Transcutaneous bilirubin reliability during and after phototherapy depending on skin color.

Measurement of transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) is a non-invasive, widely used technique to estimate serum bilirubin (SB). However, its reliability in multiethnic populations during and after phototherapy is still controversial even in covered skin. The aim of this study was to determine the reliability of TcB in covered (cTcB) and exposed (eTcB) skin during and after phototherapy in a multiethnic population of term and preterm neonates according to Neomar's neonatal skin color scale. Prospective, observational study comparing SB and TcB. We determined SB when clinically indicated and, at the same time, measured cTcB under a photo-opaque patch and eTcB next to it with a jaundice meter (Dräger JM-105TM). All dyads TcB-SB were compared, both globally and according to skin color. We obtained data from 200 newborns (color1: 44, color2: 111, color3: 41, color4: 4) and compared 296 dyads TcB/SB. Correlation between cTcB and SB is strong during (0.74-0.83) and after (0.79-0.88) phototherapy, both globally and by color group. The SB-cTcB bias depends on gestational age during phototherapy and on skin color following phototherapy. The correlation between eTcB and SB during phototherapy is not strong (0.54), but becomes so 12 h after discontinuing phototherapy (0.78).  Conclusions: Our study supports the reliability of cTcB to assess SB during and after phototherapy, with differences among skin tones after the treatment. The use of cTcB and Neomar's scale during and mainly after phototherapy may help reduce the number of blood samples required. What is Known: • Controversies exist on the reliability of jaundice meters during and after phototherapy in covered skin. Only a few studies have analyzed their accuracy in multiethnic populations, but none has used a validated neonatal skin color scale. What is New: • We verified correlation between serum and transcutaneous bilirubin in covered skin in a multiethnic population depending on skin color based on our own validated neonatal skin color scale during and after phototherapy.

Impacte de la frenotomia neonatal en la taxa de lactància materna a l’alta de la maternitat / Impact of neonatal frenotomy on the breastfeeding rate at discharge from the maternity ward / Impacto de la frenotomía neonatal en la tasa de lactancia materna al alta de la maternidad

Fonament: L’anquiloglòssia pot provocar el deslletamentprecoç. La realització d’una frenotomia podria augmentarla taxa de lactància materna exclusiva a l’alta de la maternitat. Objectiu: Descriure les diferències en el tipus d’alimentacióa l’alta de la maternitat entre els nounats amb anquiloglòssia i els que no en tenen, i entre els nounats amb anquiloglòssia tractada i els no tractats. Mètode: Estudi de cohorts prospectiu de tots els nadonsnascuts a la unitat neonatal l’any 2018 (n=1.392). Es vanexcloure 7 pacients que es van traslladar abans de l’alta.Es va oferir una frenotomia a tots els pacients amb anquiloglòssia (451). Es va determinar quantes frenotomies esvan fer (422/451), si la lactància materna va millorar acurt termini, i es van comparar les taxes de lactància materna entre els nounats amb anquiloglòssia i sense. Resultats: La taxa de lactància materna a l’alta va ser mésalta en els nounats amb anquiloglòssia tractada que en elsno tractats (393/422 vs 22/29, 93,1% vs 75,9%, respectivament, p <0,001). Conclusions: La frenotomia podria ajudar a augmentar lataxa de lactància materna a l’alta dels nounats amb anquiloglòssia.(AU)

Fundamento: La anquiloglosia puede provocar el destete precoz. Larealización de una frenotomía podría aumentar la tasa de lactanciamaterna al alta de la maternidad. Objetivo: Describir las diferencias en el tipo de alimentación al altade la maternidad entre los neonatos con anquiloglosia frente a losque no la sufren y entre los neonatos con anquiloglosia tratada ylos no tratados. Método. Estudio de cohorte prospectivo de todos los neonatos nacidos en la unidad neonatal el año 2018 (n=1.392). Se excluyeron7 pacientes que se trasladaron antes del alta. Se ofreció una frenotomía a todos los pacientes con anquiloglosia (451). Se determinó cuántas frenotomías se realizaron (422/451) y si la lactanciamaterna mejoró a corto plazo, y se compararon las tasas de lactancia materna entre los neonatos con y sin anquiloglosia. Resultados: La tasa de lactancia materna al alta fue mayor en losneonatos con anquiloglosia tratada que en los no tratados(393/422 frente a 22/29, 93,1% frente a 75,9%, respectivamente, p <0,001).Conclusiones. La frenotomía podría ayudar a aumentar la tasa delactancia materna al alta de los neonatos con anquiloglosia.(AU)

