Post-Traumatic Stress in Mothers of Children Having Complex Cardiac Surgery Early in Life.

To determine: (i) frequency of probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in mothers of infants after complex cardiac surgery (CCS), (ii) predictors of probable PTSD, and (iii) impact on child neurodevelopment. The Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) was administered to 60 mothers of infants ≥ 6 months after CCS at ≤ 6 weeks of age. The IES-R measures response to a specific traumatic event: Scores < 24, no concern; 24-32, clinical concern; and ≥ 33, probable diagnosis of PTSD.

Developmental outcomes of preschool children requiring craniosynostosis surgery in Manitoba: a cohort study.

Craniosynostosis is a congenital abnormality resulting in the premature fusion of one or more cranial sutures and usually requires surgical correction in the first year of life. While the majority of craniosynostosis cases represent isolated, nonsyndromic defects, approximately 25% are linked to a genetic diagnosis. Craniosynostosis has been associated with developmental delay.

Noninvasive Respiratory Support or Intubation during Stabilization after Birth and Neonatal and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Infants Born Preterm at 23-25 Weeks of Gestation.

Objective: To examine the association between noninvasive respiratory support (NRS) or tracheal intubation (TI) during stabilization in infants born at 23-25 weeks of gestation and severe brain injury (sBI) or death, and significant neurodevelopmental impairment (sNDI).

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study of infants born at 23°-25 weeks of gestation in Canada. We compared infants successfully managed with NRS or TI during 30 minutes after birth.

How to measure patient and family important outcomes in extremely preterm infants: A scoping review.

Aim: Parents of children born preterm have identified outcomes to be measured for audit and research at 18-24 months of age: child well-being, quality of life/function, socio-emotional/behavioural outcomes, respiratory, feeding, sleeping, and caregiver mental health. The aim was to identify the best tools to measure these seven domains.

Methods: Seven working groups completed literature reviews and evaluated potential tools to measure these outcomes in children aged 18-24 months.

Risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnosis following multiple exposures to general anesthesia in the paediatric population: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: The risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) following multiple exposures to anesthesia has been debated. Our objective was to systematically review the literature to examine the association between multiple exposures to general anesthesia before age 5 and subsequent diagnosis of ADHD.

Methods: A systematic search of EMBASE, PubMed, and SCOPUS was performed using key search terms in February 2022.

Comorbidities Affecting Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Retrospective Chart Review.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder characterized by deficits in social interaction/communication, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors. Recent discussions have emerged worldwide regarding the heterogeneity around presentation/etiology and comorbidities. This study aimed to determine the frequency and characteristics of comorbidities among children diagnosed with ASD in Manitoba and to evaluate differences in presentation between those with and without medical comorbidities.

Unmet Parental Mental Health Service Needs in Neonatal Follow-Up Programs: Parent and Service Provider Perspectives.

Parental mental health services in neonatal follow-up programs (NFUPs) are lacking though needed. This study aimed to determine (1) the unmet mental health needs of parents and (2) the parent and provider perspectives on barriers and opportunities to increase mental health service access. : Parents in a central Canadian NFUP ( = 49) completed a mixed-method online survey (analyzed descriptively and by content analysis) to elucidate their mental health, related service use, barriers to service use, and service preferences.

Hyperbilirubinemia Among Infants Born Preterm: Peak Levels and Association with Neurodevelopmental Outcomes.

Objective: To describe the distribution of peak bilirubin levels among infants born before 29 weeks of gestation in the first 14 days of life and to study the association between quartiles of peak bilirubin levels at different gestational ages and neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Study Design: Multicenter, retrospective, nationwide cohort study of neonatal intensive care units in the Canadian Neonatal Network and Canadian Neonatal Follow-Up Network, including neonates born preterm at 22 to 28 weeks of gestation born between 2010 and 2018. Peak bilirubin levels were recorded during the first 14 days of age.

Grade 3 school performance among children born preterm: a population-based cohort study.

Objective: To study the association between prematurity and grade 3 school performance in a contemporary cohort of children.

Methods: Population-based retrospective cohort study in Manitoba, Canada. Children born between 1999 and 2011 who had their grade 3 school performance data available were eligible.

Early Neurodevelopmental Outcomes after Previable Preterm Prelabour Rupture of Membranes (pPPROM).

Objective: To describe the early neurodevelopmental outcomes following fetal exposure to previable preterm prelabour rupture of membranes (pPPROM).

Methods: This was a secondary analysis of a subgroup of neonates born following pPPROM from a retrospective cohort study (2009-2015). Surviving infants who underwent standardized neurodevelopmental evaluation at 18-24 months corrected age (CA) between 2017 and 2019 were eligible for inclusion.

School Readiness Among Children Born Preterm in Manitoba, Canada.

Importance: Children born preterm may experience learning challenges at school. However, there is a paucity of data on the school readiness of these children as they prepare to begin grade 1.

Objective: To examine the association between prematurity and school readiness in a population-based cohort of children.

Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of Infants at <29 Weeks of Gestation Born in Canada Between 2009 and 2016.

Objective: To evaluate changes in mortality or significant neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) in children born at <29 weeks of gestation in association with national quality improvement initiatives.

