Trend over 25 years of risk factors of mother's own milk provision to very low birth weight infants at discharge.

Background: Feeding mother's own milk (MOM) is associated with reduced morbidity of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants (<1500 g), but not all mothers are able to provide pumped breast milk or breastfeed until discharge.

Aims: To investigate the duration of MOM feeding and identify risk factors for cessation.

Study Design: Single-center retrospective cohort study.

Right ventricular function and vasoactive peptides for early prediction of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Background: To assess the prognostic value of early echocardiographic indices of right ventricular function and vasoactive peptides for prediction of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) or death in very preterm infants.

Methods: Prospective study involving 294 very preterm infants (median [IQR] gestational age 28.4 [26.

Dosage escalation of antenatal steroids in preterm twin pregnancies does not improve long-term outcome.

Objectives: To analyze long-term effects of antenatal betamethasone (≤16 mg, =24 mg and >24 mg) in preterm twins on infant and childhood morbidity.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study among 198 preterm twins. Three follow up time points, including a total of 84 outcomes, were evaluated: first neonatal examination after birth and in the neonatal period up to 10 days after birth using data from the clinic charts; examination from the 21st to the 24th month of life and examination from the 60th to the 64th months, using data from copies of the children's examination booklets sent back by the parents.

Immature Platelet Counts and Thrombopoietin Plasma Concentrations in Thrombocytopenic and Non-thrombocytopenic Preterm Infants.

Immature platelet counts (IPC) may prove useful in guiding platelet transfusion management in preterm neonates. However, the relationship between IPCs and thrombopoietin (Tpo) concentrations has not been evaluated in preterm neonates. Prospective cohort study in thrombocytopenic ( = 31) and non-thrombocytopenic very low birth weight (VLBW) infants ( = 38), and healthy term neonates (controls; = 41).

Long term alterations of growth after antenatal steroids in preterm twin pregnancies.

Objectives: To compare the long-term effects of antenatal betamethasone (ANS, ≤16 mg, =24 mg and >24 mg) in twins on infant and childhood growth.

Methods: A retrospective cohort follow up study among 198 twins after ANS including three time points: U1 first neonatal examination after birth and in the neonatal period; U7 examination from the 21st to the 24th month of life and U9 examination from the 60th to the 64th month of life using data from copies of the children's examination booklets. Inclusion criteria are twin pregnancies with preterm labor, cervical shortening, preterm premature rupture of membranes, or vaginal bleeding, and exposure to ANS between 23+5 and 33+6 weeks.

Mature and immature platelets during the first week after birth and incidence of patent ductus arteriosus.

Background: Thrombocytopenia is a risk factor for patent ductus arteriosus. Immature and mature platelets exhibit distinct haemostatic properties; however, whether platelet maturity plays a role in postnatal, ductus arteriosus closure is unknown.

Methods: In this observational study, counts of immature and mature platelets (=total platelet count - immature platelet count) were assessed on days 1, 3, and 7 of life in very low birth weight infants (<1500 g birth weight).

Rate of rise of total serum bilirubin in very low birth weight preterm infants.

Background: To assess the postnatal rate of rise (ROR) of total serum bilirubin (TSB) in very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants, to determine risk factors associated with a rapid rise (>90th percentile), and to compare ROR and hour-specific TSB at postnatal 12-48 h with data of term infants retrieved from the literature.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of 2430 routine TSB concentrations obtained between birth and initiation of phototherapy in 483 VLBW infants.

Results: TSB increased by a median (interquartile range) ROR of 0.

End-of-Life Decisions 20 Years after EURONIC: Neonatologists' Self-Reported Practices, Attitudes, and Treatment Choices in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.

Objective: To assess changes in attitudes of neonatologists regarding the care of extremely preterm infants and parental involvement over the last 20 years.