Background: Ankyloglossia may lead to an early abandonment ofbreastfeeding. Performing a frenotomy could increase the breastfeeding rate at discharge from the maternity ward. Objective: The aim of our study was to describe differences in thetype of feeding at discharge from the maternity ward, betweentongue-tied and non tongue-tied neonates, and between treatedand untreated tongue-tied neonates. Method: This prospective cohort study included all the neonatesborn at a neonatal unit in 2018 (n=1392). We excluded 7 patientswho were transferred before discharge. We offered a frenotomy toall tongue-tied patients (451). We determined how many frenotomies we performed (422/451), whether breastfeeding improved inthe short term, and compared the breastfeeding rates betweentreated and untreated tongue-tied and non-tongue-tied neonates. Results: The breastfeeding rate at discharge was higher amongtreated tongue-tied infants than in untreated neonates (393/422vs. 22/29, 93.1% vs. 75.9%, respectively, p <0.001).Conclusions: Frenotomy could help increase the breastfeeding rateat discharge among tongue-tied neonates.(AU)

Comparison of the analgesic effect of inhaled lavender vs vanilla essential oil for neonatal frenotomy: a randomized clinical trial (NCT04867824).

It is necessary to treat neonatal pain because it may have short- and long-term adverse effects. Frenotomy is a painful procedure where sucking, a common strategy to relieve pain, cannot be used because the technique is performed on the tongue. In a previous randomized clinical trial, we demonstrated that inhaled lavender essential oil (LEO) reduced the signs of pain during neonatal frenotomy. We aimed to find out whether inhaled vanilla essential oil (VEO) is more effective in reducing pain during frenotomy than LEO. Randomized clinical trial with neonates who underwent a frenotomy for type 3 tongue-ties between May and October 2021. Pain was assessed using pre and post-procedure heart rate (HR) and oxygen saturation (SatO2), crying time, and NIPS score. Neonates were randomized into "experimental" and "control" group. In both groups, we performed swaddling, administered oral sucrose, and let the newborn suck for 2 min. We placed a gauze pad with one drop of LEO (control group) or of VEO (experimental group) under the neonate's nose for 2 min prior to and during the frenotomy. We enrolled 142 neonates (71 per group). Both groups showed similar NIPS scores (2.02 vs 2.38) and crying times (15.3 vs 18.7 s). We observed no differences in HR increase or in SatO2 decrease between both groups. We observed no side effects in either of the groups. CONCLUSIONS: We observed no appreciable difference between LEO and VEO; therefore, we cannot conclude which of them was more effective in treating pain in neonates who underwent a frenotomy. TRIAL REGISTRATION:  This clinical trial is registered with www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov with NCT04867824. WHAT IS KNOWN: • Pain management is one of the most important goals of neonatal care as it can have long-term neurodevelopmental effects. • Lavender essential oil can help relieve pain due to its sedative, antispasmodic, and anticolic properties. WHAT IS NEW: • Lavender and vanilla essential oils are safe, beneficial, easy to use, and cheap in relieving pain in neonates who undergo a frenotomy for type 3 tongue-ties.

