X-ray radiation dose and associated factors in neonates from the newborn unit of Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Bogotá, Colombia / Dosis de radiación por radiografías y factores asociados en neonatos de la Unidad de Recién Nacidos del Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Bogotá, Colombia.

Introduction: Radiographs are still widely used, underestimating the risks. This situation is frequent in neonatal care units, generating radiation doses than in adults. Objective: To quantify the received radiation doses when performing radiographs on neonates and the possible factors associated with higher doses. Materials and methods: We performed an observational study of 160 neonates from the newborn unit of the Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Bogotá, Colombia. We considered the input dose of each radiograph as the dependent variable. Patients were characterized and a multivariate analysis with multiple linear regression was performed to identify associated factors. Results: We analyzed 160 newborns and 492 radiographs. The most frequent findings were male patients (n=87, 54.4%), cesarean delivery (n=122, 76.3%), and radiograph indication for respiratory distress (n=123, 24.9%). One-point eight percent of the patients (n=9) did not have radiograph indication. The most frequently taken radiograph was chest (322, 65.4%). Most radiographs were taken with a computerized equipment (n=352, 71.5%), compared to a digital one (n=140, 28.4%). The median input dose with computerized equipment was 0.112 mGy (0.022, 0.134 mGy), and with the digital equipment was 0.020 mGy (0.019, 0.022 mGy). Conclusions: The general and specific absorbed radiation doses were measured in neonates with a computerized and a digital equipment. We identified higher doses with the computerized equipment. In addition, it was recognized the correlation between computerized radiography equipment with lower corrected gestational ages as the main factor for dose increase.

Introducción: Las radiografías continúan usándose ampliamente, subestimando los riesgos. Esto sucede, especialmente, en las unidades de cuidado neonatal, lo que implica que los neonatos reciben una dosis de radiación ionizante mayor que los adultos. Objetivo: Cuantificar las dosis de radiación recibidas al tomar radiografías y evaluar los posibles factores asociados con el aumento de la dosis. Materiales y métodos: Se llevó a cabo un estudio observacional de 160 neonatos de la Unidad de Recién Nacidos del Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Bogotá, Colombia. Se consideró como variable dependiente la dosis de entrada en piel por cada radiografía. Se hizo la caracterización de los pacientes, seguida de un análisis multivariado con regresión lineal múltiple para identificar factores asociados. Resultados: Se analizaron 160 pacientes y 492 radiografías en total. Entre los hallazgos más frecuentes, se encuentran: pacientes de sexo masculino (n=87; 54,4 %), nacimiento por cesárea (n=122; 76,3 %) e indicación de toma de radiografías por dificultad respiratoria (n=123; 24,9 %). El 1,8 % (n=9) de los pacientes no tenían una indicación para la toma de la radiografía. La radiografía más frecuente fue la de tórax (n=322; 65,4 %). La mayoría de las radiografías se tomaron con el equipo computarizado (n=352; 71,5 %) y no con el digital (n=140, 28,4 %). La mediana de la dosis de entrada en piel con el equipo computarizado fue de 0,112 mGy (0,022; 0,134 mGy) y, con el equipo digital, de 0,020 mGy (0,019, 0,022 mGy). Conclusiones: Se cuantificaron las dosis de radiación absorbida en neonatos, general y específica, con el equipo computarizado y el digital. Se identificaron mayores dosis con el equipo computarizado. Se reconoció la interacción entre el equipo computarizado con menores edades gestacionales corregidas como principal factor para el aumento de la dosis. Además, se reconoció la relación entre el equipo computarizado y una menor edad gestacional corregida, como principal factor para una mayor dosis.

XIII International Conference on Kangaroo Mother Care - Different opinions, experiences and related KMC issues: Good practices, stabilisation concept, nutrition and basic respiratory support.

