High Prevalence of Abnormal General Movements in Hospitalized Very Low Birth Weight Infants.

Objective: Abnormal general movements (GMs) are predictive of later risk of motor impairments in preterm infants. The goals of this study are to (1) describe the implementation of the GM assessment (GMA) in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and (2) investigate the prevalence and evolution of abnormal GMs in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.

Study Design: Observational study of GMs in VLBW infants (gestational age [GA] <32 weeks and/or birth weight [BW] <1,500 g) following GMA implementation in a level-IV NICU.

A Maternal-Administered Multimodal Neonatal Bundle in Hospitalized Very Preterm Infants: A Pilot Study.

Background: Premature infants are at an increased risk for developing cerebral palsy (CP). Evidence-based strategies designed to promote healthy brain development and facilitate adaptation after brain injury in infants still admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) represent a novel approach that may lead to improved long-term outcomes.

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of a maternal-administered early intervention bundle in very preterm infants prior to NICU discharge.

Heart rate ranges in premature neonates using high resolution physiologic data.

Objective: There are limited evidence-based published heart rate ranges for premature neonates. We determined heart rate ranges in premature neonates based on gestational and post-menstrual age.

Study Design: Retrospective observational study of premature neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at the University of Virginia between January 2009 and October 2015.

Dexamethasone effect on heart rate variability in preterm infants on mechanical ventilation.

Background: Dexamethasone is administered to some preterm infants with chronic lung disease to facilitate weaning from mechanical ventilation. Heart rate characteristics (HRC), including heart rate variability (HRV), may be impacted by glucocorticoids and may predict extubation readiness. A commercially available monitor developed for sepsis detection continuously calculates HRV and an HRC index, which are inversely related.