Analgesic effect of inhaled lavender essential oil for frenotomy in healthy neonates: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal pain may affect long-term neurodevelopment and must be treated. Frenotomy is a painful procedure wherein a common strategy to relieve pain (sucking) cannot be used because the technique is performed on the tongue. Lavender essential oil (LEO) has sedative and antispasmodic properties and has been successfully used to treat pain during heel puncture and vaccination. Our aim was to demonstrate if the use of inhaled LEO is effective in reducing pain during frenotomy in healthy, full-term neonates. METHODS: We conducted a randomized clinical trial in neonates who underwent a frenotomy between August 2020 and April 2021. We assessed pain using pre and post-procedure heart rate and oxygen saturation, crying time and Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS) score. Patients with type 3 tongue tie were randomized into the "experimental group" and "control group". In both groups, we performed swaddling, administered oral sucrose, and let the newborn suck for two minutes. In the experimental group, we also placed a gauze pad with one drop of LEO under the neonate's nose for two minutes prior to and during the frenotomy. RESULTS: We enrolled 142 patients (71 per group). The experimental group showed significantly lower NIPS scores (1.88 vs 2.92) and cried almost half the amount of time (14.8 vs. 24.6 seconds, P = 0.006). Comparing with the control group, we observed no side effects in either of the groups. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a significant decrease in crying time and lower NIPS scores in the neonates who received inhaled LEO and underwent a frenotomy for type 3 tongue-ties. Thus, we recommend using inhaled LEO during neonatal frenotomies.

Distinguishing outcomes of neonatal intestinal volvulus: Review of our experience over the last 20 years.

AIM: There are two types of intestinal volvulus: midgut (MGV) and segmental (SV). Patients with different types of intestinal volvulus are often included in the same case series, which may affect the perception of how severe "intestinal volvuli" are. We aimed to compare both types of intestinal volvulus. METHODS: This is a retrospective observational study including all patients with MGV and SV up to 28 days of life admitted to a tertiary hospital in Spain over a 20-year-period (1999-2019). A comparison between groups and a logistic regression model for mortality were done. RESULTS: We identified 32 patients: 23 MGV and 9 SV. Malrotation was exclusive of MGV. Prenatal diagnosis, cystic fibrosis, and intestinal resection were significantly more frequent in SV. Surgery was performed at a significantly lower age in SV. The mortality observed in acute MGV with intestinal compromise (41.7%) is four times higher than the mortality of SV (11.1%). The overall mortality of all MGV patients (21.7%) is almost twice that of SV. Mortality was best predicted by the presence of hemodynamic instability (OR 27.5 95% CI 2.50-302.17; p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: SV and MGV have a different clinical presentation. Hemodynamic instability is the major risk factor for death.

Neonatal Immune Neutropenia due to Isoantibodies against the Granulocyte Receptor FcγRIIIb.

INTRODUCTION: Neonatal neutropenia is often secondary to sepsis, low birth weight, pregnancy-induced maternal hypertension, and other conditions. CASE REPORT: We report a case of asymptomatic isoimmune neutropenia in a pair of preterm twins. Genotyping confirmed that the mother was negative for HNA-1a, 1b, and 1c, consistent with an FcγRIIIb deficiency. The father was 1(a+b+c-) and the neonates were 1(a-b+c-). A strongly positive result was observed in the granulocyte immunofluorescence test against paternal neutrophils (IgG antibodies). IgG anti-CD16b isoantibodies were detected in the mother's breast milk. Neutropenia resolved after 28 days without requiring any specific treatments. DISCUSSION: Even though neonatal alloimmune neutropenia (NAN) is usually benign and self-limiting, some patients pre-sent with delayed separation of the umbilical cord, mild skin infections, omphalitis, or severe infections like pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis. Thus, it is important to rule out NAN in case of neonatal neutropenia.

Perfil neurocognitivo y conductual del trastorno del espectro alcohólico fetal / Neurocognitive and behavioral profile of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

La exposición prenatal al alcohol es la principal causa prevenible del déficit cognitivo en los países desarrollados y puede dar lugar al trastorno del espectro alcohólico fetal (TEAF). Este término engloba una gran variedad de efectos físicos, mentales, conductuales y cognitivos que derivan del daño causado por la exposición al alcohol durante la vida intrauterina. El consumo de esta sustancia entre la población general es frecuente en los países de la Europa del Este y, especialmente, entre las mujeres en riesgo de exclusión social, que son las mayores afectadas en procesos de pérdida o renuncia de custodia de sus hijos. Un elevado número de estos niños son adoptados en España y muchos de ellos presentan alteraciones neurocognitivas y conductuales, convirtiendo el TEAF en un problema de salud pública en nuestro país. En muchas ocasiones, este cuadro clínico está infradiagnosticado debido a la superposición de los síntomas neuropsicológicos causados por el abandono y la falta de apego. Hasta el momento, no se ha descrito un perfil neurocognitivo y conductual específico del TEAF y muchos de los síntomas son comunes a otras etiologías. El objetivo de este trabajo es revisar el perfil neuropsicológico en el diagnóstico de TEAF. (AU)