Study Design: This longitudinal cohort study included children born at 22 to 28 weeks of gestation who were admitted to Canadian neonatal intensive care units between 2009 and 2016. The primary outcome was a composite rate of death or significant NDI (Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition score <70, severe cerebral palsy, blindness, or deafness requiring amplification) at 18-24 months corrected age.

Language abilities in preschool children with critical CHD: a systematic review.

Context: Children with critical CHD are at risk for neurodevelopmental impairments, including delays in expressive and receptive language development. However, no study has synthesised the literature regarding language abilities in children with this condition.

Objective: We summarised the literature regarding expressive and receptive language in preschool children with critical CHD.

Living labs for patient engagement and knowledge exchange: an exploratory sequential mixed methods study to develop a living lab in paediatric rehabilitation.

Introduction: Despite recognition of the importance of patient engagement in research and knowledge translation, systematic approaches to engagement and co-ideation remain limited. Living labs are collaborative knowledge sharing systems that use multimethod, user-centred approaches that hold potential to catalyse these aims. However, their use in healthcare is limited, and no living lab has been developed in paediatric rehabilitation.

Comparison of motor outcomes between preschool children with univentricular and biventricular critical heart disease not diagnosed with cerebral palsy or acquired brain injury.

This comparison study of two groups within an inception cohort aimed to compare the frequency of motor impairment between preschool children with univentricular and biventricular critical congenital heart disease (CHD) not diagnosed with cerebral palsy/acquired brain injury, describe and compare their motor profiles and explore predictors of motor impairment in each group.Children with an intellectual quotient <70 or cerebral palsy/acquired brain injury were excluded. Motor skills were assessed with the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2.

Rethinking 'essential' and 'nonessential': the developmental paediatrician's COVID-19 response.

While terms such as 'essential' and 'nonessential' used amidst the COVID-19 pandemic may serve a practical purpose, they also pose a risk of obstructing our view of the harmful indirect health consequences of this crisis. SARS-CoV-2 cases and deaths in children are minimal compared to adults, but the pandemic impacts other 'essential' aspects of children's health including child development and the associated areas of paediatric behaviour, mental health, and maltreatment. Alongside the management of severe SARS-CoV-2 cases in emergency rooms and intensive care units, continuing to care for children with developmental disabilities must also be concurrently championed as 'essential' during this crisis.

Survival, Neurocognitive, and Functional Outcomes After Completion of Staged Surgical Palliation in a Cohort of Patients With Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome.

Background Management of patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome has benefited from advancements in medical and surgical care. Outcomes have improved, although survival and long-term functional and cognitive deficits remain a concern. Methods and Results This is a cohort study of all consecutive patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome undergoing surgical palliation at a single center.

Deterioration of functional abilities in children surviving the Fontan operation.

Functional abilities are needed for activities of daily living. In general, these skills expand with age. We hypothesised that, in contrast to what is normally expected, children surviving the Fontan may have deterioration of functional abilities, and that peri-Fontan stroke is associated with this deterioration.

Prevalence Estimate of Cerebral Palsy in Northern Alberta: Births, 2008-2010.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine prevalence estimates of cerebral palsy (CP) among 5-year-old children in northern Alberta; to provide congenital, gestational age- and birth weight-specific, and postneonatal CP rates; and to describe motor subtypes and function.

Methods: This population-based prevalence estimate study, part of the Canadian Cerebral Palsy Registry, reports confirmed CP diagnoses at age 5 years made by pediatric rehabilitation and child neurology specialists. Prevalence rates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) used Alberta government denominators of same-age children and live births.

Gastrostomy Tube Feeding after Neonatal Complex Cardiac Surgery Identifies the Need for Early Developmental Intervention.

Objective: To compare the proportion of developmental delay in early complex cardiac surgery (CCS) survivors with and without gastrostomy tube feeding (GTF). To explore acute care predictors of GTF that might help improve care in CCS survivors.

Study Group: This comparison study of 2 groups within an inception cohort included 334 CCS survivors after cardiopulmonary bypass at ≤6 weeks of age (2005-2012) who did not require extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or heart transplantation.

Chronic Neuromotor Disability After Complex Cardiac Surgery in Early Life.

Background And Objectives: Little is known about chronic neuromotor disability (CND) including cerebral palsy and motor impairments after acquired brain injury in children surviving early complex cardiac surgery (CCS). We sought to determine the frequency and presentation of CND in this population while exploring potentially modifiable acute care predictors.

Methods: This prospective follow-up study included 549 children after CCS requiring cardiopulmonary bypass at ≤6 weeks of age.

Social communication features in children following moderate to severe acquired brain injury: a cross-sectional pilot study.

We compared the social communication deficits of children with moderate to severe acquired brain injury or autism spectrum disorder, while accounting for the role of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. Parents of 20 children aged 6 to 10 years (10 acquired brain injury; 10 autism spectrum disorder) completed the Social Communication Questionnaire, and Conners 3 Parent Short. A multivariate analysis of covariance revealed significant differences between groups in Social Communication Questionnaire restricted repetitive behavior scores, but not reciprocal social interaction or social communication.