Post discharge growth assessment in preterm infants: implications of adopting the WHO standards.

Introduction: The WHO standards have been used as a gold standard for growth assessment in preterm infants since 1986. The introduction of the WHO standards in Argentina could improve detection of sub-optimal growth.

Objective: To compare the proportion of growth retardation in terms of weight, body height and head circumference in preterm infants with a birth weight less than 1500 g (VLBW) assessed according to the WHO standards and the Sociedad Argentina de Pediatría (SAP) standards.

Fetal and neonatal mortality in patients with isolated congenital heart diseases and heart conditions associated with extracardiac abnormalities.

Congenital malformations are a known cause of intrauterine death; of them, congenital heart diseases (CHDs) are accountable for the highest fetal and neonatal mortality rates. They are strongly associated with other extracardiac malformations and an early fetal mortality. Two hundred and twenty fves cases of CHDs are presented.

[Nosocomial infections in a neonatal unit: surveillance program].

Introduction: Nosocomial infections in neonatal units are frequent and require having a surveillance program which allows detection and implementation of preventive strategies.

Objective: To determine the incidence and distribution of hospital infections and the rate of use of devices in a neonatal unit compared with international standards.

Methods: Epidemiological, observational, analytical, prospective cohort study.

Open lung strategy in a lamb model of respiratory distress syndrome.

We tested the hypothesis that an open lung strategy with recruitment maneuvers will improve oxygenation and decrease lung injury in comparison with a permissive hypercapnia strategy in preterm lambs. Preterm lambs born by operative delivery at 131 ± 1 days of gestational age (term = 150 days) were randomized to an open lung group (OLG, n = 5) or a permissive hypercapnia group (PHG, n = 4). In the OLG, ramp recruitment maneuvers were performed by increasing and then decreasing peak inspiratory pressure and positive end-expiratory pressure (adjusting for expiratory tidal volume [V(T)] 6 to 8 mL/kg).

[Effects of prenatal steroids in the development of necrotizing enterocolitis in Wistar rat neonates].

Introduction: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a frequent problem in preterm infants. Prenatal treatment with steroids proved to be effective for lung maturation and it is thought to have a protective effect on the immature bowel.

Objectives: To study the effects of prenatal treatment with steroids at the onset, clinical course and histological pattern of NEC in an animal model.

[Early weaning and adult behavioral disorders in an animal model].

Early weaning (EW) has proven to be a factor that decreases the animal's organic resistance against adverse conditions. Climbing in the forced swimming test (FST) is the active behavior that expresses the will of the rat to escape the stressful situation. A possible association between these two stress factors (EW and FST) has not yet been reported as a plausible model for the study of stress and depression.

[Effectiveness assessment of a neonatal intensive care program for very low birth weight infants. Impact of surfactant administration].

Introduction: Although many therapeutic interventions have proven efficacy through randomized control trials (RCT) with extensive use in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) for Very Low Birth Weight Infants (VLBWI), doubts remain about its overall effectiveness.

Objective: To determine changes in the effectiveness of NICU practices on VLBWI over 14 years in the quality of neonatal survival in a General Hospital, with emphasis in the change in reanimation practices by the introduction of the spread use of surfactant.

Methods: We included all consecutive VLBWI admitted in our NICU during a period of 14 years: 1989-1992 (n= 145); 1993-2002 (n= 342).

Pre-ductal and post-ductal O2 saturation in healthy term neonates after birth.

Objective: To determine the pre- and post-ductal oxygen saturation (SpO2) levels during the first minutes after birth in healthy term infants.

Study Design: In a prospective cohort study, sensors were placed on the right hand and on 1 foot of the neonate. Pre- and post-ductal SpO2 levels were recorded during the first 15 minutes after birth.