[Index from Diameter of Inferior Vena Cava and Abdominal Aorta of Newborns - A Relevant Method for Evaluation of Hypovolemia].

Unlabelled: Hypovolemia is one of the important problems in sick neonates. Ultrasound is a safe, noninvasive diagnostic tool for the assessment of volume status. For that reason, the aim of the study was to determine normal values of the diameter of inferior vena cava (IVC), abdominal aorta (Ao) and the index IVC/Ao.

Incidence and Severity of Prescribing Errors in Parenteral Nutrition for Pediatric Inpatients at a Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Objectives: Pediatric inpatients are particularly vulnerable to medication errors (MEs), especially in highly individualized preparations like parenteral nutrition (PN). Aside from prescribing a computerized physician order entry system (CPOE), we evaluated the effect of cross-checking by a clinical pharmacist to prevent harm from PN order errors in a neonatal and pediatric intensive care unit (NICU/PICU).

Methods: The incidence of prescribing errors in PN in a tertiary level NICU/PICU was surveyed prospectively between March 2012 and July 2013 ( = 3,012 orders).

Pulmonary outcome in former preterm, very low birth weight children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia: a case-control follow-up at school age.

Objective: To assess and compare long-term pulmonary outcomes in former preterm-born, very low birth weight (VLBW) children with and without bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) born in the surfactant era.

Study Design: Pulmonary function tests (ie, spirometry, body plethysmography, and gas transfer testing) were performed in children with a history of VLBW and BPD (n = 28) and compared with a matched preterm-born VLBW control group (n = 28). Medical history was evaluated by questionnaire.

Effects of anaemia on haemodynamic and clinical parameters in apparently stable preterm infants.

Background: The criteria for erythrocyte transfusion in stable premature infants are currently controversial. Haemodynamic measurements are not common in transfusion practice. The purpose of this study was to determine whether haemodynamic measurements could be helpful as objective criterion for transfusion decisions.

[Prospective comparison of term small-for-gestational-age and appropriate-for-gestational-age neonates during the first month of life].

Aim of the prospective study was to investigate perinatal parameters and outcome of term SGA neonates. 100 term neonates were enrolled into 2 groups: group 1: 50 SGA neonates with birth weight below tenth percentile, group 2: 50 appropriate-for-gestational-age neonates. Both groups were compared concerning parental anamnesis, perinatal parameters, postnatal adaptation and development during the first days of life.

[Enteral feeding volume advancement by using a standardized nutritional regimen in preterm infants ≤1,750 g birth weight: a controlled randomized trial].

Background: Rapid enteral feeding volume advancement in preterm infants can reduce the use of intravenous fluids. This practice may decrease the hazards of intravenous infusion solutions and potentially the morbidity rate. Several cohort trials demand the standardised nutritional regimen to reduce the complications and the time to reach full enteral feeds.

Analgosedation with low-dose morphine for preterm infants with CPAP: risks and benefits.

Background: CPAP is widely used in preterm infants on NICUs but it poses a stressful stimulus to the patient, sometimes requiring the use of analgosedative drugs.

Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the risks and benefits associated with the use of low-dose morphine in preterm infants with CPAP, especially apnea.

Methods: Sixty-four CPAP-treated preterm infants, who received a low single dose of morphine (recommended 0.

Bladder outlet obstruction causes fetal enterolithiasis in anorectal malformation with rectourinary fistula.

Extraluminal calcified meconium is found frequently by prenatal ultrasound in cases with bowel perforation and meconium peritonitis. Intraluminal intestinal meconium calcifications are rarely seen in prenatal sonography. Meconium calcifications result from a mixture of meconium and urine that indicates a connection between intestinal and urinary tract.

[Drug withdrawal in newborns - clinical data of 49 infants with intrauterine drug exposure: what should be done?].

Background: Infants of drug abusing mothers are at high risk to suffer from neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Depending on the drug signs of neonatal withdrawal vary but mainly include central nervous system irritability. NAS causes long duration of hospital stay.

Ocular complications at the limits of viability.

Aim: To evaluate the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and other ocular morbidities in extremely premature infants.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of the prevalence and nature of ocular abnormalities in a cohort of 22 extremely pre-term infants born <25 + 0 weeks of estimated gestational age (GA) was performed.

Results: The children were grouped according to the observed disorder: 13 out of 22 (59%) neonates with mild ophthalmologic findings (ROP < or = stage II) [Group 1], 5 out of 22 (23%) infants with ROP stage III or more (Group 2) and 4 out of 22 (18%) neonates with severe ocular morbidity (congenital cataract, microphthalmia, partial optic nerve atrophy and corneal perforation due to an ulcer with lens protrusion), partly combined with ROP > or = stage III (three of four).

The effect of maturation and sedation on amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram of the preterm neonate: results of a prospective study.

Background And Aim: Amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram (aEEG) is becoming more common in NICUs for monitoring infants after perinatal asphyxia. We used aEEGs for preterm infants, and analysed the influence of sedation and maturation on their aEEG, focusing on continuous activity.

Methods: Weekly or biweekly aEEGs were performed in preterm infants and evaluated by visual analysis.

Cardiovascular impact of dobutamine in neonates with myocardial dysfunction.

Objective: To study effects of dobutamine on cardiac functional parameters, cerebral, mesenteric and renal blood flow in preterm neonates with myocardial dysfunction.

