A quality improvement initiative to reduce antibiotic use in transient tachypnea of the newborn.

OBJECTIVE: Evidence suggests that antibiotics are unnecessary in infants with transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) that are low-risk for early-onset sepsis. The aim was to reduce ampicillin and gentamicin days of therapy (DOT) in infants with suspected TTN by 10% within 12 months. STUDY DESIGN: We used the Model for Improvement to test interventions from August 2019 to September 2021 to decrease antibiotic utilization in low-risk infants with TTN. Interventions included the creation of an evidence-based clinical pathway, admission huddles, and prescriber audit and feedback. RESULTS: We reduced ampicillin and gentamicin use by 26% and 23%, respectively. In 123 infants with suspected TTN, we sequentially decreased starting antibiotics in this group from 71% to 41%, 13% and 0%. There were no cases of missed bacteremia. CONCLUSION: Creation of a multidisciplinary antimicrobial stewardship QI team and subsequent interventions were successful in safely reducing antibiotic use in infants with TTN.

The diagnostic value of pulmonary near-infrared spectroscopy in the early distinction of neonatal pneumonia from transient tachypnea of the newborn.

AIM: Pulmonary near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a new and promising tool for diagnosis of neonatal respiratory diseases (RD). The study aimed to determine the role of pulmonary regional oxygen saturation (pRSO2 ) values obtained by NIRS in the early distinction of neonatal pneumonia (NP) from transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN). METHODS: This prospective, observational, double-blind study was conducted in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) between 2020 and 2021. Late preterm and term newborns hospitalized in the NICU due to the diagnosis of TTN and NP were included. Cerebral RSO2 and pRSO2 values were measured during the 1st, 24th, 48th, and 72nd hours of hospitalization, using NIRS. RESULTS: Of the eligible 40 infants, 65% (n: 26) were diagnosed as TTN and 35% (n: 16) as NP. The pRSO2 values were significantly higher in the TTN group than the NP group for both apexes (75.3 ± 8.7 vs. 69 ± 5.4, p: .018, respectively) and lateral lung (77.8 ± 6 vs. 72.7 ± 6.2, p: .016, respectively) in the 1st hour of hospitalization. There were significant differences in pRSO2 apex and pRSO2 lateral values between the 1st and 24th hours of hospitalization and the 24th and 48th hours in the NP group (p2 : .001 for both). The optimal pRSO2 apex cut-off value was >72% to predict the diagnosis of NP with a sensitivity of 78.6% and a specificity of 69.2%. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary NIRS may be considered as a feasible and promising diagnostic tool in late preterm and term infants with RD. It may also be helpful for the early differentiation of NP from TTN and the courses of these diseases.

The effect of non-invasive high-frequency oscillatory ventilation on the duration of non-invasive respiratory support in late preterm and term infants with transient tachypnea of the newborn: a randomized controlled trial.

Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) is one of the most commonly used non-invasive respiratory support modes in neonates with transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN). Non-invasive high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (nHFOV) is a non-invasive respiratory support mode that has been increasingly used in neonatal respiratory disorders. This prospective randomized controlled study compared the efficacy of nHFOV and nCPAP in reducing the duration of non-invasive respiratory support. Late preterm and term infants > 34 weeks' gestation were included in the study. The infants were randomly assigned to receive either nHFOV or nCPAP. Treatment was started with standard settings in both groups. Infants who met treatment failure criteria were switched to nasal intermittent mandatory ventilation for further positive-pressure support. A total of 60 infants were included in the study. Thirty of these infants were included in the nHFOV group and 30 were included in the nCPAP group. The median duration of non-invasive respiratory support was not significantly different between the two groups (21 h [IQR: 16-68] for nHFOV vs 15 h [IQR: 11-33] for nCPAP; p = 0.09). However, after adjusting for potential confounders, nHFOV was associated with a shorter duration of non-invasive respiratory support than nCPAP (adjusted mean difference: 16.3 h; 95% CI: 0.7 to 31.9; p = 0.04). nHFOV was well tolerated and did not increase the risk of complications.    Conclusion: Our findings suggest that nHFOV is an effective and safe ventilation mode for late preterm and term neonates with TTN.   Trial registry: Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03006354). Date of registration: December 30, 2016. What is Known: • nHFOV is a ventilation model that has been increasingly used for the management of RDS. • TTN is one of the most common causes of neonatal respiratory distress. What is New: • nHFOV is associated with shorter duration of non-invasive respiratory support and duration of oxygen support. • nHFOV may be a safe and effective alternative to nCPAP for neonates with TTN.

The diagnostic value of n-terminal probrain natriuretic peptides to differentiate neonatal pneumoniae and transient tachypnea of the newborn.

