The Role of Newborn Pulse Oximetry Screening for Detecting Critical Congenital Heart Defects: A Narrative Review.

Critical congenital heart diseases are life-threatening, with a high morbidity rate and mortality among newborns; in fact, a newborn discharged from the hospital with undiagnosed heart disease may experience severe complications during the initial days or weeks of their life, necessitating emergency care and even death. Among all kinds of critical congenital heart disease, coarctation of the aorta is one of the most difficult to diagnose because it only becomes noticeable a few days after birth, when patients have already been discharged from the hospital. This underlines the importance of having a reliable diagnostic tool to discover these diseases.

Necrotizing Enterocolitis: A Current Understanding and Challenges for the Future.

This perspective reviews the definition and current understanding of necrotizing enterocolitis and evaluates a future prevention approach to this multifactorial disease. An overview of the prevention approach in general is presented, where key aspects and emerging criticisms are identified. In addition, key elements of early diagnosis and treatment are presented, together with some of their challenges and ambiguities.

Giant omphalocele with right lung agenesia and bronchial tracheal hypoplasia: A case report.

The omphalocele is an abdominal wall defect at the base of the umbilical cord, with the worldwide prevalence of 2.6 per 10,000 births. Omphalocele contains herniated abdominal organs and is classified in small and giant based on the size of the defect.

Laryngeal Mask for Minimally-Invasive Surfactant Administration: A Narrative Review.

The cornerstone of treatment for respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants is surfactant administration, traditionally performed through an invasive procedure involving tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. Consequently, there has been a growing interest in exploring less invasive methods of surfactant delivery to mitigate the associated risks. Currently, several techniques are under evaluation, including intratracheal instillation using a thin catheter, aerosolized or nebulized administration, and guided administration by supraglottic airway devices.

Clinical Picture, Diagnosis, Management of NEC, and Effects of Probiotics on its Prevention: A Narrative Review.

Preterm newborns represent a population at risk of developing intestinal dysbiosis as well as being predisposed to sepsis and Necrotizing Enterocolitis. Necrotizing Enterocolitis is a condition burdened by many complications and mortality due to an alteration of the intestinal barrier, an immaturity of the immune system, and intestinal dysbiosis. Low gestational age at birth, low birth weight, and early use of antibiotics are other predisposing factors.

Predictive Role of Reticulocyte Fluorescence for Late Red Blood Cell Transfusion in Very Low Birth Weight Infants.

Background: Nearly 58% of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants receive at least one red blood cell transfusion, which is not without risk. Reticulocyte fluorescence (RF) indicates the degree of cell maturation. The greater the fluorescence, the greater the immaturity of the reticulocytes.

Laryngeal Mask Airway in Neonatal Resuscitation: A Survey of the Union of European Neonatal and Perinatal Societies.

Introduction: Laryngeal mask airway (LMA) use in neonatal resuscitation is limited despite existing evidence and recommendations. This survey investigated the knowledge and experience of healthcare providers on the use of the LMA and explored barriers and solutions for implementation.

Methods: This online, cross-sectional survey on LMA in neonatal resuscitation involved healthcare professionals of the Union of European Neonatal and Perinatal Societies (UENPS).

Use and Efficacy of I-gel in Complicated Intubations in Newborn Infants: A Review of Case Reports in the Literature.

Introduction: Current guidelines for neonatal resuscitation suggest the use of a laryngeal mask when ventilation with both facemask and endotracheal tube has failed in newborns weighing >2000 g or delivered ≥ 34 weeks of gestation age. Paediatric I-gel is one of the latest supraglottic airway management devices suitable for children and newborns. I-gel use was effective in guaranteeing adequate ventilation in patients with anatomic abnormalities in case of respiratory impairment or during surgical procedures after the induction of anaesthesia.

Long-term benefits of exclusive human milk diet in small for gestational age neonates: a systematic review of the literature.

Evidence about feeding practices' consequences in small for gestational age newborns is not well established because they are less likely to initiate and continue breastfeeding than other newborns. Our aim was to study current knowledge about the benefits of exclusive human milk diet after 2 years of age in small for gestational age newborns. A systematic review of the literature was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline criteria.

Umbilical cord stump medication with a topical dermo protective powder compared to dry care in healthy full-term and near-term newborns: a two-center prospective cohort study.

Background: Proper umbilical cord stump care during the first days of life (both in hospital and at home) should not be overlooked to prevent possible complications (e.g., purulent discharge, granulomas, or periumbilical erythema or omphalitis).

Analysis of the Fecal Metabolomic Profile in Breast vs. Different Formula Milk Feeding in Late Preterm Infants.

Human milk is the gold standard for infant nutrition, but when it is not available or insufficient to satisfy the needs of the infant, formula milk is proposed as an effective substitute. A prospective observational cohort study was conducted on late preterm infants fed with breast and two different formula milks. On this basis, they were divided into three groups: group FMPB (fed with formula + postbiotic), group FM (fed with standard formula), and group BM (breastfed).

