[Developmental screening of preterms at an early stage postpartum].

Preterm infants are at high risk to develop neurological disorders. Therefore extensive follow-up programs with a combination of various instruments are needed for early detection of infants with major or minor developmental disorders and behavioral problems. The Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP) is based on standardized observation protocols and provides a powerful method to assess behavior and brain development directly after birth, so can be used as an early screening instrument.

Caffeine impairs cerebral and intestinal blood flow velocity in preterm infants.

Objective: In adults, a single dose of 250 mg of caffeine may decrease cerebral blood flow by 30%. In preterm infants, caffeine is commonly used for the treatment and prophylaxis of apnea. The purpose of this investigation was to assess effects of caffeine on circulatory parameters in preterm infants.