BACKGROUND: The primary objective of the study was to determine the diagnostic value of serum N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels to differentiate neonatal pneumonia (NP) and transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN). The secondary objective was to investigate the prognostic role of NT-proBNP levels in neonates with severe respiratory distress (RD). METHODS: A prospective, observational, single-blinded study involving 58 late preterm and term newborns who were diagnosed with TTN or NP was conducted between June 2020 and June 2021 at a level-3 neonatal intensive care unit in Kirikkale University Faculty of Medicine. TTN and NP groups were compared for serum NT-proBNP levels measured at the 1st and 24th hours of life. Optimal cut-off NT-proBNP value was determined by Youden index to predict the diagnosis of NP. Lung ultrasound was used to support the diagnosis of TTN and NP. In addition, lung ultrasound score (LUS) was used to determine severe RD. RESULTS: The median of NT-proBNP level was significantly higher at the 24th hour of life in the NP group than in the TTN group, respectively 7263.5 pg/mL (1643-35,000) and 3308 pg/mL (69-19,746), p = 0.004. At a cut-off value of 5515.5 pg/mL, NT-proBNP had a sensitivity of 75% and specificity of 73.8% to predict NP [AUC= 0.749 (95% CI: 0.602-0.895; p = 0.004)]. The study population was divided into two groups as high score group (n: 23, LUS ≥ 7) and low score group (n: 35, LUS < 7) according to the LUS at the 6th hour of life. NT-proBNP values at 24th hour of life were 6320 pg/mL (69-35,000) in high score group and 3500 pg/mL (570-15,948) in low score group, p = 0.044. Duration of oxygen support (p = 0.006), noninvasive ventilation (p = 0.008) and NICU stay (p = 0.004) were higher in high-score group. DISCUSSION: NT-proBNP values at 24th hour of life can be used as a relatively early predictor in the differentiation between NP and TTN in late preterm and term neonates. In addition, elevated NT-proBNP values are related to the higher LUS which reflects the severity of RD regardless of diagnosis.

Association between thiol-disulfide hemostasis and transient tachypnea of the newborn in late-preterm and term infants.

BACKGROUND: Transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN), which is the most common respiratory disease in the neonatal period, increases respiratory workload in newborns. We purposed to evaluate the oxidative stress (OS) status and thiol disulfide hemostasis in late preterm and term newborns with TTN in this study. METHODS: The study was carried out in a single-centre neonatal intensive care unit to investigate the effect of continuous airway positive pressure (CPAP) on the oxidative system in newborns with TTN. Thiol (native and total) and disulfide levels, total antioxidant and oxidant status (TAS/TOS) and Oxidative stress index (OSI) levels were measured. RESULTS: Total thiol levels measured before treatment was 429.5 (369.5-487) µmol/L in the late preterm group and 425 (370-475) µmol/L in the term group (p = 0.741). We found significant changes in TOS, OSI and TAS levels after CPAP treatment in the late preterm group (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.012 respectively). It was also found that the disulfide level, which was 26.2 (19.2-31.7) before the treatment, decreased to 19.5 (15.5-28.75) after the treatment (p = 0.001) in late preterms. CONCLUSION: CPAP treatment reduced the OS status burden associated with TTN in neonates. The late preterm newborns with TTN are more affected by OS and increased OS levels decrease with CPAP treatment.

Assessment of myocardial function in late preterm and term infants with transient tachypnea of the newborn using tissue Doppler imaging - a pilot observational study.

The aim of this study was to compare conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography parameters between transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) and healthy control infants. This cross sectional pilot observational study was conducted in a level 3 neonatal care unit of India. Consecutively born late preterm and term infants (LPTI) with TTN were eligible for enrollment. Control group was selected from healthy LPTI. Conventional and tissue Doppler (myocardial velocities, myocardial performance index (MPI)) echocardiography was done within first 12 h (D1) and 48-72 h (D3) of life. Conventional echocardiography parameters were fractional shortening (FS), ejection fraction (EF), ventricular output, E/A ratio, fractional area change (FAC), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP), and pulmonary artery acceleration to ejection time ratio (PATET). Baseline characteristics and echocardiography images were compared between TTN and control groups. Out of 60 infants enrolled, 34 from TTN and 20 from control group were finally analyzed. Mean (SD) gestational age and birth weight of the study population was 366/7(1.8) weeks and 2398(376) g respectively. Left ventricular (LV) parameters were similar between both groups. On D1, right ventricular (RV)e' was smaller (6.42(1) cm/s vs. 7.68(1.68) cm/s, p 0.022), and E/e' (7.79(1.51) vs. 6.08(2.59), p 0.037) was larger in TTN group, indicating RV diastolic dysfunction. RV MPI (0.61(0.11) vs. 0.44(0.12), p < 0.001) was also larger, signifying RV global myocardial dysfunction. Similar findings were observed on D3. PATET was lower in TTN group on both D1 (0.34 (0.05) vs. 0.42 (0.05), p < 0.001) and D3 (0.38 (0.05) vs. 0.43 (0.02), p 0.004) suggesting persistently raised pulmonary arterial pressure, although only 2 infants developed pulmonary hypertension identified by standard echocardiography.   Conclusion: Myocardial tissue Doppler imaging of TTN infants revealed occult right ventricular diastolic dysfunction secondary to persistently raised pulmonary arterial pressure. What is Known: •Transient tachypnea of the newborn may be associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension. What is New: •Tissue Doppler imaging in infants with transient tachypnea of the newborn revealed occult right ventricular diastolic dysfunction secondary to raised pulmonary arterial pressure, not detected by standard echocardiography.