Vitamin K insufficiency and the prophylaxis strategy in term healthy infants: A multicentre study.

Background/aim: Late vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) during early infancy is a serious problem worldwide. Vitamin K (VK) deficiency commonly occurs in newborns who are exclusively breastfed. Protein Induced by VK Absence (PIVKA-II) has been identified as an early indicator of subclinical VK deficiency in neonates, surpassing prothrombin time.

Current Concepts of Corticosteroids Use for the Prevention of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia.

Despite using antenatal steroids, surfactants and protective ventilation, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) affects 10-89% of preterm infants. Since lung inflammation is central to the BPD pathogenesis, postnatal systemic corticosteroids could reduce the risk of BPD onset in preterm infants, but short and long-term adverse consequences have been underlined in literature after their use (i.e.

Peripheral Saturation and Perfusion Index on the First Day of Life Play a Role in Early Discharge of Healthy Term Newborns.

Introduction: Pulse oximetry screening is a safe, feasible test, effective in identifying congenital heart diseases in otherwise well-appearing newborns. Uncertainties still persist on the most effective algorithm to be used and the timing of screening. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of the pulse oximetry screening associated with the peripheral perfusion index performed in the first 24 hours of life for the early detection of congenital heart diseases and noncongenital heart diseases in the newborns.

Improving Care in Neonatal Intensive Units During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Survey on Electronic Health Communication.

A novel virus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) started spreading through Italy and the world from February 2020, and the pandemic threatened the family-centred care (FCC) model used in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Teleconferences and video calls were employed to keep parents in contact with their babies. This study aimed to evaluate satisfaction and stress levels between parents in the telematic family-centred care group (T-FCC) versus the FCC group and the no Family-Centred Care (N-FCC) group.

Metabolomic Profile of Young Adults Born Preterm.

Prematurity is a risk factor for the development of chronic adult diseases. Metabolomics can correlate the biochemical changes to a determined phenotype, obtaining real information about the state of health of a subject at that precise moment. Significative differences in the metabolomic profile of preterm newborns compared to those born at term have been already identified at birth.

Does high fidelity neonatal resuscitation simulation increase salivary cortisol levels of health care providers?

Background: The use of simulation-based medical education is strongly recommended to insure neonatal resuscitation skills for health caregivers. High fidelity simulation was executed to allow the evaluation of technical and non-technical skills. Salivary cortisol level was considered reliable biomarkers of adrenocortical activity and useful tool to learning assessment and stress response.

Management of oxygen saturation monitoring in preterm newborns in the NICU: the Italian picture.

Background: Although many studies emphasize the importance of using oxygen saturation (SpO) targets in the NICUs, there is a wide variability in used saturation ranges among centers. Primary aim was to draw a representative picture on how the management of oxygen monitoring is performed in the Italian NICUs. Second aim was to identify healthcare-professionals related factors associated with oxygen targeting in the preterm population.

The clinical course of SARS-CoV-2 positive neonates.

The COVID-19 pneumonia was firstly reported in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The disease had a rapid spread all over the word becoming an international public health emergency. Limited data were available on COVID-19 positive neonates.

A randomized controlled study of immediate versus delayed umbilical cord clamping in infants born by elective caesarean section.

Background: Delayed umbilical cord clamping is associated with greater haemoglobin concentration and iron storage between 3 and 6 months of life and with less need of blood transfusion and lower incidence of neonatal hypotension compared to early umbilical cord clamping.

Methods: The aim was to test the hypothesis that delayed cord clamping is better than early cord clamping in term infants born by elective caesarean section. Group A was subjected to immediate cord clamping while in the Group B, the umbilical cord was clamped 1 min after birth.

Predict respiratory distress syndrome by umbilical cord blood gas analysis in newborns with reassuring Apgar score.

Background: Neonatal acidaemia at birth can increase neonatal morbidity and mortality and it is predictive of neonatal asphyxia. The umbilical blood gas analysis is a valid tool for the evaluation of neonatal acidaemia. However, umbilical cord blood gas analysis is commonly performed in high-risk situations or in the setting of Apgar scores < 7 at 5 min.

Newborn metabolomic profile mirrors that of mother in pregnancy.

Background: Pregnancy is characterized by multiple metabolic processes to allow proper foetal development and ensure adequate stores. Little is known about the interactions between maternal and foetal metabolism during the last phase of pregnancy. Metabolomic offers potential to discover changes in maternal metabolism in pregnancy and their relation to the newborn metabolic status.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Pregnancy with Intrauterine Growth Restriction: A Pilot Study.

Objective: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a major cause of late stillbirth, though not all compromised babies remain small or are considered growth restricted as pregnancy progresses. Fetal Magnetic Resonance Imaging (f-MRI) represents a second-line tool to study pregnancies with IUGR fetuses. The aim of our study was to evaluate the usefulness of f-MRI on predicting fetal growth and the offspring's perinatal respiratory outcome.