AIM: This study aimed to summarise the views and experiences of the participants in the workshop of the XIII International Conference on Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC). METHODS: The results of the discussions held during the workshop of the XIII International Conference on KMC were summarised. There were 152 participants from 47 countries. Four main KMC topics were discussed: good practices, immediate implementation, nutrition and basic ventilation. RESULTS: Several agreements were reached, namely that professional societies and governments should develop official recommendations to promote KMC as standard care for preterm and low birth weight infants and that parents should be involved as active caregivers in neonatal care units. Moreover, the criteria for referring community-born infants to KMC require standardisation. Important inequalities in resource availability among high-, middle- and low-income countries were recognised for all topics. Specific needs were identified for parenteral nutrition and fortifiers, nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) and oxygen blenders, which are rarely available in low- and middle-income countries. Immediate implementation of KMC was discussed as a new concept. Its benefits were recognised, but its application has some variability. CONCLUSION: Adequate preterm care requires a basic neonatal package, including KMC, nCPAP, immediate management protocols and adequate nutrition and feeding strategies. The differences in resources among high-, middle- and low-income countries highlight the wide disparities in neonatal care according to the place of birth.

Strategies discussed at the XIIth international conference on Kangaroo mother care for implementation on a countrywide scale.

AIM: Building strategies for the country-level dissemination of Kangaroo mother care (KMC) to reduce the mortality rate in preterm and low birth weight babies and improve quality of life. KMC is an evidence-based healthcare method for these infants. However, KMC implementation at the global level remains low. METHODS: The international network in Kangaroo mother brought 172 KMC professionals from 33 countries together for a 2-day workshop held in conjunction with the XIIth International KMC Conference in Bogota, Colombia, in November 2018. Participants worked in clusters to formulate strategies for country-level dissemination and scale-up according to seven pre-established objectives. RESULTS: The minimum set of indicators for KMC scale-up proposed by the internationally diverse groups is presented. The strategies for KMC integration and implementation at the country level, as well as the approaches for convincing healthcare providers of the safety of KMC transportation, are also described. Finally, the main aspects concerning KMC follow-up and KMC for term infants are presented. CONCLUSION: In this collaborative meeting, participants from low-, middle- and high-income countries combined their knowledge and experience to identify the best strategies to implement KMC at a countrywide scale.

Efectividad y seguridad de 2 dispositivos de fototerapia para el manejo humanizado de la ictericia / Effectiveness and safety of two phototherapy devices for the humanised management of neonatal jaundice

INTRODUCCIÓN: La ictericia neonatal es frecuente en los prematuros. El tratamiento oportuno actual con curvas estándar para fototerapia lleva al clínico a separar al bebé de su madre después del nacimiento. Se busca evaluar la efectividad y seguridad de 2 dispositivos innovadores para fototerapia compuestos por mallas de luz LED: una bolsa para dormir y una manta comparadas con fototerapia convencional intrahospitalaria o ambulatoria. MÉTODOS: Se condujeron 2 experimentos clínicos aleatorizados: uno con neonatos >2.000 g en una unidad de recién nacidos y otro con prematuros en un programa de seguimiento ambulatorio. El patrón de oro para la medición de bilirrubinas fue la bilirrubina sérica, y los controles ambulatorios fueron hechos con el Bilicheck(R). Los padres y el personal de salud respondieron una encuesta sobre comodidad con los dispositivos. RESULTADOS: En el estudio correspondiente a la bolsa se realizó regresión lineal para descenso de bilirrubinas en mg/dl/h, controlando por ictericia de aparición temprana (< 36 h) y tipo de dispositivo. No se encontró diferencia significativa entre los dispositivos. Para el estudio en el seguimiento ambulatorio, el descenso de bilirrubina con la manta fue significativamente mayor. En ambos estudios no se encontraron diferencias significativas en temperaturas, duración de fototerapia, readmisiones, mortalidad o efectos secundarios; tampoco en los cuestionarios para padres y equipo médico sobre comodidad con los dispositivos. CONCLUSIONES: Estos 2 pequeños estudios son un «grano de arena» para la humanización del cuidado neonatal, evitando la separación madre-hijo, tanto para el manejo de la hiperbilirrubinemia intrahospitalaria como para la hiperbilirrubinemia de bajo riesgo en el paciente ambulatorio