Comparison of urine bisphenol A levels in transient tachypnea of the newborn and healthy newborns.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the relationship between neonatal urine bisphenol A (BPA) levels and the prevalence and prognosis of transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN). METHODS: This prospective study was conducted between January and April 2020 in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Gaziantep Cengiz Gökçek Obstetrics and Pediatric Hospital. The study group consisted of patients diagnosed with TTN and the control group was made up of healthy neonates housed together with their mothers. Urine samples were collected from the neonates within the first 6 hours postnatally. RESULTS: Urine BPA levels and urine BPA/creatinine levels were statistically higher in the TTN group (P < 0.005). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis determined the cut-off value of urine BPA for TTN to be 1.18 µg/L (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.667-0.889, sensitivity: 78.1%, and specificity: 51.5%) and the cut-off value of urine BPA/creatinine to be 2.65 µg/g (95% CI: 0.727-0.930, sensitivity: 84.4%, and specificity: 66.7%). Furthermore, the ROC analysis indicated that the cut-off value of BPA for neonates requiring invasive respiratory support was 15.64 µg/L (95% CI: 0.568-1.000, sensitivity: 83.3%, and specificity: 96.2%) and the cut-off value for BPA/creatinine was 19.10 µg/g (95% CI: 0.777-1.000, sensitivity: 83.3%, and specificity: 84.6%) among the TTN patients. CONCLUSIONS: BPA and BPA/creatinine values were higher in the urine of newborns diagnosed with TTN which is a fairly common cause of NICU hospitalization, in samples collected within the first 6 hours after birth, which may be a reflection of intrauterine factors.

Evolution of Ultrasound-Assessed Lung Aeration and Gas Exchange in Respiratory Distress Syndrome and Transient Tachypnea of the Neonate.

OBJECTIVE: To use clinical, lung ultrasound, and gas exchange data to clarify the evolution of lung aeration and function in neonates with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and transient tachypnea of the neonate (TTN), the most common types of neonatal respiratory failure. STUDY DESIGN: In this prospective observational cohort study, lung aeration and function were measured with a semiquantitative lung ultrasound score (LUS) and transcutaneous blood gas measurement performed at 1 hour (time point 0), 6 hours (time point 1), 12 hours (time point 2), 24 hours (time point 3) and 72 hours (time point 4) of life. Endogenous surfactant was estimated using lamellar body count (LBC). LUS, oxygenation index (OI), oxygen saturation index (OSI), and transcutaneous pressure of carbon dioxide (PtcCO2) were the primary outcomes. All results were adjusted for gestational age. RESULTS: Sixty-nine neonates were enrolled in the RDS cohort, and 58 neonates were enrolled in the TTN cohort. LUS improved over time (within-subjects, P < .001) but was worse for the RDS cohort than for the TTN cohort at all time points (between-subjects, P < .001). Oxygenation improved over time (within-subjects, P = .011 for OI, P < .001 for OSI) but was worse for the RDS cohort than for the TTN cohort at all time points (between-subjects, P < .001 for OI and OSI). PtcCO2 improved over time (within-subjects, P < .001) and was similar in the RDS and TTN cohorts at all time points. Results were unchanged after adjustment for gestational age. LBC was associated with RDS (ß = -0.2 [95% CI, -0.004 to -0.0001]; P = .037) and LUS (ß = -3 [95% CI, -5.5 to -0.5]; P = .019). CONCLUSIONS: For the first 72 hours of life, the RDS cohort had worse lung aeration and oxygenation compared with the TTN cohort at all time points. CO2 clearance did not differ between the cohorts, whereas both lung aeration and function improved in the first 72 hours of life.

New parameters on prediction of severity of transient tachypnea of the newborn.

BACKGROUND: Transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) is a common clinical problem that often occurs in the first hours of life. Although it is considered to be a benign clinical course, some cases may have severe symptoms and require ventilation support. In this study, we aimed to determine the association between the mean platelet volume (MPV), nucleated red blood cells (NRBCs), right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP), and the severity of TTN. METHODS: Patients with TTN were divided into two groups according to Silverman score (<7: group 1 [n: 34] and ≥7: Group 2 [n: 30]). The groups were compared in terms of demographic characteristics, hematologic parameters, and RVSP within the first 24 hours after admission. RESULTS: Mean birth weight of the patients was 3033.4 ± 364.1 g and median gestational age was 38 weeks (min-max: 34-42). Patients in Group 2 were found to require higher nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) support and longer duration of oxygen treatment (p: 0.001). Patients in Group 2 had significantly higher thrombocyte, absolute NRBCs count, NRBCs/100 WBCs, and RVSP levels (p < 0.05). Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were found significantly higher in group 1(p < 0.05). In logistic regression analysis, NRBCs/100 WBCs was found to be the most important independent parameter that affects Silverman score at admission (OR: 7.065, CI: 1.258-39.670, p: 0.026). DISCUSSION: This is the first study that investigates the association between NRBCs, RVSP, and severity of TTN. We think that elevated NRBCs and RVSP values are helpful for clinicians in decision making for referral of the patients to a secondary or a tertiary level of NICU and also inform the families about prognosis.