Prenatal alcohol exposure is the leading preventable cause of cognitive deficit in developed countries and can lead to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). This term encompasses a wide range of physical, mental, behavioral, and cognitive effects that result from damage caused by exposure to alcohol during intrauterine life. Alcohol consumption among the general population is common in Eastern European countries and especially among women at risk of social exclusion, who are the ones who lose or give up custody of their children. A high number of these children are adopted in Spain and many of them present neurocognitive and behavioral disorders, causing FASD to be a public health problem in our country. In many occasions this clinical spectrum is delayed or under-diagnosed due to the overlapping of neuropsychological symptoms caused by the abandonment. A neurocognitive and behavioral profile specific for FASD has not been defined and all the symptoms are common to other etiologies. The aim of this work is to review the neuropsychological profile in the diagnosis of TEAF. (AU)

Neurocognitive and behavioral profile of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

Prenatal alcohol exposure is the leading preventable cause of cognitive deficit in developed countries and can lead to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). This term encompasses a wide range of physical, mental, behavioral, and cognitive effects that result from damage caused by exposure to alcohol during intrauterine life. Alcohol consumption among the general population is common in Eastern European countries and especially among women at risk of social exclusion, who are the ones who lose or give up custody of their children. A high number of these children are adopted in Spain and many of them present neurocognitive and behavioral disorders, causing FASD to be a public health problem in our country. In many occasions this clinical spectrum is delayed or under-diagnosed due to the overlapping of neuropsychological symptoms caused by the abandonment. A neurocognitive and behavioral profile specific for FASD has not been defined and all the symptoms are common to other etiologies. The aim of this work is to review the neuropsychological profile in the diagnosis of FASD.

Abuso de drogas durante el embarazo y su impacto neonatal. Análisis de los períodos 2002-2008 y 2009-2017 / Drug abuse during pregnancy and its neonatal impact. Analysis of the periods 2002-2008 and 2009-2017

Objetivos: Determinar la prevalencia del abuso de drogas entre nuestras gestantes y las características de sus embarazos, partos y recién nacidos.MétodosEstudio observacional retrospectivo de los neonatos nacidos entre el 1 de enero de 2009 y el 31 de diciembre de 2017 en nuestro centro, hijos de madres consumidoras, y comparación con nuestro estudio de 2002-2008.ResultadosEl consumo de heroína está disminuyendo, mientras que el de cannabis y metanfetamina están aumentando. Observamos una disminución del síndrome de abstinencia asociado al consumo de metadona y benzodiacepinas y un aumento de las madres consumidoras de benzodiacepinas y cannabis que dan el pecho. Los hijos de madres que consumen heroína y cocaína son dados de alta al domicilio materno con menos frecuencia. Observamos un predominio del consumo entre las mujeres españolas excepto en las metanfetaminas, donde la mayoría son filipinas. (AU)

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of substance abuse among our pregnant women and the characteristics of their pregnancies, deliveries and new-born infants.MethodsRetrospective observational study of infants born between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2017 in our centre to substance-abusing mothers and compared with our 2002-2008 study.ResultsHeroin use is decreasing, while cannabis and methamphetamine use are increasing. We observed a decrease in withdrawal associated with methadone and benzodiazepine use and an increase in breastfeeding in benzodiazepine and cannabis users. The infants of mothers who use heroin and cocaine are discharged to the mother's home less often. We observed a predominance of substance abuse among Spanish women except for methamphetamines, where the majority of users are Filipino. (AU)

Anquiloglòssia com a causa de deshidratació hipernatrèmica neonatal / Anquiloglosia como causa de la deshidratación hipernatrémica neonatal / Ankyloglossia as a cause of neonatal hypernatremic dehydration

