The retinopathy of prematurity screening examination: ensuring a safe and efficient examination while minimizing infant discomfort.

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) examinations in the NICU are necessary to protect vision in premature infants, but the examinations are associated with risk and discomfort. ROP examination risks include adverse effects from mydriatic agents, systemic responses to the stress of examination, and nosocomial infection. Infant discomfort may be lessened by limiting examination length and possibly by measures such as topical anesthetic, oral sucrose, and certain nonpharmacologic techniques.

Neonatal heart rate variability and intraventricular hemorrhage: a case study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare heart rate variability (HRV) in low-risk, pre-term infants to one infant diagnosed with intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH).

Method: A case study design was used to compare HRV of one subject diagnosed with IVH to a convenience sample of 38 low-risk, pre-term infants at 30 and 31 post-menstrual weeks of age. Heart periods were recorded for 300-s with the infant in an active sleep state.