Stress Markers, Executive Functioning, and Resilience Among Early Adolescents With Complex Congenital Heart Disease.

Importance: Infants with complex congenital heart disease (cCHD) may experience prolonged and severe stress when undergoing open heart surgery. However, little is known about long-term stress and its role in neurodevelopmental impairments in this population.

Objective: To investigate potential differences between early adolescents aged 10 to 15 years with cCHD and healthy controls in physiological stress markers by hair analysis, executive function (EF) performance, and resilience.

[Differences in the Distribution of the General Movements Classification Between Neonatal Risk Groups in the Children's Hospital Zurich: An Observational Study].

Introduction: Neonatal infants are at increased risk for motor development disorders.

Objective: To compare General Movements (GMs) classification between three neonatal risk groups, correlate the GMs Assessment (GMA) with a standardized developmental neurological examination (SDNE) and determine risk factors for abnormal GMs.

Methods: Monocentric observational study with three risk groups (children with operated congenital heart disease (CHD) n=26, with operated congenital gastrointestinal malformations (CGM) n=17 and with fetal operated myelomeningocele (MMC) n=12 who underwent inpatient video-based examination.

Effects of Correcting for Prematurity on Executive Function Scores of Children Born Very Preterm at School Age.

Objective: To investigate whether correction for prematurity affects executive function scores in school-aged children born very preterm.

Study Design: Executive functions were assessed with standardized neuropsychological tests in 142 children born very preterm (born at ≤32 weeks of gestational age or with a birth weight of ≤1500 g) and 391 control children, aged 7-13 years. Four-month age bands were established from the data of control children.

Neurodevelopmental Outcomes at Age 5 Years After Prophylactic Early High-Dose Recombinant Human Erythropoietin for Neuroprotection in Very Preterm Infants.

This study reports 5-year neurodevelopmental outcomes for Swiss children born before 32 weeks’ gestation and randomized at birth to receive early high-dose recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEpo) vs placebo.

Altered brain metabolism contributes to executive function deficits in school-aged children born very preterm.

Background: Executive function deficits in children born very preterm (VPT) have been linked to anatomical abnormalities in white matter and subcortical brain structures. This study aimed to investigate how altered brain metabolism contributes to these deficits in VPT children at school-age.

Methods: Fifty-four VPT participants aged 8-13 years and 62 term-born peers were assessed with an executive function test battery.

Benchmarking against the MOMS Trial: Zurich Results of Open Fetal Surgery for Spina Bifida.

Introduction: The Management of Myelomeningocele Study, a.k.a.

When children with profound multiple disabilities are hospitalized: A cross-sectional survey of parental burden of care, quality of life of parents and their hospitalized children, and satisfaction with family-centered care.

Purpose: We aimed to assess parental burden of care, satisfaction with family-centered care, and quality of life (HRQoL) of parents and their hospitalized children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD), and determine the relationship among these factors.

Design: A cross-sectional study using printed questionnaires and qualitative questions was undertaken at a Swiss University Children's Hospital.

Results: The 117 parents (98 mothers, 19 fathers) studied indicated a substantial impact on burden of care and parental health-related quality of life.

[Experiences and support needs of parents of hospitalized children with multiple disabilities: a qualitative study].

Background: The hospitalisation of a multiple disabled child is stressful for parents because they continue to carry out demanding care procedures in hospital. Yet, systematic knowledge of the parental experience and of their support needs is missing.

Question: How do parents experience the hospitalisation, and which support needs do they identify for this period? Methods: Twenty-six parents (24 mothers, 2 fathers) of 24 children with multiple disabilities have participated in this qualitative study.

Perinatal care at the limit of viability between 22 and 26 completed weeks of gestation in Switzerland. 2011 revision of the Swiss recommendations.

Perinatal care of pregnant women at high risk for preterm delivery and of preterm infants born at the limit of viability (22-26 completed weeks of gestation) requires a multidisciplinary approach by an experienced perinatal team. Limited precision in the determination of both gestational age and foetal weight, as well as biological variability may significantly affect the course of action chosen in individual cases. The decisions that must be taken with the pregnant women and on behalf of the preterm infant in this context are complex and have far-reaching consequences.

Hypothermia for perinatal asphyxial encephalopathy.

Background: Perinatal asphyxial encephalopathy occurs in 1 per 1000 live births and is associated with high mortality and morbidity. Therapeutic hypothermia increases intact survival and improves neurodevelopmental outcome in survivors.

Aims: To evaluate (i) the opinion and practice of therapeutic hypothermia as a therapy for moderate to severe perinatal asphyxial encephalopathy amongst Swiss neonatologists and paediatric intensive care specialists, (ii) the current clinical management of infants with perinatal asphyxial encephalopathy and (iii) the need for a national perinatal asphyxia and therapeutic hypothermia registry.

Determinants of body weight gain and association with neurodevelopmental outcome in infants operated for congenital heart disease.

The aim of this prospective study was to examine the determinants of growth failure and the association with neurodevelopmental outcome in infants undergoing open-heart surgery. In 107 infants undergoing open-heart surgery for congenital heart disease (CHD), we evaluated weight at birth, at surgery, and at one year of age (expressed as z-scores). Neurodevelopmental status was assessed before surgery and at one year of age.

Late morbidity during childhood and adolescence in previously premature neonates after patent ductus arteriosus closure.

The health status of previously premature neonates after closure of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) was analyzed in childhood and adolescence. Physician questionnaires were used to study 180 hospital survivors among 210 consecutive premature neonates who underwent PDA closure between 1985 and 2005. Complete follow-up data were obtained for 129 patients (72%).

Intellectual and motor performance, quality of life and psychosocial adjustment in children with cystinosis.

Cystinosis is a rare multisystemic progressive disorder mandating lifelong medical treatment. Knowledge on the intellectual and motor functioning, health-related quality of life and psychosocial adjustment in children with cystinosis is limited. We have investigated nine patients (four after renal transplantation) at a median age of 9.

Outcome after renal transplantation. Part I: intellectual and motor performance.

Comprehensive information on neurodevelopmental outcome in children and adolescents with chronic kidney disease is still limited. Intellectual performance (IP) and motor performance (MP) were systematically assessed in 27 patients at a median age of 14.1 years (range 6.

Outcome after renal transplantation. Part II: quality of life and psychosocial adjustment.

Knowledge of health-related quality of life (QOL) and psychosocial adjustment (PA) in children after renal transplantation (RTPL) is limited. QOL and PA were evaluated by standardized tests in patients after RTPL. Thirty-seven children of median age 14.

Health-related quality of life in children and adolescents after open-heart surgery.

Objective: To assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children with congenital heart disease (CHD) after open-heart surgery and to identify medical, individual, and family-related predictors of outcome.

Study Design: Cross-sectional cohort study. 155 children with CHD (40% cyanotic type) who underwent open-heart surgery between 1995 and 1998 were eligible.