Neonato de 39 semanas de gestación con taquipnea transitoria, criptorquidia e hidrocele, con el modelo de Dorothea E. Orem / Neonate 39 weeks gestation with transient tachypnea, cryptorchidism and hidrocele, with the model of Dorothea E. Orem

Introducción: a nivel mundial la taquipnea transitoria del recién nacido se presenta entre el 0.3 y 0.5 % de todos los recién nacidos, aunque existen algunas series mexicanas que reportan hasta el 2 % de todos los recién nacidos vivos. Comprende entre el 35 y 50 % de todos los casos de dificultad respiratoria no infecciosa que ingresan a los cuneros patológicos o unidades de cuidado intensivo neonatal.1 Mientras que las tasas de criptorquidia e hidrocele son más altas en los niños nacidos por cesárea (3.3 y 4.7 %, respectivamente), en comparación con los obtenidos por vía vaginal (1.7 y 1.6 %).2 Descripción del caso: neonato de 39 semanas de gestación con taquipnea transitoria del recién nacido, criptorquidia e hidrocele atendido en el servicio de atención al recién nacido de un hospital de segundo nivel de atención. Objetivo: proporcionar cuidados especializados, utilizando el proceso de atención de enfermería basado en los conceptos teóricos del modelo de autocuidado de Dorothea E. Orem. Método: estudio de caso, dado que en este diseño se observan los fenómenos en su contexto natural, el cual se realizó en la tercera semana de mayo 2021. Consideraciones éticas: se tomaron en cuenta aspectos bioéticos para la investigación clínica basada en evidencia científica, como la ley de Helsinki y el código de Nuremberg. Resultado: se logró que el neonato y su cuidador primario alcanzaran las metas propuestas al inicio del ingreso hospitalario, mediante la continua capacitación sobre los cuidados generales del recién nacido. Conclusión: la taquipnea transitoria, criptorquidia e hidrocele son alteraciones que pueden ser detectadas al momento de la exploración al neonato.

Introduction: worldwide, transient tachypnea of the newborn occurs in 0.3 to 0.5% of all newborns, although there are some Mexican series that report up to 2% of all live newborns. It comprises 35-50% of all cases of noninfectious respiratory distress admitted to pathological nurseries or neonatal intensive care units.1 While the rates of cryptorchidism and hydrocele are higher in infants born by cesarean section (3.3% and 4.7%, respectively), compared to those obtained vaginally (1.7% and 1.6%).2 Case description: the case study was conducted on a 39-week gestational neonate with Transient Tachypnea of Newborn, Cryptorchidism and Hydrocele seen in the Newborn Care service of a second-level care hospital. Objective: to provide specialized care, using the nursing care process based on the theoretical concepts of Dorothea E. Orem's Self-Care Model. Orem. Method: is a case study, given that in this design the phenomena are observed in their natural context, which was carried out in the third week of May 2021. Ethical considerations: bioethical aspects for clinical research based on scientific evidence, such as the Helsinki law and the Nuremberg code, were taken into account. Result: the neonate and his primary caregiver were able to achieve the goals proposed at the beginning of hospital admission, through continuous training on general newborn care. Conclusion: transient tachypnea, cryptorchidism and hydrocele are alterations that can be detected at the time of examination of the newborn.

Tools for assessing lung fluid in neonates with respiratory distress.

BACKGROUND: Transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN), as a common cause of neonatal respiratory distress, needs to be distinguished from respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Various modalities such as lung ultrasonography, cytokine analysis, and electrical cardiometry for the evaluation of lung fluid can be helpful for the exact diagnosis, however, clinical diagnosis has been applied mainly. This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of the various tools for the diagnosis of TTN and RDS in neonates. METHODS: This study evaluated 22 late-preterm and term infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Gangnam Severance Hospital because of respiratory distress. Total 9 neonates were diagnosed with TTN and 13 had RDS. In addition to chest radiography, the LUS score was calculated by a neonatologist using the portable ultrasound device. Cytokines in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid supernatant were measured. Thoracic fluid content was measured using an electrical cardiometry device. RESULTS: We enrolled 22 patients with median gestational age, 37.1 weeks, and birth weight 3100 g. There is no difference in patient characteristics between RDS and TTN group. Lung ultrasound score was significantly higher in RDS than TTN (11 vs 6, p = 0.001). Score 0 is shown in all infants with TTN. Score 1 is shown as significantly more in RDS than TTN. Between the TTN and RDS groups, there were significant differences in the changes of thoracic fluid content (2 vs - 1.5, p < 0.001), IL-1ß levels (2.5 vs 11.3, p = 0.02), and TNF-α levels (20.1 vs 11.2, p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: We found lung ultrasound and electrical cardiometry to be reliable diagnostic tools for assessing infants with respiratory distress among late-preterm and term infants. Further studies with a large number of patients are needed to confirm their clinical usefulness.