Study Design: Internet-based survey (2016) involving 170 tertiary neonatal intensive care units in Austria, Switzerland, and Germany using the European Project on Parents' Information and Ethical Decision Making in Neonatal Intensive Care Units questionnaire (German edition) with minor modifications to the original survey from 1996 to 1997.

Results: The 2016 survey included 104 respondents (52.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Neonatal Comfort Care Patients: A Single-Center, 5-Year, Retrospective, Observational Study.

To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of neonates with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions who receive care focused exclusively on comfort. Retrospective chart review of all newborn infants admitted to a level III perinatal center within a 5 year period. 1,777 of 9,878 infants (18.

Communication in The Clinical Routine of Neonatologists.

Introduction: Communication is essential to clinical routine, especially in NICUs with their vulnerable patients and the special team caring for them. Communication breakdowns and resulting treatment errors are described in the literature. The aim of this study is to provide an initial quantitative assessment of medical communication in a NICU.

Association between Platelet Counts before and during Pharmacological Therapy for Patent Ductus Arteriosus and Treatment Failure in Preterm Infants.

Background: The role of platelets for mediating closure of the ductus arteriosus in human preterm infants is controversial. Especially, the effect of low platelet counts on pharmacological treatment failure is still unclear.

Methods: In this retrospective study of 471 preterm infants [<1,500 g birth weight (BW)], who were treated for a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with indomethacin or ibuprofen, we investigated whether platelet counts before or during pharmacological treatment had an impact on the successful closure of a hemodynamically significant PDA.

Birth weight-related percentiles of brain ventricular system as a tool for assessment of posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus and ventricular enlargement.

Besides remarkable improvements of neonatal medical therapy, neurological morbidity remains a major concern in preterm infants. In particular, intracranial hemorrhage is a severe complication strongly correlated to poor neurological outcome. For early clinical assessment of intracranial hemorrhage and its impact on the ventricular system, cranial sonography is an important bedside diagnostic tool.

Use of social networking sites by parents of very low birth weight infants: experiences and the potential of a dedicated site.

Unlabelled: The objective of this study was to study the experiences of parents of preterm infants who use social networking sites and the potential of such sites for gathering information and facilitating personal exchange. An anonymous self-reporting questionnaire was administered to parents of infants below 1,500 g birth weight born between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010 in two tertiary neonatal intensive care units. Of the 278 families who were sent a questionnaire, 141 responded; 53.

Online support for parents of preterm infants: a qualitative and content analysis of Facebook 'preemie' groups.

Objective: To qualitatively evaluate the content of communication in Facebook communities dedicated to preterm infants.

Design: The 25 largest public English-language Facebook groups focusing on preterm infants were identified. For each group, the 20 most recent wallposts and a maximum of the 15 first comments to these wallposts, and the 15 most recent discussion topics were analysed according to a thematic coding scheme.

Comparison of left ventricular cardiac dimensions between small and appropriate for gestational age preterm infants below 30 weeks of gestation.

Objective: The development of the left cardiac structures in the early life of small for gestational age (SGA) preterm infants has been inadequately studied. The aim of the study was to compare the left ventricular cardiac dimensions between SGA and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) preterm infants.

Methods: Echocardiography was performed on day 2 (T1)and at age 1 month (T2) in 19 SGA preterm infants (birthweight < 3 rd percentile) and 21 AGA controls (P25-50) matched for gestational age (< 30 weeks).

Thrombocytopenia in the first 24 hours after birth and incidence of patent ductus arteriosus.

Background: Experimental studies suggest that platelet-triggered ductal sealing is critically involved in definite ductus arteriosus closure. Whether thrombocytopenia contributes to persistently patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in humans is controversial. This was a retrospective study of 1350 very low birth weight (VLBW; <1500 g) infants, including 592 extremely low birth weight (ELBW; <1000 g) infants.

