86 versus 28.4 ± 1.84 weeks (p = 0.46), and birth weights were 1,188.2 ± 272 versus 1,112.8 ± 267 g (p = 0.72) in the PG and CG groups, respectively. The time for transition to full oral feeding (38 ± 19.2 days), time to transition to full breastfeeding (38.1 ± 20 days), and time to discharge (48.4 ± 19.2 days) in the PG were significantly shorter compared with the control group (49.8 ± 23.6, 49.1 ± 22, 65.3 ± 30.6 days, respectively) (p < 0.05). For preterm infants with gastrointestinal motility disturbance, similar symptoms (regurgitation, vomiting, abdominal distension) (n = 6, 22%) in the PG were significantly lower than the control group (n = 21, 77.8%) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In this study, we determined that the method of giving pacifiers to preterm infants during gavage feeding reduced the infants' transition period to oral feeding and the duration of hospital stay. In addition, the pacifiers could be used during gavage feeding and in the transition from gavage to oral/breastfeeding in preterm infants to encourage the development of sucking ability.

Effects of cord blood vitamin D levels on the risk of neonatal sepsis in premature infants.

PURPOSE: Vitamin D plays a key role in immune function. Vitamin D deficiency may play a role in the pathogenesis of infections, and low levels of circulating vitamin D are strongly associated with infectious diseases. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of low vitamin D levels in cord blood on neonatal sepsis in preterm infants. METHODS: One hundred seventeen premature infants with gestational age of <37 weeks were enrolled. In the present study, severe vitamin D deficiency (group 1) was defined as a 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration <5 ng/mL; vitamin D insufficiency (group 2), 25(OH)D concentration ≥5 ng/mL and <15 ng/mL; and vitamin D sufficiency (group 3), 25(OH)D concentration ≥15 ng/mL. RESULTS: Sixty-three percent of the infants had deficient levels of cord blood vitamin D (group 1), 24% had insufficient levels (group 2), and 13% were found to have sufficient levels (group 3). The rate of neonatal sepsis was higher in group 2 than in groups 1 and 3. CONCLUSION: There was no significant relationship between the cord blood vitamin D levels and the risk of neonatal sepsis in premature infants.

The effect of lactational mastitis on the macronutrient content of breast milk.

AIMS: Mastitis in lactating mothers reduces milk production and alters the cellular composition of milk. Changes occurring in the mammary gland during the inflammatory response are believed to increase the permeability of the blood-milk barrier. This study examined the effect of mastitis during lactation on the macronutrient content of breast milk. METHODS: The study was conducted at Zekai Tahir Burak Maternity Teaching Hospital. Transitional breast milk samples were obtained from term lactating mothers with or without mastitis. Milk protein, fat, carbohydrate, and energy levels were measured using a mid-infrared human milk analyzer. RESULTS: The study recruited 30 term lactating mothers: 15 mothers diagnosed with mastitis and 15 healthy mothers. The characteristics of the mothers in both groups were similar. Fat, carbohydrate, and energy levels were statistically lower in the milk samples of mothers with mastitis compared with the mothers without mastitis. CONCLUSION: Lactational mastitis was associated with lower breast milk fat, carbohydrate, and energy levels. The local inflammatory response induced by cytokines and increased blood-milk barrier permeability might account for the changes in the fat, carbohydrate, and energy levels of human milk.

Binasal Prong versus Nasal Mask for Applying CPAP to Preterm Infants: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) is being widely used for the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in preterm infants. However, there are only a few studies which compare different interfaces of NCPAP delivery and their effects on respiratory outcomes. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine whether NCPAP applied with binasal prongs compared to that with a nasal mask (NM) reduces the rate of moderate/severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants. METHODS: Infants between 26 and 32 weeks' gestation who suffered from RDS and were treated with NCPAP were assessed. Parallel randomization was performed to eligible infants to receive NCPAP either via binasal prongs or NM. Infants were intubated if they fulfilled the predefined failure criteria. Data were collected by using the intention-to-treat principle. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty infants were screened and 149 were randomized. Seventy-five infants in the binasal prong (NP) group and 74 in the NM group were analyzed. Mean gestational ages were 29.3 ± 1.6 vs. 29.1 ± 2.0 weeks (p = 0.55), and birth weights were 1,225 ± 257 vs. 1,282 ± 312 g (p = 0.22) in the NP and NM groups, respectively. The frequency of NCPAP failure within 24 h of life was higher in the NP than the NM group (8 vs. 0%; p = 0.09). The median duration of NCPAP was significantly higher in the NP group [median 4 (1-5) vs. 2 (1-3) h, p < 0.01]. The rate of moderate and severe BPD was significantly lower in the NM (n = 2, 2.7%) when compared with the NP group (n = 11, 14.6%; p < 0.01). The BPD/death rates were not different between the 2 groups (NM group: n = 18 or 24.3%; NP group: n = 19 or 25.3%; p = 0.51). CONCLUSIONS: The NM was successfully used for delivering NCPAP in preterm infants, and no NCPAP failure was observed within the first 24 h. These data show that applying NCPAP by NM yielded a shorter duration of NCPAP and statistically reduced the rates of moderate and severe BPD.

Coexistence of Fetal Cardiac Malformation and Maternal Drug-Induced Lupus: Is Lamotrigine Safe?