Study Design: Prospective evaluation of Doppler sonographically measured left ventricular systolic time intervals, stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), and blood flow parameters of anterior cerebral artery (ACA), superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and renal arteries (RA), before, after 20 min and 8-10 h of dobutamine treatment in 20 neonates (gestational age 29.6+/-4.

Morphine-related apnoea in CPAP-treated preterm neonates.

Background: Morphine can be used to treat pain in preterm neonates with CPAP because of its analgetic potency; however, it is known to induce apnoea.

Aim: To evaluate this risk of apnoea.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed 91 preterm neonates with CPAP who received morphine intravenously.

Hemodynamics among neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy during whole-body hypothermia and passive rewarming.

Objective: To assess changes in cardiac performance, with Doppler echocardiography, among newborns with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy during mild therapeutic hypothermia and during rewarming.

Methods: For 7 asphyxiated neonates (birth weight: 1840-3850 g; umbilical artery pH: 6.70-6.

Predictive value of umbilical cord blood bilirubin for postnatal hyperbilirubinaemia.

Aim: The study investigated the predictive value of umbilical cord serum (UCS) bilirubin for the postnatal course of bilirubinaemia in healthy term and near-term newborns.

Methods: Term appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA; n=1100), small-for-gestational-age (SGA; n=163) and near-term infants (GA 34-36 wk; n=78) were included and separated according to their UCS bilirubin levels, starting from <20 (group 1), 20-<30 (2), 30-40 (3) and >40 (4) micromol/l. The newborns were followed for at least 5 postnatal days, and UCS bilirubin values were correlated with the development of hyperbilirubinaemia and phototherapy (PT) treatment.

Treatment of myocardial dysfunction and pulmonary oedema in an infant chimpanzee.

The care of any critically ill infant requires special technical equipment for monitoring of cardiac and pulmonary functions including mechanical ventilators and blood gas analysers. The present paper describes the treatment of myocardial dysfunction and pulmonary distress, complicated by severe brain oedema in an infant chimpanzee admitted to an intensive care unit in the Department of Neonatology of the Children's Hospital of the University of Leipzig. The condition of the chimpanzee was diagnosed and monitored by standard clinical tooös including radiography, echocardiography, cerebral Doppler sonography and laboratory parameters.

Blood flow parameters of the superior mesenteric artery as an early predictor of intestinal dysmotility in preterm infants.

Background: Blood flow parameters in the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) change with vasoconstriction or vasodilatation of the intestinal vascular bed. In cases of severe growth retardation as a result of haemodynamic disturbances, the blood flow changes persist into postnatal life.

Objective: To assess early changes of Doppler sonographic blood flow parameters in the SMA for prediction of later intestinal motility disturbances in preterm infants and tolerance of enteral feeding during the first week of life.

Cardiac adaptation in small for gestational age neonates after prenatal hemodynamic disturbances.

Background: Small for gestational age neonates with prenatal hemodynamic disturbances are at increased risk for neonatal morbidity. Investigations of fetal cardiac function have proved some functional impairments. The aim of the study was to investigate postnatal cardiac adaptation in these neonates in comparison with neonates without prenatal hemodynamic impairments.

Tachydyspnea in an infant chimpanzee.

Reports on intensive care and invasive treatments of primates are scarce. Generally, there is little knowledge and experience in regard to resuscitation, cardiac support and ventilation support especially in small infants of primate species. We therefore report on our experience with respect to the successful treatment of a former small-for-date chimpanzee infant with severe cardiorespiratory distress due to pneumonia inflicted by an unknown infective agent.

Prenatal hemodynamic disturbances -- pathophysiological background of intestinal motility disturbances in small for gestational age infants.

Uteroplacental insufficiency leads to fetal growth retardation which is a major cause of perinatal and postnatal morbidity. In the present study we investigated the relationship between prenatal hemodynamic disturbances and postnatal intestinal perfusion and gastrointestinal function in small for gestational age neonates. Prospectively, 124 preterm neonates with a birth weight below 1500 g were assigned to one of two groups according to the prenatal Doppler sonographic measurements: neonates with or without prenatal hemodynamic disturbances.

[Dopplersonographic findings in neonates with significant persistent ductus arteriosus].

Background: The aim of the study was the description and review of a diagnostic management for treatment of patent ductus arteriosus in preterm neonates. Indomethacin, widely used to effect nonoperative closure of patent ductus arteriosus, has been implicated in vasoactive side effects and requires an accurate diagnosis.

Patients And Methods: Firstly, the hemodynamic significance of the ductus arteriosus was assessed by clinical signs, such as tachycardia, disturbed microcirculation and a high difference of central and peripheral temperature.

Transcutaneous bilirubinometry in preterm infants.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and safety of transcutaneous bilirubinometry in preterm infants using the new bilirubin analyser BiliCheck. The study included 145 preterm children (23-36 wk gestation). Capillary blood sampling for determination of serum bilirubin (BS) was combined with transcutaneous bilirubin measurement (BTc) every morning until the sixth postnatal day and related to several clinical data (phototherapy (PT), infection signs, breathing disturbances, skin bleeding, etc.

[Value of brain ultrasound studies of newborn infants for prediction of neurological development in the 1st year of life].

Background: Recent advances in perinatology have been associated with a decrease in perinatal mortality. However, nowadays detailed assessments are of major importance for accurate prediction of neurologic development of extreme low birth weight infants and term infants with severely disturbed postnatal adaptation. This study examined the role of cranial ultrasound for the prediction of developmental progress during the first year of life.