New body composition reference charts for preterm infants.

Background: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has recommended that nutritional management of the preterm infant should aim to achieve body composition that replicates the in utero fetus, but intrauterine body composition reference charts for preterm infants are lacking.

Objective: Our objective was to create body composition reference curves for preterm infants that approximate the body composition of the in utero fetus from 30 to 36 wk of gestation.

Design: A total of 223 ethnically diverse infants born at 30 + 0 to 36 + 6 wk of gestation were enrolled.

Retinopathy of prematurity and pulse oximetry: a national survey of recent practices.

Objective: To determine if practices related to the use of pulse oximetry in the first 2 weeks following birth and after 2 weeks of age have a relationship to the rate of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and retinal ablation surgery in infants < or =1500 g.

Study Design: A questionnaire was mailed in July 2001 to 318 neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in the United States and information was collected regarding SpO2 guidelines and the rate of both severe ROP and retinal ablation surgery.

Results: A total of 142 surveys were returned (45%).