Interventions for the management of transient tachypnoea of the newborn - an overview of systematic reviews.

BACKGROUND: Transient tachypnoea of the newborn (TTN) is characterised by tachypnoea and signs of respiratory distress. It is caused by delayed clearance of lung fluid at birth. TTN typically appears within the first two hours of life in term and late preterm newborns. Although it is usually a self-limited condition, admission to a neonatal unit is frequently required for monitoring, the provision of respiratory support, and drugs administration. These interventions might reduce respiratory distress during TTN and enhance the clearance of lung liquid. The goals are reducing the effort required to breathe, improving respiratory distress, and potentially shortening the duration of tachypnoea. However, these interventions might be associated with harm in the infant. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this overview was to evaluate the benefits and harms of different interventions used in the management of TTN. METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews on 14 July 2021 for ongoing and published Cochrane Reviews on the management of TTN in term (> 37 weeks' gestation) or late preterm (34 to 36 weeks' gestation) infants. We included all published Cochrane Reviews assessing the following categories of interventions administered within the first 48 hours of life: beta-agonists (e.g. salbutamol and epinephrine), corticosteroids, diuretics, fluid restriction, and non-invasive respiratory support. The reviews compared the above-mentioned interventions to placebo, no treatment, or other interventions for the management of TTN. The primary outcomes of this overview were duration of tachypnoea and the need for mechanical ventilation. Two overview authors independently checked the eligibility of the reviews retrieved by the search and extracted data from the included reviews using a predefined data extraction form. Any disagreements were resolved by discussion with a third overview author. Two overview authors independently assessed the methodological quality of the included reviews using the AMSTAR 2 (A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews) tool. We used the GRADE approach to assess the certainty of evidence for effects of interventions for TTN management. As all of the included reviews reported summary of findings tables, we extracted the information already available and re-graded the certainty of evidence of the two primary outcomes to ensure a homogeneous assessment. We provided a narrative summary of the methods and results of each of the included reviews and summarised this information using tables and figures. MAIN RESULTS: We included six Cochrane Reviews, corresponding to 1134 infants enrolled in 18 trials, on the management of TTN in term and late preterm infants, assessing salbutamol (seven trials), epinephrine (one trial), budesonide (one trial), diuretics (two trials), fluid restriction (four trials), and non-invasive respiratory support (three trials). The quality of the included reviews was high, with all of them fulfilling the critical domains of the AMSTAR 2. The certainty of the evidence was very low for the primary outcomes, due to the imprecision of the estimates (few, small included studies) and unclear or high risk of bias. Salbutamol may reduce the duration of tachypnoea compared to placebo (mean difference (MD) -16.83 hours, 95% confidence interval (CI) -22.42 to -11.23, 2 studies, 120 infants, low certainty evidence). We did not identify any review that compared epinephrine or corticosteroids to placebo and reported on the duration of tachypnoea. However, one review reported on "trend of normalisation of respiratory rate", a similar outcome, and found no differences between epinephrine and placebo (effect size not reported). The evidence is very uncertain regarding the effect of diuretics compared to placebo (MD -1.28 hours, 95% CI -13.0 to 10.45, 2 studies, 100 infants, very low certainty evidence). We did not identify any review that compared fluid restriction to standard fluid rates and reported on the duration of tachypnoea. The evidence is very uncertain regarding the effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) compared to free-flow oxygen therapy (MD -21.1 hours, 95% CI -22.9 to -19.3, 1 study, 64 infants, very low certainty evidence); the effect of nasal high-frequency (oscillation) ventilation (NHFV) compared to CPAP (MD -4.53 hours, 95% CI -5.64 to -3.42, 1 study, 40 infants, very low certainty evidence); and the effect of nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) compared to CPAP on duration of tachypnoea (MD 4.30 hours, 95% CI -19.14 to 27.74, 1 study, 40 infants, very low certainty evidence). Regarding the need for mechanical ventilation, the evidence is very uncertain for the effect of salbutamol compared to placebo (risk ratio (RR) 0.60, 95% CI 0.13 to 2.86, risk difference (RD) 10 fewer, 95% CI 50 fewer to 30 more per 1000, 3 studies, 254 infants, very low certainty evidence); the effect of epinephrine compared to placebo (RR 0.67, 95% CI 0.08 to 5.88, RD 70 fewer, 95% CI 460 fewer to 320 more per 1000, 1 study, 20 infants, very low certainty evidence); and the effect of corticosteroids compared to placebo (RR 0.52, 95% CI 0.05 to 5.38, RD 40 fewer, 95% CI 170 fewer to 90 more per 1000, 1 study, 49 infants, very low certainty evidence). We did not identify a review that compared diuretics to placebo and reported on the need for mechanical ventilation. The evidence is very uncertain regarding the effect of fluid restriction compared to standard fluid administration (RR 0.73, 95% CI 0.24 to 2.23, RD 20 fewer, 95% CI 70 fewer to 40 more per 1000, 3 studies, 242 infants, very low certainty evidence); the effect of CPAP compared to free-flow oxygen (RR 0.30, 95% CI 0.01 to 6.99, RD 30 fewer, 95% CI 120 fewer to 50 more per 1000, 1 study, 64 infants, very low certainty evidence); the effect of NIPPV compared to CPAP (RR 4.00, 95% CI 0.49 to 32.72, RD 150 more, 95% CI 50 fewer to 350 more per 1000, 1 study, 40 infants, very low certainty evidence); and the effect of NHFV versus CPAP (effect not estimable, 1 study, 40 infants, very low certainty evidence). Regarding our secondary outcomes, duration of hospital stay was the only outcome reported in all of the included reviews. One trial on fluid restriction reported a lower duration of hospitalisation in the restricted-fluids group, but with very low certainty of evidence. The evidence was very uncertain for the effects on secondary outcomes for the other five reviews. Data on potential harms were scarce, as all of the trials were underpowered to detect possible increases in adverse events such as pneumothorax, arrhythmias, and electrolyte imbalances. No adverse effects were reported for salbutamol; however, this medication is known to carry a risk of tachycardia, tremor, and hypokalaemia in other settings. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: This overview summarises the evidence from six Cochrane Reviews of randomised trials regarding the effects of postnatal interventions in the management of TTN. Salbutamol may reduce the duration of tachypnoea slightly. We are uncertain as to whether salbutamol reduces the need for mechanical ventilation. We are uncertain whether epinephrine, corticosteroids, diuretics, fluid restriction, or non-invasive respiratory support reduces the duration of tachypnoea and the need for mechanical ventilation, due to the extremely limited evidence available. Data on harms were lacking.

