Comparison of the Pharmacoeconomics of Calfactant and Poractant Alfa in Surfactant Replacement erapy.

Objective: To compare the pharmacy costs of calfactant (Infasurf, ONY, Inc.) and poractant alfa (Curosurf, Chiesi USA, Inc., Cary, NC).

Acidemia versus hypercapnia and risk for severe intraventricular hemorrhage.

In extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants, levels of hypercapnia (Paco 2) > 60 mm Hg are considered a risk factor for severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). Since cerebral vasoreactivity depends on arterial pH (apH) rather than Paco 2, we hypothesize that the role of mild-to-moderate hypercapnia (45-60 mm Hg) in the occurrence of severe IVH is modulated by the metabolic component of acid-base status. ELBW infants (n = 580, born < 28 wk gestation, and BW < 1,000 g) were separated into "high-base deficit (BD)" (n = 291) and "low-BD" (n = 289) groups if infants' median BD were > 4 mEq/L or ≤4 mEq/L, respectively.

The limit of viability: a single regional unit's experience.

Objective: To establish the limit between beneficial and futile management in the extremely preterm infant, born at the limit of viability, at 22 to 26 weeks of gestational age (GA).

Design: Retrospective study (11-year study period).

Setting: A tertiary regional neonatal unit.