Acute Kidney Injury and Abnormalities on Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging or Death in Infants with Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy: A Case-Control Study.

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the association between acute kidney injury (AKI) and abnormalities on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or death in neonates treated with therapeutic hypothermia for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).

Study Design: This is a retrospective case-control analysis of 380 neonates born at ≥35 weeks' gestation treated with therapeutic hypothermia for HIE. Death or abnormal brain MRI using the basal ganglia watershed scoring system was compared between neonates with and without AKI.

Mackler's Triad: An Evolving Case of Boerhaave Syndrome in the Emergency Department.

An elderly lady, known with a background history of Alzheimer's dementia, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and a reported history of self-induced vomiting, presented to our emergency department with a two-day history of vomiting, diarrhoea, anorexia, and malaise. Initial clinical examination and investigations only demonstrated mild dehydration. Despite a satisfactory response to initial symptomatic treatment, with complete cessation of vomiting, the patient had a recent sudden deterioration.

Management of well appearing infants born to afebrile mothers with inadequate GBS prophylaxis: A retrospective comparison of the three approaches recommended by the COFN.

Background: There are three different approaches set forth by the Committee on the Fetus and Newborn (COFN) for managing asymptomatic neonates born to mothers with inadequate intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) for early-onset Group B Strep (GBS) infection. The first approach is that of categorical risk factor assessments, and recommends that asymptomatic infants born to afebrile mothers with inadequate IAP for GBS be monitored with clinical observation for 36-48 hours. The second approach recommends serial physical examinations and vital signs for 36-48 hours to closely monitor changes in clinical condition for all patients.

Apgar Scores at 10 Minutes and Outcomes in Term and Late Preterm Neonates with Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy in the Cooling Era.

Objective: To determine the short-term outcomes (abnormal brain magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]/death) in infants born with a 10-minute Apgar score of 0 who received therapeutic hypothermia and compare them with infants with higher scores.

Study Design: This is a retrospective review of 293 neonates (gestational age ≥ 35 weeks) born between November 2006 and October 2015 admitted with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy who received therapeutic hypothermia. Results of brain MRIs were assessed by the basal ganglia/watershed scoring system.

Utility of Early-Onset Sepsis Risk Calculator for Neonates Born to Mothers with Chorioamnionitis.

Objectives: To evaluate the performance of the early-onset sepsis (EOS) risk calculator in a cohort of neonates born to mothers with clinical chorioamnionitis, and to compare the diagnostic utility of the EOS calculator, clinical signs, and laboratory evaluations for correctly identifying EOS in this cohort.

Study Design: This was a retrospective study of neonates born at ≥35 weeks of gestation to mothers with chorioamnionitis. The risk and management categories for all neonates were calculated using the EOS calculator, and these results were analyzed and compared with laboratory data and clinical signs.

Setting roller pump occlusion with the transonic HT109 flowmeter.

Setting the occlusion of a roller pump may be facilitated using the TRansonic HT109 Ultrasonic Flowmeter (Transonic Systems, Inc. Ithaca, NY) with non-invasive transducer. The process addresses the need to set occlusion quickly and accurately before initiation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

Pulmonary sequelae in infants treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

The decision to place an infant on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is based on predictions of expected morbidity and mortality. One unknown factor is the relationship between pre-ECMO pulmonary dysfunction and on barotrauma and post-ECMO pulmonary sequelae. To determine whether placement of infants on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) early is associated with less subsequent pulmonary dysfunction than placing infants on EMCO later, we evaluated pulmonary function in 25 neonates prior to ECMO, when the infants had come off EMCO, and at the time of nursery discharge.

The use of tapered plastic luer connectors in neonatal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Tapered luer connectors can split, crack, and leak under certain clinical conditions. The purpose of this study was to analyze the causes of these failures and suggest methods of managing the problem. Experience is related to the use of plastic luers in neonatal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; however, the guidelines suggested may have some application in the general intensive care population.

Investigation of fatigue failure of S-65-HL "Super Tygon" roller pump tubing.

A failure analysis was performed on Norton S-65-HL Tygon tubing. Fatigue testing was performed on four sizes of this tubing, and essentially showed how the tubing wears out. A dynamic "life hours to failure" test, which was performed on the 3/8" internal diameter (ID) size, quantified when the tubing ruptured.

Bypass cannulas utilized in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in neonates: radiographic findings.

ECMO, as applied to neonates with severe respiratory failure, involves either a single or dual cannula system for removal of desaturated blood from and return of oxygenated blood to the patient. ECMO cannulas have undergone considerable change and improvement since the early 1980s, and a variety of cannulas are now available commercially for neonatal ECMO. All ECMO cannulas have a characteristic appearance on the chest radiograph, which is important in the assessment of cannula position and some cannula complications.