Introducció: L’anquiloglòssia és una malformació lingualque pot causar dificultat en els moviments de la llengua ide la mandíbula dels nadons, i que provoca dolor als mugrons de la mare, una succió dèbil i una inadequada transferència de llet durant les preses al pit. Això pot ocasionaruna pèrdua de pes i un deslletament precoç si no es detecta i no es tracta. Presentem el cas de dos nadons ambanquiloglòssia i dificultats en la lactància materna que esvan complicar amb una deshidratació hipernatrèmica.Observació clínica: Ambdós nadons van patir una deshidratació hipernatrèmica sense signes d’infecció als deu diesde vida. Tots dos tenien anquiloglòssia, no tractada en elprimer cas, i no diagnosticada en el segon. L’anquiloglòssiadel segon cas es va diagnosticar posteriorment, arran de lapresentació del primer. La frenectomia feta al primer casva permetre la relactació completa, cosa que no es va aconseguir en el segon.Comentaris: Les dificultats que el tel sublingual curt potprovocar a la lactància poden ocasionar una deshidratacióhipernatrèmica greu. És important detectar l’anquiloglòssiaper poder fer un seguiment estret d’aquests nadons i tractar els casos simptomàtics. L’exploració del tel sublingualhauria de ser sistemàtica en l’exploració física inicial detots els nounats.(AU)

Introducción: La anquiloglosia es una malformación lingual quepuede causar dificultad en los movimientos de la lengua y de lamandíbula de los recién nacidos, provocando dolor en los pezonesde la madre, una succión débil y una inadecuada transferencia deleche durante las tomas al pecho. Ello puede ocasionar una pérdida de peso y un destete precoz si no se detecta y no se trata.Presentamos el caso de dos recién nacidos con anquiloglosia ydificultades en la lactancia materna que se complicaron con unadeshidratación hipernatrémica Observación clínica: Ambos sufrieron una deshidratación hipernatrémica sin signos de infección a los diez días de vida. Ambostenían anquiloglosia, sin tratar en el caso 1 y sin diagnosticar enel caso 2. La anquiloglosia del segundo caso se diagnosticó posteriormente, tras la presentación del primero. La frenectomía realizada en el primer caso permitió la relactación completa, que no selogró en el segundo.Comentarios: Las dificultades que el frenillo sublingual corto puedeprovocar en la lactancia pueden ocasionar una deshidratación hipernatrémica grave. Es importante detectar la presencia de anquiloglosia para poder realizar un seguimiento estrecho de estos recién nacidos y tratar los casos sintomáticos. La exploración delfrenillo sublingual debería de ser sistemática en la exploración física inicial de todos los neonatos.(AU)

Introduction: Ankyloglossia is a lingual malformation that may causedifficulty in tongue and mandibular movements in the newborn resulting in nipple pain in the mother, weak suction and inadequatemilk transfer during breastfeeding, which may lead to weight lossand an early cessation of breastfeeding if undetected and untreated.We report the case of two tonguetied neonates with breastfeedingdifficulties that presented with neonatal hypernatremic dehydration.Case report: Both infants experienced a hypernatremic dehydration, with no signs of infection, at 10 days of life. Both had ankyloglossia, which was untreated in case 1 and undiagnosed in case 2.The undetected ankyloglossia of case 2 was diagnosed a posterioriafter the identification of case 1. The frenotomy eventually performed in case 1 enabled complete relactation, which was not achieved in case 2.Comments: Breastfeeding difficulties caused by tonguetie maylead to severe hypernatremic dehydration. It is important to detectthe presence of ankyloglossia in all affected newborns so thatsymptomatic cases can be closely monitored and treated. Screening for ankyloglossia should be routinely performed at the initialphysical examination of all neonates.(AU)

Cefalohematoma neonatal infectat per Escherichia coli I meningitis asèptica / Cefalohematoma neonatal infectado por escherichia coli y meningitis aséptica / Escherichia coli-infected neonatal cephalohematoma and aseptic meningitis

