Usefulness of routine early œsophagogram after primary repair of œsophageal atresia: a multicenter study.

Background: Advances in surgical and neonatal care have led to improved survival of patients with œsophageal atresia (OA) over time. Morbidity remains significant, with one-third of patients being affected by a postoperative complication. Several aspects of management are not consensual, such as the use of œsophagogram before starting oral feeding.

N,N,N-Trimethyl chitosan as a permeation enhancer for inhalation drug delivery: Interaction with a model pulmonary surfactant.

N,N,N-Trimethyl chitosan (TMC), a biocompatible and biodegradable derivative of chitosan, is currently used as a permeation enhancer to increase the translocation of drugs to the bloodstream in the lungs. This article discusses the effect of TMC on a mimetic pulmonary surfactant, Curosurf®, a low-viscosity lipid formulation administered to preterm infants with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Curosurf® exhibits a strong interaction with TMC, resulting in the formation of aggregates at electrostatic charge stoichiometry.

Uncovering the novel Enterobacter cloacae complex species responsible for septic shock deaths in newborns: a cohort study.

Background: Enterobacter cloacae complex contains nosocomial pathogens responsible for infection outbreaks. Identification at the species level within the E cloacae complex remains difficult. Using whole genome sequencing, our aim was to decipher the transmission routes that led to the death of six of seven neonates who had bacteraemia caused by E cloacae complex isolates in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) over a 13 month period.

Ultrasound guided percutaneous catheterization of the brachiocephalic vein by small caliber catheter: An alternative to epicutaneo-caval catheter in newborn and premature infants.

Background: Umbilical Venous Catheter (UVC) and Epicutaneo-Caval Catheters (ECC) are reference catheters in the neonatal period. However, many factors such as the corpulence of neonates, poor venous capital, and anatomical variants can complicate ECC insertion or make it impossible. In newborns with failed ECC insertion, we developed an hybrid technique that combines the insertion of a long-lasting silicone or polyurethane small caliber catheter, usually used as a ECC in newborns, with the ease and speed of ultrasound guided puncture of the brachiocephalic vein (BCV).

Procalcitonin in Preterm Neonates: A Different Threshold and Prolonged Interpretation.

To evaluate the positive threshold of PCT for neonates of <32 weeks of gestation for the diagnosis of early-onset sepsis and to determine if the level of PCT collected within 6 h of life could be used. Retrospective and bicentric study from May 2016 to April 2018. Two groups were established, neonates evaluated for PCT at birth (CordPCT) and within 6 h of life (delPCT).

Lung Ultrasound Findings in Congenital Pulmonary Airway Malformation.

Background And Objective: Congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM) is a group of rare congenital malformations of the lung and airways. Lung ultrasound (LU) is increasingly used to diagnose neonatal respiratory diseases since it is quick, easy to learn, and radiation-free, but no formal data exist for congenital lung malformations. We aimed to describe LU findings in CPAM neonates needing neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission and to compare them with a control population.

Study of the Factors Leading to Fetal and Neonatal Dysthyroidism in Children of Patients With Graves Disease.

Context: Neonatal hyperthyroidism was first described in 1912 and in 1964 was shown to be linked to transplacental passage of maternal antibodies. Few multicenter studies have described the perinatal factors leading to fetal and neonatal dysthyroidism.

Objective: To show how fetal dysthyroidism (FD) and neonatal dysthyroidism (ND) can be predicted from perinatal variables, in particular, the levels of anti-thyrotropin receptor antibodies (TRAbs) circulating in the mother and child.

Severe hemolysis after plasma transfusion in a neonate with necrotizing enterocolitis, Clostridium perfringens infection, and red blood cell T-polyagglutination.

Background: Red blood cell (RBC) Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen exposure (T activation) in infants with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) has occasionally been associated with posttransfusional intravascular hemolysis thought to be due to anti-T antibodies in the donor plasma.

Study Design And Methods: We describe an infant with NEC and Clostridium perfringens infection complicated by severe hemolysis after plasma transfusion. After this case, infants with confirmed NEC were prospectively evaluated for T activation.

Sepsis risk factors in infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Background: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a rare congenital anomaly and remains among the most challenging ICU-managed disease. Beside severe pulmonary hypertension, lung hypoplasia and major abdominal surgery, infective complications remain major determinants of outcome. However, the specific incidence of sepsis as well as associated risk factors is unknown.

Ultrasound-Guided Subclavian Vein Cannulation in Low Birth Weight Neonates.

Objectives: Central venous access in critically ill, small infants remains technically challenging even in experienced hands. Several vascular accesses exist, but the subclavian vein is often preferred for central venous catheter insertion in infants where abdominal malformation and/or closure of the vein preclude the use of umbilical venous catheters, as catheterization of the subclavian vein is easier in very short necks than the internal jugular vein for age-related anatomical reasons. The subclavian vein approach is yet relatively undescribed in low birth weight infants (i.

Risk of Readmission for Wheezing during Infancy in Children with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia.

Rationale: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is associated with a high incidence of respiratory problems, even after initial hospital discharge. These problems are likely to lead to re-hospitalization during infancy, although actual frequency of readmissions is unknown.

Objective: We aimed to determine the rate of hospitalization for wheezing in infants with CDH between the time of initial discharge and 24 months of age, and to identify factors associated with readmission.

Lung ultrasound findings in meconium aspiration syndrome.

Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) is a rare and life-threatening neonatal lung injury induced by meconium in the lung and airways. Lung ultrasound (LUS) is a quick, easy and cheap imaging technique that is increasingly being used in critical care settings, also for newborns. In this paper we describe ultrasound findings in MAS.

Transcutaneous bilirubinometry is not influenced by term or skin color in neonates.

Background: The utility of transcutaneous bilirubin measurements (TcB) in screening for hyperbilirubinemia in preterm infants (<34 weeks) and in non-white infants remains a matter of debate.

Aim: To evaluate accuracy of TcB in preterm and term infants of different ethnic backgrounds, using a second generation bilirubinometer.

Study Design: The Draeger JM-103® device was used to measure TcB.

Auditory stimuli mimicking ambient sounds drive temporal "delta-brushes" in premature infants.

In the premature infant, somatosensory and visual stimuli trigger an immature electroencephalographic (EEG) pattern, "delta-brushes," in the corresponding sensory cortical areas. Whether auditory stimuli evoke delta-brushes in the premature auditory cortex has not been reported. Here, responses to auditory stimuli were studied in 46 premature infants without neurologic risk aged 31 to 38 postmenstrual weeks (PMW) during routine EEG recording.

Liver-to-thoracic volume ratio: use at MR imaging to predict postnatal survival in fetuses with isolated congenital diaphragmatic hernia with or without prenatal tracheal occlusion.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship of the liver-to-thoracic volume ratio (LiTR) by MRI with postnatal survival in foetuses with isolated congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).

Methods: In 30 conservatively managed CDH foetuses and in 31 who underwent fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion (FETO), logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the effect on postnatal survival of the observed-to-expected (O/E) ratio of total foetal lung volume (TFLV), LiTR, gestational age at delivery, CDH side, intrathoracic position of the liver and, for those who underwent FETO, gestational age at FETO and occlusion period. For 19 foetuses undergoing FETO, a post-FETO MRI was available.

Telephone survey of hospital staff knowledge of medical device surveillance in a Paris hospital.

Reporting of incidents or near incidents because of medical devices in French hospitals relies on procedures following European and national guidelines. The authors intend to evaluate hospital staff knowledge on these surveillance procedures as a marker of appropriate application. A telephone survey is conducted on a sample of Paris University hospital staff (n = 327) using a structured questionnaire.