Prenatal prediction of neonatal respiratory morbidity: a radiomics method based on imbalanced few-shot fetal lung ultrasound images.

BACKGROUND: To develop a non-invasive method for the prenatal prediction of neonatal respiratory morbidity (NRM) by a novel radiomics method based on imbalanced few-shot fetal lung ultrasound images. METHODS: A total of 210 fetal lung ultrasound images were enrolled in this study, including 159 normal newborns and 51 NRM newborns. Fetal lungs were delineated as the region of interest (ROI), where radiomics features were designed and extracted. Integrating radiomics features selected and two clinical features, including gestational age and gestational diabetes mellitus, the prediction model was developed and evaluated. The modelling methods used were data augmentation, cost-sensitive learning, and ensemble learning. Furthermore, two methods, which embed data balancing into ensemble learning, were employed to address the problems of imbalance and few-shot simultaneously. RESULTS: Our model achieved sensitivity values of 0.82, specificity values of 0.84, balanced accuracy values of 0.83 and area under the curve values of 0.87 in the test set. The radiomics features extracted from the ROIs at different locations within the lung region achieved similar classification performance outcomes. CONCLUSION: The feature set we designed can efficiently and robustly describe fetal lungs for NRM prediction. RUSBoost shows excellent performance compared to state-of-the-art classifiers on the imbalanced few-shot dataset. The diagnostic efficacy of the model we developed is similar to that of several previous reports of amniocentesis and can serve as a non-invasive, precise evaluation tool for NRM prediction.

Can surfactants affect mortality and morbidity in term infants with respiratory failure?

BACKGROUND: We aimed to discuss term infants who are given surfactant due to respiratory disorder according to the underlying etiology, the dose of surfactant administration, and the need for repeated surfactant administration. METHODS: In this retrospective study infants hospitalized in the 4th level neonatal intensive care unit during January 2019 and December 2021 and administered surfactant due to respiratory distress were included. Term infants given surfactant due to respiratory failure were included in the study through the data recording system. The number of surfactant doses, indications for administration, mortality, duration of hospitalization, intubation time, and inotrope use were recorded in the infants included in the study. RESULTS: : During the two-year period, 1250 infants were hospitalized in our neonatal intensive care unit. Of those, 56 infants received surfactant replacement therapy for severe respiratory failure. There were 30 infants with pneumonia, 4 infants with meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS), and 22 infants with transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN). It was seen that single-dose administration was higher in patients with TTN (p = 0.01), while multiple-dose surfactant administration was more common in patients with MAS, resulting in a statistical difference (p = 0.02). Mortality was lower, especially in cases given early surfactant administration and this situation was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Duration of intubation was 5.05 ± 4.7 days in early surfactant administration group and 8.0 ± 6.1 days in late surfactant administration group. This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.04). While early surfactant application was statistically higher in the TTN group (p = 0.007), late surfactant application was statistically higher in the pneumonia group (p = 0.001). DISCUSSION: Despite the difference on administration time and repeat dose interval due to etiology, surfactant treatment is improving the respiratory distress of term infants.

Effects of Inhaled Salbutamol on Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn.

