Vein of Galen Aneurysmal Malformation Presenting As Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension in a Newborn: A Case Report.

We present a case of a newborn infant with a vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation (VOGM) who was admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with the diagnosis of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). Further work-up at our institution, which included an echocardiogram and cranial ultrasound revealed VOGM. The patient was transferred to a children's center for further management of the vascular malformation where the patient subsequently died from high cardiac output heart failure.

Iron Deficiency Prior to Discharge in Very Low Birth Weight Infants: Screening with Reticulocyte Hemoglobin Content.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the iron status prior to discharge in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants utilizing reticulocyte hemoglobin content (CHr) and evaluate the impact of delayed cord clamping (DCC) on iron status.

Study Design: This is a retrospective analysis of VLBW infants from two tertiary level of care Neonatal Intensive Care Units. The primary outcome was the proportion of VLBW infants with low CHr (<29 pg) prior to discharge.

Delayed Cord Clamping for 45 Seconds in Very Low Birth Weight Infants: Impact on Hemoglobin at Birth and Close to Discharge.

Objectives: To assess the impact of delayed cord clamping (DCC) for 45 seconds on hemoglobin at birth and close to discharge in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants and to compare modes of delivery in infants who received DCC.

Study Design: In a retrospective study, 888 VLBW infants (≤1,500 g) who survived to discharge and received immediate cord clamping (ICC) were compared with infants who received DCC. Infants who received DCC and born via Cesarean section (C-section) were compared with those born via vaginal birth.

Stopping caffeine in premature neonates: how long does it take for the level of caffeine to fall below the therapeutic range?

Background: Caffeine is routinely used in preterm infants for apnea of prematurity. Preterm infants are usually monitored for 5 days after discontinuation of caffeine to assess for possible recurrence of apnea. Our objective was to determine if the serum concentration of caffeine decreases to a subtherapeutic level 5 days after its discontinuation.

Feeding tolerance in preterm infants on noninvasive respiratory support.

To evaluate differences in feeding tolerance between infants maintained on continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and those receiving high-flow (nasal) cannula (HFC) with or without CPAP. This is a retrospective, cross-sectional study. Two groups of very low-birth-weight infants (750-1500 g) were compared on the basis of respiratory support: (1) infants born between the January 2002 and December 2004 treated with CPAP; and (2) infants born between January 2005 and December 2006 treated with HFC with or without CPAP.

Detection of pepsin in mouth swab: correlation with clinical gastroesophageal reflux in preterm infants.

Objective: To study the relationship between pepsinogen/pepsin in a mouth swab and clinical gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in preterm infants.

Methods: Preterm infants (birth weight ≤ 2000 g) on full enteral feeds were enrolled. Mouth swabs from cheek and below the tongue were collected one, two and three hours after feeding.

Effects of prenatal exposure to cigarette smoke on use of xanthine and pneumogram evaluation at discharge in premature infants.

Objective: Prenatal exposure to cigarette smoke is associated with an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome and possible rate increase of obstructive apnea in full-term infants but unknown in premature infants. Therefore, the objective was to study the effect of prenatal exposure to cigarette smoke on the use of methylxanthines and discharge pneumograms in premature infants.

Methods: Preterm infants [gestational age (GA) ≤34 weeks] born between January 1997 and September 2007 were studied.

Twice-weekly fluconazole prophylaxis in premature infants: association with cholestasis.

Background: Fluconazole prophylaxis is effective in preventing invasive candidiasis in extremely low-birthweight (ELBW) infants. The authors previously reported an increased incidence of cholestasis with fluconazole prophylaxis in ELBW infants, which led to fluconazole prophylaxis being changed to a less frequent dosing (LFD) schedule of twice a week at their institution. The purpose of the present study was therefore to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of LFD fluconazole prophylaxis in preventing invasive candidiasis in ELBW infants.

Hope and parents of the critically ill newborn: a concept analysis.

Hope is a human phenomenon that is observed repeatedly in the neonatal intensive care unit setting. There have been few studies specifically examining the concept of hope in this population. The purpose of this article is to examine the concept of hope in parents of critically ill newborns.

Intractable neonatal seizures: an unusual presentation of congenital hypothyroidism.

Congenital hypothyroidism is the most common treatable cause of mental retardation. We report an unusual case of congenital hypothyroidism presenting as intractable seizures in an infant delivered to a mother known to have autoimmune hypothyroidism and who was noncompliant with therapy. To our knowledge, this rare presentation of congenital hypothyroidism has not been reported previously.