INTRODUCCIÓ: Un cefalohematoma és una col·lecció de sang sota el periosti del crani secundària a un traumatisme del part. Afecta entre l'1% I el 2% dels nadons nascuts per un part vaginal I entre el 3% I el 4% dels nascuts mitjançant un part instrumentat. Solen ser benignes I autolimitats, I es resolen espontàniament al cap d'unes setmanes, però alguns casos poden anar acompanyats d'anèmia, hiperbilirubinèmia o fractura cranial, complicar-se amb una calcificació o, rarament, infectar-se. CAS CLINIC: Nounat a terme de 9 dies de vida amb un cefalohematoma present des del naixement que va augmentar de mida després de tenir febre I infectar-se per Escherichia coli, suposadament per l'extensió d'una bacterièmia, I que es va acompanyar d'una meningitis asèptica (pleocitosi) que es va considerar secundària a una osteomielitis per contigüitat. El pacient es va tractar amb antibiòtics I desbridament quirúrgic, I no va tenir seqüeles. COMENTARIS: Cal tenir present que els cefalohematomes, tot I que habitualment tenen un curs autolimitat I una bona evolució, són un lloc potencial d'infecció, I que cal sospitar I descartar la infecció en un pacient amb febre I l'existència prèvia d'un cefalohematoma. S'han descrit casos de meningitis associats a cefalohematoma, però, fins on sabem, només un de meningitis asèptica com el descrit I que es va considerar, a diferència del que presentem, secundària a un retard en la recollida del líquid cefaloraquidi després d'iniciada l'antibioteràpia

INTRODUCCIÓN: Un cefalohematoma es una colección de sangre debajo del periostio del cráneo secundaria a un traumatismo del parto. Afecta a entre el 1% y el 2% de los neonatos nacidos mediante un parto vaginal y a entre el 3% y el 4% de los nacidos mediante un parto instrumentado. Suelen ser benignos, autolimitados y resolverse espontáneamente en semanas, pero en algunos casos se pueden acompañar de anemia, hiperbilirrubinemia o fractura craneal, complicarse con una calcificación o, raramente, infectarse. CASO CLÍNICO: Recién nacido a término de 9 días de vida con un cefalohematoma presente desde el nacimiento que aumentó de tamaño tres haber tenido fiebre e infectarse por Escherichia coli, supuestamente por la extensión de una bacteriemia, y que se acompañó de una meningitis aséptica (pleocitosis) que se consideró secundaria a una osteomielitis por contigüidad. El paciente se trató con antibióticos y desbridamiento quirúrgico y no tuvo secuelas. COMENTARIOS: Debemos tener en cuenta que los cefalohematomas, a pesar de que habitualmente tienen un curso autolimitado y una buena evolución, son un lugar potencial de infección, y que hay que sospechar y descartar la infección en un paciente con fiebre y la existencia de un cefalohematoma previo. Se han descrito algunos casos de meningitis asociados a cefalohematoma, pero hasta donde sabemos solo uno de meningitis aséptica como el descrito y que se consideró, a diferencia del que presentamos, secundaria a un retraso en la recogida del líquido cefalorraquídeo tras el inicio de la antibioterapia

INTRODUCTION: A cephalohematoma is a collection of blood below the periosteum of the skull due to birth trauma. It affects 1-2% of spontaneous vaginal deliveries and 3-4% of instrument-assisted deliveries. It is usually a self-limiting, benign condition which resorbs within weeks. A small proportion of cases can be accompanied by anemia, hyperbilirubinemia or a skull fracture, or be complicated by calcification or rarely by infection. CASE REPORT: 9-day-old full term neonate with a cephalohematoma present at birth that enlarged after the cephalohematoma got infected by Escherichia coli during a septic episode. Aseptic meningitis (pleocytosis) was assumed to be due to contiguous osteomyelitis. The patient was successfully treated with antibiotics and surgical debridement and showed no sequelae. COMMENTS: Clinicians should be aware that even though cephalohematomas are usually a benign, self-limiting condition, they are a potential site of infection. Infection must be suspected and ruled out in a patient with fever and a pre-existing cephalohematoma. A few cases of meningitis accompanying an infected cephalohematoma have been reported, although, to our knowledge, there is only one report of an associated aseptic meningitis. In contrast to the patient we present, in the other reported case lumbar puncture was performed 24 hours after onset of antibiotic treatment, which was suggested as the reason for the cerebrospinal fluid to be sterile

Reliability of transcutaneous bilirubin determination based on skin color determined by a neonatal skin color scale of our own.

