Parental views on prospective consent: Experience from a pilot randomised trial recruiting extremely preterm infants during the perinatal period.

Aim: To explore parental perceptions of the consenting process and understanding of the study in a pilot randomised controlled trial wherein extremely premature infants (<29 weeks' gestation) were recruited either antenatally or by 4 h of life.

Methods: We prospectively surveyed parents who had consented, declined consent or were eligible infants in the Positioning Preterm Infants for Neuroprotection study, a low-risk intervention study in the first 72 h of life. Structured interview questions explored the process and acceptability of the consenting approach by the parents and their knowledge of the study.

Systemic postnatal corticosteroid use for the prevention of bronchopulmonary dysplasia and its relationship to early neurodevelopment in extremely preterm infants.

Background: Systemic postnatal corticosteroid use in extremely preterm infants poses a risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. This study explores their use beyond seven days of age with early neurodevelopmental assessments during the fidgety period (9-20 weeks postterm age).

Methods: This retrospective single-center cohort study included inborn extremely preterm infants from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2018.

Global variation in skin injures and skincare practices in extremely preterm infants.

Background: Globally, are skincare practices and skin injuries in extremely preterm infants comparable? This study describes skin injuries, variation in skincare practices and investigates any association between them.

Methods: A web-based survey was conducted between February 2019 and August 2021. Quantifying skin injuries and describing skincare practices in extremely preterm infants were the main outcomes.

Thermoregulation and golden hour practices in extremely preterm infants: an international survey.

Background: Are thermoregulation and golden hour practices in extremely preterm (EP) infants comparable across the world? This study aims to describe these practices for EP infants based on the neonatal intensive care unit's (NICUs) geographic region, country's income status and the lowest gestational age (GA) of infants resuscitated.

Methods: The Director of each NICU was requested to complete the e-questionnaire between February 2019 and August 2021.

Results: We received 848 responses, from all geographic regions and resource settings.

Reducing antibiotic use in asymptomatic term infants exposed to maternal chorioamnionitis: Predictive role of sepsis risk calculator.

Aim: The sepsis risk calculator (SRC) has been shown to reduce empirical antibiotic usage in neonates at risk of early-onset sepsis without increasing adverse clinical outcomes. However, its use for categorising and improving identification of at-risk neonates exposed to chorioamnionitis in the local population has not been reported. This study compares the management guided by the SRC to our unit's clinical practice of administering empirical antibiotics to all term neonates (born ≥37 weeks gestation), symptomatic and asymptomatic, who were exposed to chorioamnionitis, and evaluates the performance of the SRC in managing asymptomatic term neonates exposed to chorioamnionitis.

Improvement in thermoregulation outcomes following the implementation of a thermoregulation bundle for preterm infants.

Aim: Hypothermia is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in preterm infants. A local audit revealed 60% preterm infants ≤32 weeks gestation and/or very low birth weight (VLBW) infants (<1500 g) had an abnormal body temperature at admission. This study compares thermoregulatory outcomes before and after the implementation of a thermoregulation bundle in the birthing environment.

Asymptomatic full-term infants born to women with chorioamnionitis may not need routine antibiotics.

Aim: While infants with early-onset sepsis require antibiotics, there is little evidence to support their routine use in asymptomatic infants exposed to maternal chorioamnionitis. We aimed to ascertain the incidence of culture-proven sepsis in full-term infants exposed to chorioamnionitis and to determine whether asymptomatic infants need routine antibiotic treatment.

Methods: This study was retrospective.

Skincare practices in extremely premature infants: A survey of tertiary neonatal intensive care units from Australia and New Zealand.

Aim: To investigate skincare practices in the first 2 weeks of life in extremely premature infants across tertiary neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).

Methods: A web-based secure survey invite was emailed to the medical directors of tertiary NICUs. The survey included questions on various aspects of skincare practices in the first 2 weeks of life in extremely premature infants (born before 28 weeks gestation).

Changes to hepatic tissue oxygenation, abdominal perfusion and its association with enteral feeding with liberal transfusion threshold in anaemic preterm infants: A prospective cohort study.

Background And Objectives: In anaemic preterm infants who receive packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusions, changes to mesenteric tissue oxygenation and perfusion have been reported using a restrictive haemoglobin (Hb)-based threshold. We aimed to investigate changes to hepatic tissue oxygenation and abdominal blood flow after PRBC transfusion and its association with enteral feeding using a liberal Hb threshold (as shown inTable1). [Table: see text] MATERIAL AND METHODS: We prospectively studied a cohort of preterm infants born at < 32 weeks' gestation who received at least one PRBC transfusion and monitored them immediately before (Time 1), immediately after (Time 2) and 24 hours after transfusion (Time 3).

General Movement assessment and neurodevelopmental trajectory in extremely preterm infants with hypothyroxinaemia of prematurity (THOP).

Background: Transient hypothyroxinaemia of prematurity (THOP) has been associated with neurodevelopmental deficits with a paucity of literature leading to variable practice.

Aim: Evaluation of the relationship between free T4 (fT4) levels at 2 weeks after birth and early markers of neurodevelopmental outcome.

Study Design: A retrospective study of prospectively collected data from infants born <29 weeks' gestation, admitted to NICU between January 2012 and December 2014.

Liberal hemoglobin threshold affects cerebral arterial pulsed Doppler and cardiac output, not cerebral tissue oxygenation: a prospective cohort study in anemic preterm infants.

Background: Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is a standard treatment for anemia of prematurity. Cerebral tissue oxygenation and blood flow velocities improve when a restrictive transfusion threshold is followed, but little is known about the effect of practicing a liberal transfusion threshold on cerebral tissue oxygenation, cerebral blood flow velocities, and cardiac output measurements.

Study Design And Methods: A prospective observational study of preterm infants under 32 weeks' gestation who received RBC transfusion.

Outcomes of infants born at borderline viability (23-25 weeks gestation) who received cardiopulmonary resuscitation at birth.

Aim: The practice of providing advanced resuscitative measures to infants born at borderline viability (23-25 weeks gestation) varies among clinicians due to perception of futility. The aim of our study was to compare mortality and major morbidities in infants born at borderline viability who did not receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the delivery room (No DR-CPR) as compared to those who did (DR-CPR).

Methods: A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of infants born between 23 and 25 weeks gestation who were resuscitated at birth at the study centre or admitted to neonatal intensive care unit from peripheral hospitals, over 8 years (2007-2014).

Unilateral vocal cord paralysis after surgical closure of a patent ductus arteriosus in extremely preterm infants.

Aim: Left vocal cord paralysis (LVCP) is variably reported post ligation of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Our objective was to determine the incidence of LVCP and identify predictive factors and associated morbidities in preterm infants post PDA ligation.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of infants less than 29 weeks gestational age from 2006 to 2014 who underwent PDA ligation.