BACKGROUND: One of the most common causes of respiratory distress in newborns is transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN). Salbutamol is often suggested to increase the rate of pulmonary fluid absorption in newborns with TTN. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of inhaled salbutamol in TTN management. METHODS: This double-blind clinical trial was conducted on 52 newborns admitted to the neonatal ICU of Fatemieh Hospital of Hamadan, Iran. The newborns were randomly assigned to 2 groups of equal members: one group received 2 mL of nebulized sodium chloride concentration (control group), and the other group was treated with 0.1 mg/kg of salbutamol (treatment group). The clinical outcomes were then compared before and 0.5, 1, and 4 h after the intervention. The data were recorded in a checklist and then were statistically analyzed in SPSS 16: the significant level was decided to be P < .05. RESULTS: The comparison of TTN scores revealed a significant difference between the 2 groups 1 h (P = .005) and 4 h (P < .001 per Table 3) after the intervention. Moreover, the mean FIO2 1 h after the intervention was 53.3 ± 6.6 in the treatment group and 57.7 ± 7.5 in the control group (P = .02). The mean duration of respiratory support in the treatment and control groups was 2.4 ± 2.7 and 3.1 ± 0.8 d, respectively, (P = .002). The findings suggested no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups regarding the adverse effects, length of stay (LOS), duration of antibiotics intake, oral feeding resumption time, and maximum oral feeding time (P > .05 for all). CONCLUSIONS: The study results indicated that inhaled salbutamol significantly decreased the TTN clinical score, oxygen demands, and duration of respiratory support, whereas there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of LOS.

Antenatal Corticosteroids Decrease the Risk of Composite Neonatal Respiratory Morbidity in Planned Early Term Cesarean Deliveries.

OBJECTIVE: While administration of antenatal corticosteroids prior to term elective cesarean deliveries has been shown in international randomized controlled trials to decrease the rates of respiratory distress syndrome and transient tachypnea of the newborn, this is not a standard practice in the United States. We aim to determine if the administration of antenatal corticosteroids for fetal lung maturation within 1 week of scheduled early term cesarean delivery resulted in decreased composite respiratory morbidity. STUDY DESIGN: Historical cohort study including women who underwent scheduled early term cesarean delivery of a singleton, non-anomalous neonate at Mount Sinai Hospital between May 2015 and August 2019, comparing those who completed a course of antenatal corticosteroids within 1 week of delivery to those who did not. The primary outcome was composite respiratory morbidity defined as respiratory distress syndrome, transient tachypnea of the newborn, and neonatal intensive care unit admission for respiratory morbidity. Maternal and neonatal characteristics were compared between groups using t-tests or Wilcoxon-Rank Sum tests for continuous measures and Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests for categorical measures, as appropriate. The outcomes were assessed using logistic regression. RESULTS: History of preterm birth was significantly higher in those who received antenatal corticosteroids compared with those who did not (24.0 vs. 10.9%, p = 0.01). Neonates who were not exposed to antenatal corticosteroids were more likely to experience the composite respiratory morbidity compared with those who were exposed (RR 4.1, 95% CI 1.2-13.7; p = 0.02). Between 37 and 38 weeks, neonates who did not receive steroids were at increased risk of composite respiratory morbidity (RR 11.7, 95% CI 1.5-89.0, p < 0.01), however, there was no difference for those born between 38 and 39 weeks. CONCLUSION: Betamethasone course administered prior to planned early term cesarean delivery was associated with a statistically significant reduction in the neonatal composite respiratory morbidity compared with routine management. KEY POINTS: · Steroids administered prior to scheduled cesarean lead to decreased neonatal respiratory morbidity.. · Steroid administration was not associated with increased adverse neonatal outcomes.. · Steroid administration was most beneficial between 37 and 38 weeks..

Association between Low Cord Serum Cortisol Level and Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn in Late Preterm and Term Neonates Delivered by Elective Cesarean Section.

OBJECTIVE: Transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN), a common neonatal respiratory morbidity, is associated with failure of adequate clearance of fetal lung fluid. Glucocorticoids have an important role in lung maturity and the mechanisms of lung fluid clearance. The aim of this study is to assess the association between umbilical cord cortisol levels and transient TTN in late preterm and term neonates delivered by elective cesarean section (CS). STUDY DESIGN: A case-control study of 37 newborns diagnosed with TTN (cases) was compared with 40 healthy newborns (controls). All infants were delivered by elective CS without labor. Umbilical cord cortisol levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Mean cord cortisol levels were significantly lower in cases than controls (131.36 vs. 233.32 nmol/L, p = 0.0001; odds ratio [OR] = 3.7; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.40-9.53), respectively. Cord serum cortisol correlated inversely with the duration of tachypnea and the respiratory rate (r = - 0.678 and -0.535, respectively). CONCLUSION: Umbilical cord cortisol levels are significantly lower in newborns with transient TTN, and lower cortisol levels are associated with an increased respiratory rate and longer duration of admission. Antenatal glucocorticoids can be recommended for late preterm delivered by CS. KEY POINTS: · Umbilical cord cortisol levels were lower in late preterm infants with TTN.. · Late preterm newborn with severe TTN and NICU hospitalization have lower cord cortisol levels.. · Antenatal glucocorticoids can be recommended for late preterm delivered by CS..