Measurement of transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) is widely used to estimate serum bilirubin (SB). However, its reliability depending on skin tone is still controversial. Ethnic classification does not correlate well with skin tone. We aimed to determine the reliability of transcutaneous bilirubin in a multiethnic population based on skin color according to our neonatal skin color scale. We conducted a prospective, observational study comparing SB and TcB among different skin colors. With the blood sample routinely obtained at 48-72 h for the screening of inborn errors of metabolism, we determined SB and TcB with a jaundice meter. We obtained data from 1359 newborns (color 1 337, color 2 750, color 3 249, color 4 23) and analyzed 1549 dyads SB/TcB. Correlation between TcB and serum bilirubin was very good (R2 = 0.908-0.956), globally and by color group, with slight differences between darker and lighter skin colors. Bland-Altman plots showed different mean bias depending on skin color. Conclusions: Our study not only supports the reliability of TcB to assess SB regardless of skin color, but also supports the fact that TcB tends to overestimate SB in a higher degree in dark-skinned neonates. This may help reduce the number of blood samples for newborns. What is Known: • Jaundice meters are extensively used to diagnose neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, although controversies exist on their reliability depending on skin color. • Only a few studies have analyzed their accuracy in multiethnic populations, but none has used a validated neonatal skin color scale. What is New: • We verified correlation between serum and transcutaneous bilirubin in a multiethnic population depending on skin color after classifying our neonates into color groups with our own validated neonatal skin color scale.

Drug abuse during pregnancy and its neonatal impact. Analysis of the periods 2002-2008 and 2009-2017. / Abuso de drogas durante el embarazo y su impacto neonatal. Análisis de los períodos 2002-2008 y 2009-2017.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of substance abuse among our pregnant women and the characteristics of their pregnancies, deliveries and new-born infants. METHODS: Retrospective observational study of infants born between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2017 in our centre to substance-abusing mothers and compared with our 2002-2008 study. RESULTS: Heroin use is decreasing, while cannabis and methamphetamine use are increasing. We observed a decrease in withdrawal associated with methadone and benzodiazepine use and an increase in breastfeeding in benzodiazepine and cannabis users. The infants of mothers who use heroin and cocaine are discharged to the mother's home less often. We observed a predominance of substance abuse among Spanish women except for methamphetamines, where the majority of users are Filipino. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in cannabis use and the decrease in heroin and cocaine use have improved gestational control. Methamphetamine use is associated with serious social risks.

Prevalence of neonatal ankyloglossia in a tertiary care hospital in Spain: a transversal cross-sectional study.

Ankyloglossia, or tongue-tie, is a congenital anomaly in which a short lingual frenulum or a highly attached genioglossus muscle restricts tongue movement. The reported prevalence of neonatal ankyloglossia varies between less than 1 and 12.1% depending upon the study population and criteria used to define and grade ankyloglossia. Our hypothesis was that ankyloglossia had a higher prevalence among our newborn population than previously reported. We conducted an observational, transversal cross-sectional study which included all neonates born in our center between January 1 and December 31, 2018, and actively assessed for tongue-tie. We considered "clinically significant" or "symptomatic" ankyloglossia using the Hazelbaker tool for appearance and function when the mother experienced nipple pain or bruises, or when the neonate had difficulty latching onto the breast. A total of 1392 neonates were born at our center in 2018. Tongue-tie was identified in 645 infants (46.3%), of which 453 were symptomatic (70.2%). Thus, clinically significant ankyloglossia was present in 32.5% of the neonates born in 2018. Their distribution according to Coryllos's types were as follows: 45 type 1 (7.0%), 230 type 2 (35.6%), 321 type 3 (49.8%), and 42 type 4 (6.5%).Conclusion: The prevalence of symptomatic ankyloglossia in our population is higher (32.5%) than studies have reported to date. Actively assessing for tongue-tie increases its diagnosis. What is Known: • There are four types of tongue-tie according to Coryllos (1, 2, 3, and 4), of which the two anterior types (1 and 2) are the most apparent and easy to diagnose. • The reported prevalence of ankyloglossia generally varies from < 1 to 12.1%, although some recent studies report a higher prevalence. What is New: • We found a prevalence of neonatal ankyloglossia of 46.3%, of which 70.2% was symptomatic (clinically significant ankyloglossia was present in 32.5% of the neonates born in 2018 at our hospital). • Actively assessing for ankyloglossia and posterior tongue-ties, which are likely more often undiagnosed, increases its diagnosis.

