Postponing or eliminating red blood cell transfusions of very low birth weight neonates by obtaining all baseline laboratory blood tests from otherwise discarded fetal blood in the placenta.

Background: Safely reducing the proportion of very low birth weight neonates (<1500 g) that receive a red blood cell (RBC) transfusion would be an advance in transfusion practice.

Study Design And Methods: We performed a prospective, single-centered, case-control, feasibility analysis, preparatory to designing a definitive trial. Specifically, we sought to determine whether we could obtain all baseline neonatal intensive care unit blood tests from the placenta, after placental delivery, thereby initially drawing no blood from the neonate.

Effects of instituting the "BEST Program" (Breast Milk Early Saves Trouble) in a level III NICU.

A program is developed to increase the use of breast milk during the first week, for patients<2 kg birth weight. This is termed the "BEST program," using the acronym "Breast milk Early Saves Trouble." An analysis of feeding practices and outcomes during the 12 months before versus the 12 months after implementing this program was conducted.

Implementing feeding guidelines for NICU patients<2000 g results in less variability in nutrition outcomes.

Background: We devised a consistent approach to instituting and advancing enteral nutrition among neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients<2000 g birth weight. We then assessed variability in feeding-related outcomes during a period before (period 1) vs after (period 2) implementing these guidelines.

Methods: Using data from period 1 vs period 2, we statistically compared the equivalence of variance, focusing on certain feeding-related outcomes.