Persistently elevated right ventricular index of myocardial performance in preterm infants with incipient bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Objectives: Elevated pulmonary vascular resistance occurs during the first days after birth in all newborn infants and persists in infants at risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). It is difficult to measure in a non-invasive fashion. We assessed the usefulness of the right ventricular index of myocardial performance (RIMP) to estimate pulmonary vascular resistance in very low birth weight infants.

Urinary N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide predicts severe retinopathy of prematurity.

Objective: The goal of this study was to evaluate urinary N-terminal fragment of B-type natriuretic peptide concentrations, normalized to creatinine (UNBCR), to predict morbidities at discharge in preterm infants.

Methods: UNBCR were determined in urine collected on day of life (DOL) 2, 7, 14, and 28 in 136 preterm infants <1500 g birth weight, 22 of whom developed bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), defined as oxygen supplementation at 36 weeks' gestational age) and 11 infants developed severe retinopathy (ROP), defined as stage 3 or stage ≥ 2 requiring surgery).

Results: UNBCR on DOL 7, 14, and 28 was elevated in infants who developed BPD or ROP compared with controls (P ≤ .

Laboratory markers of perinatal acidosis are poor predictors of neurodevelopmental impairment in very low birth weight infants.

Background: In asphyxiated term and near-term infants, therapeutic hypothermia increases survival without neurologic morbidity, and extending this new treatment to preterm infants is being debated.

Aims: To investigate the association of low pH and base excess (BE) at birth or admission, as used as entry criteria in cooling trials, and evolving brain damage in preterm infants.

Study Design And Measurements: Rates of death and neurodevelopmental impairment at 12 and 20 months corrected age were assessed in a cohort of 1137 preterm infants with a gestational age <35 weeks and birth weight <1500 g in relation to severe perinatal acidosis (umbilical artery pH≤7.

Hydrops fetalis--has there been a change in diagnostic spectrum and mortality?

Objective: To investigate the impact of medical progress on the diagnostic spectrum and outcome of infants with hydrops fetalis (HF).

Study Design: We reviewed the charts of all live-born HF infants (n = 70) over a 16-year period (1993-2009). Data were compared to two published case series (Wafelman LS, Pollock BH, Kreutzer J, Richards DS, Hutchison AA.

Parallel assessment of prolonged neonatal distress by empathy-based and item-based scales.

Objective: To evaluate the association between the empathy-based Faces Pain Scale-Revised (FPS-R) and the item-based Neonatal Pain, Agitation and Sedation Scale (N-PASS) when used to assess prolonged distress in term and preterm infants.

Method: Sequential prospective psychometric evaluations of distress, at 4-h intervals during a 48-h time period. FPS-R and N-PASS were employed in parallel by the nurses in charge in 44 term and preterm newborn infants.

Interdisciplinary surveillance of intraventricular haemorrhage associated conditions in infants <1000 g.

Aim: Intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) causes some of the most adverse outcomes in infants with birthweight <1000 g. Incomplete antenatal steroids, acidosis, inflammation, postnatal transfer, delayed surfactant administration, hypothermia, hypotension, hypocapnia, persistent ductus arteriosus and pneumothorax are all associated with IVH. We hypothesized that prospective surveillance of these IVH-associated conditions decreases their frequency and thus the frequency of IVH.

CRIB, CRIB-II, birth weight or gestational age to assess mortality risk in very low birth weight infants?

Aim: The mortality risk of very low birth weight (VLBW) (<1500 g) infants has been estimated by the Clinical Risk Index for Babies (CRIB). Superior discriminatory power has been claimed for the revised CRIB-II score based on birth weight, gestational age, sex, temperature and base excess (BE) at admission. This analysis compared the power of CRIB, CRIB-II, birth weight and gestational age to predict death prior to discharge.

B-type natriuretic peptide to predict ductus intervention in infants <28 weeks.

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is frequent in neonates with gestational age of less than 28 wk. Clinical and echocardiographic signs define hemodynamic significance of PDA, but do not reveal the need for PDA intervention in the first days of life. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) has been proposed as a screening tool for PDA in preterm infants.