Accuracy and Reliability of Lung Ultrasound to Diagnose Transient Tachypnoea of the Newborn: Evidence from a Meta-analysis and Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: Transient tachypnoea of the newborn (TTN) is one of the most common causes of neonatal respiratory distress (RD) during the newborn period. Chest radiography (CXR) is commonly used to rule out the diagnosis, but TTN is often misdiagnosed as neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) on the basis of CXR alone. Increasing evidence suggests that lung ultrasound (LUS) may be a reliable diagnostic tool for transient tachypnoea of the newborn. However, studies of the diagnostic efficiency of LUS are still lacking. This study was aimed to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of LUS for diagnosing TTN by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis. STUDY DESIGN: We searched for articles in the Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane Library databases from inception until May 31, 2020. The selected studies were diagnostic accuracy studies that reported the utility of LUS in the diagnosis of TTN. Two researchers independently extracted data and assessed quality using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2) tool. Then, we created a bivariate model of mixed effects to calculate the sensitivity and specificity of LUS in diagnosing TTN. A summary receiver operator characteristic (SROC) curve was constructed to summarize the performance characteristics of LUS. RESULTS: Six studies involving 617 newborns were included in the review. LUS had a pooled sensitivity of 0.98 (confidence interval [CI]: 0.92-1.00) and a specificity of 0.99 (CI: 0.91-1.00). The area under the curve for LUS was 1.00 (0.98-1.0). Meta-regression revealed that LUS had a significant diagnostic accuracy for TTN. CONCLUSION: The performance of ultrasound for the detection of TTN was excellent. Considering the various advantages of LUS compared with chest radiographs in diagnosing TTN, this study supports the routine use of LUS for the detection of TTN. KEY POINTS: · Lung ultrasound is a highly accurate diagnostic tool, which may be a viable and superior alternative to CXR, in diagnosing TTN.. · Lung ultrasound can help differentiate TTN from other etiologies of respiratory distress in neonates.. · There are still some controversies on the ultrasound diagnostic criteria of TTN..

Assessment of intrahepatic cholestasis in pregnancy and the effect of disease severity on transient tachypnea in the newborn in uncomplicated fetuses.

OBJECTIVES: Considering the effects of bile-acid levels on fetal lungs and pulmonary surfactants, we hypothesized that in the presence of intrahepatic pregnancy cholestasis (ICP), poor neonatal respiratory problems are observed in relation to the severity of the disease. Delivery timing with the presence of ICP is scheduled during late-preterm and early term gestational weeks. The aim of this study was to assess ICP and disease severity effects on transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) in uncomplicated fetuses. METHODS: This study comprised 1,097 singleton pregnant women who were separated into three groups-control, mild ICP, and severe ICP. The pregnant women diagnosed with ICP between January 2010 and September 2020 was investigated using the hospital's database. For the control group, healthy pregnant women who met the same exclusion criteria and were similar in terms of maternal age, gestational age at delivery, and mode of delivery were analyzed. RESULTS: The TTN rate was 14.5% in the severe ICP group, 6.5% in the mild ICP group, and 6.2% in the control group. The TTN rate in the severe ICP group was significantly higher than that in the other groups (p<0.001). Similarly, the rate of admission to the neonatal intensive care unit was significantly higher in the severe ICP group than in the other groups (p<0.001). According to Pearson correlation analyses, maternal serum bile-acid levels were positively correlated with TTN (r=0.082; p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Severe ICP, but not mild ICP, and serum bile-acid levels were positively correlated with increased TTN risk and reduced pulmonary surfactant levels.

Simple Hematological Markers in Predicting the Severity of Transient Tachypnea of Newborn: New Wine in Old Bottles.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the validity of red cell distribution width (RDW), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and platelet mass index (PMI) of patients with transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN), and to find out their roles in predicting severity of TTN. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this prospective study, hematological parameters (RDW, PMI) and ratios (NLR, PLR) of 147 patients with TTN and 147 full-term healthy controls were evaluated and compared at birth and at 72nd h of life. PATIENT: s with TTN and 147 full-term healthy controls were evaluated and compared at birth and at 72nd hours of life. RESULTS: RDW and NLR were not only significantly higher in patients with TTN at birth (p = 0.001) and at 72nd hours of life (p: 0.001), but also were correlated with days of nasal continuous positive airway pressure therapy, duration of O2 therapy, TTN clinical scores, hospitalization and TTN duration. At a cut-off value of 2.40, NLR had a sensitivity of 82.5% and specificity of 77.5% to predict TTN, the most striking parameter at 72nd hours of life. RDW of 17.75 was also determined as the predictive cutoff value of TTN (sensitivity 72.5%; specificity 67.5%; area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve 0.80; p = 0.001). Multivariate analysis model adjusted for delivery, gestational age, male gender revealed that RDW and NLR were significantly and independently associated with TTN. CONCLUSION: RDW and NLR both at birth and at 72nd hours of life can be used as biomarkers to distinguish TTN patients from healthy newborns and to predict the severity of TTN.