INTRODUCTION: Neonatal jaundice is common, especially in premature infants. Compliance with treatment protocols and standard serum bilirubin curves forces the clinician to separate the child from the mother after birth for short phototherapy. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of two innovative devices for phototherapy including a LED light mesh: one sleeping bag and one blanket compared to conventional hospital or ambulatory phototherapy. METHODS: Two randomised clinical trials were conducted: one with newborns > 2,000 g at birth in the Neonatal Care Unit and the other with premature infants followed-up in an outpatient clinic (PMC). The gold standard for bilirubin measurement was serum bilirubin, and ambulatory controls were performed with the Bilicheck(R). Parents and health personnel completed a questionnaire on comfort and perceptions. Results; In the study using the bag, a linear regression was performed for the decrease in bilirubin in mg/dL/h, controlling by early jaundice (< 36 h) and the device type. The results were similar between the 2 devices. For the blanket trial in the PMC, the decrease in bilirubin levels with the new device was significantly greater with no differences in temperatures, duration of phototherapy, re-admission, mortality, or side effects for both trials. Parents and staff satisfaction with the two devices was identical for the 2 trials. CONCLUSION: These 2 small studies add a 'grain of sand' to humanisation of newborn care, avoiding the mother-and-child separation for both the intra-hospital high-risk hyperbilirubinaemia, as well as for the lower-risk hyperbilirubinaemia in an outpatient clinic

[Effectiveness and safety of two phototherapy devices for the humanised management of neonatal jaundice]. / Efectividad y seguridad de 2 dispositivos de fototerapia para el manejo humanizado de la ictericia.

INTRODUCTION: Neonatal jaundice is common, especially in premature infants. Compliance with treatment protocols and standard serum bilirubin curves forces the clinician to separate the child from the mother after birth for short phototherapy. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of two innovative devices for phototherapy including a LED light mesh: one sleeping bag and one blanket compared to conventional hospital or ambulatory phototherapy. METHODS: Two randomised clinical trials were conducted: one with newborns >2,000g at birth in the Neonatal Care Unit and the other with premature infants followed-up in an outpatient clinic (PMC). The gold standard for bilirubin measurement was serum bilirubin, and ambulatory controls were performed with the Bilicheck®. Parents and health personnel completed a questionnaire on comfort and perceptions. RESULTS: In the study using the bag, a linear regression was performed for the decrease in bilirubin in mg/dL/h, controlling by early jaundice (<36h) and the device type. The results were similar between the 2 devices. For the blanket trial in the PMC, the decrease in bilirubin levels with the new device was significantly greater with no differences in temperatures, duration of phototherapy, re-admission, mortality, or side effects for both trials. Parents and staff satisfaction with the two devices was identical for the 2 trials. CONCLUSION: These 2 small studies add a 'grain of sand' to humanisation of newborn care, avoiding the mother-and-child separation for both the intra-hospital high-risk hyperbilirubinaemia, as well as for the lower-risk hyperbilirubinaemia in an outpatient clinic.

Acidemia propiónica neonatal con deterioro neurológico, rechazo al alimento y emesis reporte de caso y revisión de la literatura / Neonatal-onset propionic acidemia neurologic deficit, poor feeding and vomiting - a case report and literature review

Paciente pretérmino que reingresa a la unidad de recién nacidos de la Clínica Universitaria Colombia, Bogotá DC, por problemas en la alimentación y pobre ganancia ponderal, a quien se le diagnosticó acidemia propiónica mediante cromatografía de ácidos orgánicos en orina. Los errores innatos del metabolismo son entidades que a pesar de tener una baja incidencia, se deben considerar en todo neonato con encefalopatía, problemas en la alimentación o pobre ganancia ponderal, entre otras manifestaciones, ya que el diagnóstico temprano y tratamiento oportuno previenen la aparición de secuelas neurológicas con retardo del desarrollo psicomotor y muerte temprana.

Preterm infant readmitted to the neonatal unit at ClínicaUniversitaria Colombia, Bogotá DC, presenting poor feeding and delays in normal growth velocity, who was diagnosed with propionic acidemiaby means of a urine organic acid profiling by chromatography. Although its low incidence, inborn metabolic disorders must be considered in any newborn presenting with encefalopathy, poor feeding or delays in normal growth velocity, among other manifestations for early diagnosisandprompt treatment preventneurological sequellae including psychomotor retardation and early neonatal death.