What's in a Name? Enhancing Communication in the Operating Room with the Use of Names and Roles on Surgical Caps.

Objective: A pilot study was conducted in a tertiary referral center to assess whether wearing caps labeled with providers' names and roles has an impact on communication in the operating room (OR).

Methods: Two obstetricians observed surgeries for name uses and missed communications. Following each case, all providers were given a short survey that queried their attitude about the use of labeled surgical caps, their ability to know the names and roles of other providers during a case, and the impact of scrub attire on identifying others.

The impact of an intervention package promoting effective neonatal resuscitation training in rural China.

Objective: To evaluate an intervention package promoting effective neonatal resuscitation training at county level hospitals across China.

Methods: The intervention package was implemented across 4 counties and included expert seminars, training workshops, establishment of hospital-based resuscitation teams, and supervision of training by national and provincial instructors. Upon completing the activities, a survey was conducted in all county hospitals in the 4 intervention counties and 4 randomly selected control counties.

Perspectives on promoting breastmilk feedings for premature infants during a quality improvement project.

Objective: This study investigated clinicians' perspectives during a quality improvement project to promote breastmilk feedings in premature infants.

Study Design: From 2009 to 2010, 11 hospitals in the California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative participated in a project to promote breastmilk feedings in premature infants. Audio recordings of monthly meetings held to encourage sharing of ideas were analyzed using qualitative methods to identify common themes related to barriers and solutions to breastmilk feeding promotion.

Intestinal malrotation and catastrophic volvulus in infancy.

Background: Intestinal malrotation in the newborn is usually diagnosed after signs of intestinal obstruction, such as bilious emesis, and corrected with the Ladd procedure.

Objectives: The objective of this report is to describe the presentation of severe cases of midgut volvulus presenting in infancy, and to discuss the characteristics of these cases.

Case Report: We performed a 7-year review at our institution and present two cases of catastrophic midgut volvulus presenting in the post-neonatal period, ending in death soon after the onset of symptoms.

Clinician perspectives on barriers to and opportunities for skin-to-skin contact for premature infants in neonatal intensive care units.

Objective: Our objective was to investigate key factors in promoting skin-to-skin contact (STSC) in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Methods: As part of a California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative on improving nutrition and promoting breastmilk feeding of premature infants, a multidisciplinary group of representatives from 11 hospitals discussed the progress and barriers in pursuing the project. A key component of the collaborative project was promotion of STSC.

Prediction of death for extremely premature infants in a population-based cohort.

Objective: Although gestational age (GA) is often used as the primary basis for counseling and decision-making for extremely premature infants, a study of tertiary care centers showed that additional factors could improve prediction of outcomes. Our objective was to determine how such a model could improve predictions for a population-based cohort.

Methods: From 2005 to 2008, data were collected prospectively for the California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative, which encompasses 90% of NICUs in California.

Low Apgar score and mortality in extremely preterm neonates born in the United States.

Aim: To investigate the relationship between low Apgar score and neonatal mortality in preterm neonates.

Methods: Infant birth and death certificate data from the US National Center for Health Statistics for 2001-2002 were analysed. Primary outcome was 28-day mortality for 690, 933 neonates at gestational ages 24-36 weeks.

A national survey of pediatric residents and delivery room training experience.

Objective: To investigate current delivery room training experience in US pediatric residency programs and the relationship between volume of delivery room training and confidence in neonatal resuscitation skills.

Study Design: Links to a web-based survey were sent to pediatric residency programs and distributed to residents. The survey concerned delivery room attendance during training and comfort level in leading neonatal resuscitation for various scenarios.

Morbidity risk at birth for Asian Indian small for gestational age infants.

Whether the traditional definition of small for gestational age (SGA) is an appropriate marker of risk for populations that have relatively lower birthweight is unclear. We determined proportions of White and Asian Indian SGA infants and those admitted to the special care nursery. Compared with White infants, Asian Indian infants were more likely to be SGA (14.

Factors influencing breast milk versus formula feeding at discharge for very low birth weight infants in California.

Objective: To investigate incidence and factors influencing breast milk feeding at discharge for very low birth weight infants (VLBW) in a population-based cohort.

Study Design: We used data from the California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative to calculate incidence of breast milk feeding at hospital discharge for 6790 VLBW infants born in 2005-2006. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine which sociodemographic and medical factors were associated with breast milk feeding.

Changes in attendance at deliveries by pediatric residents 2000 to 2005.

We sought to determine if pediatric resident attendance at deliveries for newborn assessment and resuscitation had changed over the years at a training hospital. Data were abstracted from medical records of newborns discharged during the same 6-week periods for 5 consecutive academic years spanning a period before and after resident duty hour regulation changes were implemented. Names of personnel attending deliveries were noted in delivery records.

Population trends in cesarean delivery for breech presentation in the United States, 1997-2003.

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine whether cesarean delivery for breech has increased in the United States.

Study Design: We calculated cesarean rates for term singletons in breech/malpresentation from 1997 to 2003 using National Center for Health Statistics data. We compared rates by sociodemographic groups and state.

Oropharyngeal atresia in a preterm infant: a case report and review of the literature.

Oropharyngeal atresia is a rare and often fatal condition that presents soon after birth with severe respiratory distress. We present a case of a premature infant who initially was suspected to have tracheo-esophageal atresia due to prenatal ultrasound findings of polyhydramnios and absent stomach bubble, but was found instead to have oropharyngeal atresia and a complete persistent buccopharyngeal membrane. This case is the first described in which the patient was successfully intubated through a small slit in the persistent membrane.

Survival rates and mode of delivery for vertex preterm neonates according to small- or appropriate-for-gestational-age status.

Objective: The goal was to characterize the relationship between cesarean section delivery and death for preterm vertex neonates according to intrauterine growth.

Methods: Maternal and infant data from the National Center for Health Statistics for 1999 and 2000 were analyzed. Neonates with gestational ages of 26 to 36 weeks were characterized as small for gestational age (<10th percentile) or appropriate for gestational age (10th to 90th percentile).

Survival advantage associated with cesarean delivery in very low birth weight vertex neonates.

Objective: To identify the indications for and any survival advantage associated with very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates delivered by cesarean.

Methods: Maternal and infant data from the National Center for Health Statistics linked birth/death data set for 1999 to 2000 were analyzed. Maternal conditions associated with cesarean delivery were compared among birth weight groups for vertex neonates.