Lamotrigine (LTG) is a widely used second-generation antiepileptic drug for long-term therapy of epileptic patients. Although LTG monotherapy during pregnancy is assumed to be relatively safe, teratogenic effects related to LTG has been reported previously. The presence of fetal malformations and maternal drug-induced lupus erythematosus concurrently in a pregnant women using LTG have not been reported before. We herein report a term infant with coarctation of aorta and ventricular septal defect, who was born to a mother treated with LTG for epilepsy before conception and throughout pregnancy. The mother was diagnosed with drug-induced lupus erythematosus at the 36th gestational week, and the symptoms resolved after discontinuation of the drug. Fetal cardiac anomalies should be searched in mothers who were exposed to LTG during pregnancy.

Taquicardia supraventricular en un recién nacido después del tratamiento con salbutamol nebulizado: A propósito de un caso / Supraventricular tachycardia after nebulized salbutamol therapy in a neonate: Case report

La taquicardia supraventricular (TSV) es el tipo de arritmia sostenida más frecuente en los recién nacidos y lactantes. En general, la presentación de la TSV en los recién nacidos es sutil y, a menudo produce insuficiencia cardíaca congestiva. A pesar del amplio uso de los agonistas p2, su toxicidad ha sido cuestionada. En varios estudios se informó un aumento de la incidencia de arritmias cardíacas en los pacientes que reciben estos agentes, y en otros estudios se hallaron tasas elevadas de muerte cardiovascular asociada con el uso de agonistas p2 nebulizados y orales, como el salbutamol, que se utilizan para tratar el broncoespasmo en los recién nacidos con diversas enfermedades. Informamos un caso de TSV después de la administración de salbutamol nebulizado a un recién nacido.

Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is the most common sustained arrhythmia in neonates and infants. Presentation of SVT in the neonate is usually subtle and frequently complicated by congestive heart failure. Despite the widespread use of β2-agonists, their safety has been questioned. Several studies have reported an increased incidence of cardiac arrhythmias in patients treated with these agents, and other studies have found increased rates of cardiovascular death associated with the use of oral and nebulized β2-agonists such as salbutamol, which is used to treat bronchospasm in newborns with several diseases. Herein, we report a case of SVT following administration of nebulized salbutamol in a neonate.

Taquicardia supraventricular en un recién nacido después del tratamiento con salbutamol nebulizado: A propósito de un caso / Supraventricular tachycardia after nebulized salbutamol therapy in a neonate: Case report

La taquicardia supraventricular (TSV) es el tipo de arritmia sostenida más frecuente en los recién nacidos y lactantes. En general, la presentación de la TSV en los recién nacidos es sutil y, a menudo produce insuficiencia cardíaca congestiva. A pesar del amplio uso de los agonistas p2, su toxicidad ha sido cuestionada. En varios estudios se informó un aumento de la incidencia de arritmias cardíacas en los pacientes que reciben estos agentes, y en otros estudios se hallaron tasas elevadas de muerte cardiovascular asociada con el uso de agonistas p2 nebulizados y orales, como el salbutamol, que se utilizan para tratar el broncoespasmo en los recién nacidos con diversas enfermedades. Informamos un caso de TSV después de la administración de salbutamol nebulizado a un recién nacido.(AU)

Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is the most common sustained arrhythmia in neonates and infants. Presentation of SVT in the neonate is usually subtle and frequently complicated by congestive heart failure. Despite the widespread use of β2-agonists, their safety has been questioned. Several studies have reported an increased incidence of cardiac arrhythmias in patients treated with these agents, and other studies have found increased rates of cardiovascular death associated with the use of oral and nebulized β2-agonists such as salbutamol, which is used to treat bronchospasm in newborns with several diseases. Herein, we report a case of SVT following administration of nebulized salbutamol in a neonate.(AU)

Supraventricular tachycardia after nebulized salbutamol therapy in a neonate: case report.

Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is the most common sustained arrhythmia in neonates and infants. Presentation of SVT in the neonate is usually subtle and frequently complicated by congestive heart failure. Despite the widespread use of ß2-agonists, their safety has been questioned. Several studies have reported an increased incidence of cardiac arrhythmias in patients treated with these agents, and other studies have found increased rates of cardiovascular death associated with the use of oral and nebulized ß2-agonists such as salbutamol, which is used to treat bronchospasm in newborns with several diseases. Herein, we report a case of SVT following administration of nebulized salbutamol in a neonate.

Transient ileus associated with the use of mydriatics after screening for retinopathy of prematurity in a very low birth weight infant.

Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants have ophthalmologic examinations for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) prior to discharge, with appropriate follow-up and intervention where appropriate. Eye drops such as cylopentolate, tropicamide, and phenylephrine are used at different concentrations to provide proper pupil dilation for screening ROP. Topical instillation of eye drops may cause mild or severe ocular or systemic adverse effects. Early recognition of systemic toxicity after eye drop instillation is important. The authors present a case of a VLBW infant who developed significant abdominal symptoms (mimicking ileus) that were significant enough to discontinue oral feeding after ocular instillation of 0.5% tropicamide and 2.5% phenylephrine eye drops for routine examination of ROP. After structural and functional gastrointestinal disorders and sepsis were excluded, symptoms resolved completely after discontinuation of the drug. This report is thought to be the first in the medical literature to address 5% tropicamide and 2.5% phenylephrine eye drops, and the combination that may lead to serious complication after ROP examinations.