A Randomized Controlled Trial of Glycerin Suppositories During Phototherapy in Premature Neonates.

Objective: To determine if glycerin suppositories were effective in reducing total duration of phototherapy in premature neonates. We hypothesized that glycerin suppositories would have no effect on phototherapy duration or total serum bilirubin levels.

Design: Prospective randomized controlled double-blinded trial.

Simulation to Standardize Patient Care and Maintain Procedural Competency.

Simulation-based training is a means to teach procedural skills and to help advanced practice providers maintain procedural competency and credentialing. There is growing recognition of the importance of requiring providers to demonstrate competency of invasive procedures in a simulated environment prior to performing these high-risk procedures on patients. This article describes the development and implementation of the simulation procedural program at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

An evidence-based catheter bundle alters central venous catheter strategy in newborn infants.

Objective: To assess whether introduction of an evidence-based percutaneously inserted central catheter (PICC) care bundle reduced the risk of central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI), thus altering the comparative risk of CLABSI in infants.

Study Design: This retrospective cohort study included all infants for whom an umbilical venous catheter (UVC) was placed as part of routine care between Jan 1, 2006, and Dec 31, 2009, a period during which standardized PICC insertion and care bundles were introduced. Duration of UVC use was divided in ≤ 7 days and >7 days.

Exploring the association between pain intensity and facial display in term newborns.

Background: Facial expression is widely used to judge pain in neonates. However, little is known about the relationship between intensity of the painful stimulus and the nature of the expression in term neonates.

Objectives: To describe differences in the movement of key facial areas between two groups of term neonates experiencing painful stimuli of different intensities.

Risk factors for umbilical venous catheter-associated thrombosis in very low birth weight infants.

Background: Thrombosis in neonates is a rare but serious occurrence, usually associated with central catheterization. The objective of this study was to investigate the risk factors associated with catheter related thrombosis in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.

Procedure: The present retrospective study was performed using data from a randomized trial of duration of umbilical venous catheters (UVC) placement among infants <1,250 g birth weight.

A randomized trial comparing long-term and short-term use of umbilical venous catheters in premature infants with birth weights of less than 1251 grams.

Background: Umbilical vein and percutaneous central venous catheters are often used in preterm infants, but they can lead to complications, including infection.

Objective: We hypothesized that long-term umbilical vein catheter use would result in fewer infections than short-term umbilical vein catheter use followed by percutaneous central venous catheter placement.

Design/methods: Infants < or = 1250 g with umbilical vein catheters placed at admission were randomly assigned to a long-term (umbilical vein catheter up to 28 days) or short-term (umbilical vein catheter for 7-10 days followed by percutaneous central venous catheter) group.

Risk of persistent renal insufficiency in premature infants following the prenatal use of indomethacin for suppression of preterm labor.

Objective: To determine the risk of persistent renal insufficiency (RI) in premature infants following the use of antenatal indomethacin for suppression of preterm labor.

Study Design: This population-based, retrospective review consisted of infants admitted during a 5-year period (1994-1999) to a tertiary referral neonatal intensive care nursery. Data were reviewed on 37 infants whose mothers received indomethacin for tocolysis, and on 37 matched controls.