Validation of a neonatal skin color scale.

Ethnic classification does not correlate well with skin tone. As there are no neonatal skin color scales, we aimed to create and validate one of our own. After creating the scale and briefly training our staff, we conducted a prospective, observational study to assess reproducibility and correlation of each scale color with the melanin and erythema indexes and transcutaneous bilirubin. The reliability of our color scale was measured using Kappa agreement (and its 95% confidence interval) and the concordance index by comparing inter-observer classification of neonatal skin color. We also calculated inter-rater agreement with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The Kendall tau-b correlation coefficient was used to test the correlation between our color scale and the Mexameter® MX 18. We obtained data from 258 newborns. Inter-observer agreement on color assignment was 83.2%. Median melanin index was significantly different among the 4 color groups, whereas erythema index and transcutaneous bilirubin were not.Conclusions: Our proposed neonatal skin color scale correlates well with the melanin index at 24 h of life, increasing from colors 1 to 4, and the only chromophore different among our four color groups is melanin. Scale color assignment is reproducible. Therefore, it can be used to classify neonatal skin color. Further research is warranted to assess the clinical relevance of these findings. What is known: • Classifying neonates by skin color is difficult because to date there are no skin color scales available based on real skin tone regardless of ethnicity or country of origin. • Skin color differs among individuals from a given ethnic group and depends, among others, on melanin and hemoglobin. What is new: • We created a neonatal skin color scale based on real skin color. • We conducted a study to validate it, and confirmed a good inter-observer agreement in color assignment as well as a good correlation between each color in the scale and the median melanin level.

Adherence to the neonatal resuscitation algorithm for preterm infants in a tertiary hospital in Spain.

BACKGROUND: There is evidence that delivery room resuscitation of very preterm infants often deviates from internationally recommended guidelines. There were no published data in Spain regarding the quality of neonatal resuscitation. Therefore, we decided to evaluate resuscitation team adherence to neonatal resuscitation guidelines after birth in very preterm infants. METHODS: We conducted an observational study. We video recorded resuscitations of preterm infants < 32 weeks' gestational age and evaluated every step during resuscitation according to a score-sheet specifically designed for this purpose, following Carbine's method, where higher scores indicated that more intense resuscitation maneuvers were required. We divided the score achieved by the total possible points per patient to obtain the percentage of adherence to the algorithm. We also compared resuscitations performed by staff neonatologists to those performed by pediatricians on-call. We compared percentages of adherence to the algorithm with the Chi-square test for large groups and Fisher's exact test for smaller groups. We compared assigned Apgar scores with those given after analyzing the recordings and described them by their median and interquartile range. We measured the interrater agreement between Apgar scores with Cohen's kappa coefficient. Linear and logarithmic regressions were drawn to characterize the pattern of algorithm adherence. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS V.20. A p-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Our Hospital Ethics Committee approved this project, and we obtained parental written consent beforehand. RESULTS: Sixteen percent of our resuscitations followed the algorithm. The number of mistakes per resuscitation was low. Global adherence to the algorithm was 80.9%. Ventilation and surfactant administration were performed best, whereas preparation and initial steps were done with worse adherence to the algorithm. Intubation required, on average, 2.2 attempts; success on the first attempt happened in 33.3% of cases. Only 12.5% of intubations were achieved within the allotted 30 s. Many errors were attributable to timing. Resuscitations led by pediatricians on-call were performed as correctly as those by staff neonatologists. CONCLUSIONS: Resuscitation often deviates from the internationally recognized algorithm. Perfectly performed resuscitations are infrequent, although global adherence to the algorithm is high. Neonatologists and pediatricians need intubation training.