Assessing Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) Significance on Cardiac Output by Whole-Body Bio-impedance.

We evaluated the effectiveness of a whole-body bioimpedance device (NICaS®, NI Medical, Petach Tikva, Israel) to predict the presence of a hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in premature infants. A total of 36 infants less than 35 week's gestation age and birth weights of less than 1750 g were included in the study. Using the NICaS® device, we obtained whole-body bioimpedance measurements of stroke volume index (SI), cardiac output index (CI) and total peripheral resistance index.

Comparison of hematologic indices and markers of infection in umbilical cord and neonatal blood.

Objective: Evaluation of a neonate for suspected early neonatal sepsis routinely includes blood tests such as complete blood count, C-reactive protein (CRP) and culture. In order to obviate the need for venepuncture, we prospectively compared these tests in paired samples from umbilical cord and peripheral venous blood drawn during the first hours after birth in both preterm and term infants.

Methods: Paired blood samples were studied from asymptomatic neonates with risk factors for early sepsis.