Targeted Neonatal Echocardiography in the Management of Neonatal Pulmonary Hypertension.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) in neonates, originating from a range of disease states with heterogeneous underlying pathophysiology, is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Although the final common pathway is a state of high right ventricular afterload leading to compromised cardiac output, multiple hemodynamic phenotypes exist in acute and chronic PH, for which cardiorespiratory treatment strategies differ. Comprehensive appraisal of pulmonary pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance, cardiac function, pulmonary and systemic blood flow, and extrapulmonary shunts facilitates delivery of individualized cardiovascular therapies in affected newborns.

Use of vasopressin in neonatal hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy: case series.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of vasopressin on arterial blood pressure in infants with neonatal hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case study in Neonatal ICU involving six infants; five born to mothers with diabetes mellitus (mean gestational age 37.5 ± 0.9 weeks). Vasopressin infusion was started at a mean dose of 0.3 ± 0.2 mU/kg/min. RESULT: Initiation of vasopressin was followed by improved mean (p = 0.004), systolic (p = 0.028), and diastolic (p = 0.009) arterial pressure within 2 h. Heart rate (p = 0.025) and oxygen requirement (p = 0.021) also declined after initiation. Serum sodium declined initially and recovered by 72 h (p = 0.017). CONCLUSION: Although there is limited experience with vasopressin use in neonatal HOCM, our case series suggests it may be beneficial for improving systemic hypotension and stabilization of hemodynamics. The potential for hyponatremia is high, necessitating careful fluid/electrolyte management. A prospective randomized trial is necessary to confirm safety and efficacy of vasopressin treatment in neonatal HOCM.

Improving diagnostic accuracy in neonates with left heart obstruction in a transport setting.

AIM: Differentiating left heart obstruction (LHO) from other severe illness in the neonatal period is challenging, and important for guiding clinical management. The aim of this study was to identify factors distinguishing LHO from non-LHO in neonates. METHODS: A retrospective, cohort study of neonates referred to the Newborn and Paediatric Emergency Transport Service, New South Wales, with suspected LHO during the epoch 1996-2016. RESULTS: A total of 273 neonates were included; 240 with confirmed LHO. Administration of prostaglandin E1 to infants with a structurally normal heart was not associated with impaired acid-base or oxygenation status. Pre-transport diagnostic accuracy of LHO was 74.4%; sensitivity 84.5%, positive predictive value 86.0%. On multivariable logistic regression, hepatomegaly (odds ratio 2.54; 95% confidence interval 1.05-6.16) was associated with confirmed LHO. CONCLUSIONS: A low threshold for prostaglandin E1 infusion should be maintained in infants with suspected LHO. Hepatomegaly is associated with a diagnosis of LHO and may be more useful than other parameters in predicting the condition.

Using the ISBAR handover tool in junior medical officer handover: a study in an Australian tertiary hospital.

BACKGROUND: Despite being essential to patient care, current clinical handover practices are inconsistent and error prone. Efforts to improve handover have attracted attention recently, with the ISBAR tool increasingly utilised as a format for structured handover communication. However, ISBAR has not been validated in a junior medical officer setting. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of the ISBAR handover tool on junior medical officer (JMO) handover communication in an Australian hospital. METHODS: JMOs who participated in after-hours handover during an 11 week clinical term from June to August 2009 were recruited. After-hours handover was audiotaped, and JMOs completed a survey to assess current handover perception and practice. JMOs then participated in a 1 h education session on handover and use of the ISBAR handover tool, and were encouraged to handover using this method. Following the education session, participants were surveyed to measure perceived changes in handover with use of ISBAR, and handover was again audiotaped to assess differences in information transfer and duration. RESULTS: Following the introduction of ISBAR, 25/36 (71%) of JMOs felt there was an overall improvement in handover communication. Specifically, they perceived improvement in the structure and consistency of handover, they felt more confident receiving handover, and they believed patient care and safety were improved. Audio-tape data demonstrated increased transfer of key clinical information during handover with no significant effect on handover duration. CONCLUSIONS: Use of the ISBAR tool improves JMO perception of handover communication in a time neutral fashion. Consideration should be given to the introduction of ISBAR in all JMO handover settings.