A cost-effectiveness analysis of using umbilical cord blood pH for the diagnosis and management of neonatal asphyxia in term high-risk pregnancy.

Objective: The objective was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of using umbilical cord blood pH (UC-pH) in combination with APGAR score for neonatal asphyxia, in terms of high-risk pregnancies, compared to using the APGAR score only. Neonatal outcomes and the proportions of patients admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) were evaluated.

Methods: A cost-effectiveness ambispective analysis study was carried out, comparing (i) UC-pH combined with APGAR score and (ii) APGAR score only in 399 term pregnancies with a high risk for neonatal asphyxia.

Randomised comparative study on the efficacy of 3% versus 30% NaCl solution in the treatment of umbilical granuloma.

Aim: This study aimed to compare the efficacy of 3% versus 30% NaCl solution in treating umbilical granuloma (UG) and to evaluate parental satisfaction.

Methods: A randomised, double-blinded, comparative study in neonates with UG was conducted. Stratified, block-of-four randomisation was used to allocate neonates into two groups, treated with 3% or 30% pharmaceutical-grade NaCl solution, three times daily.