Associations between Red Blood Cell and Platelet Transfusions and Retinopathy of Prematurity.

Aim: The aim of this study is to examine possible associations between the transfusion of RBC or platelets (PLTs) and the development of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in infants.

Methods: This retrospective, national, case-control study included all live births in Switzerland between 2013 and 2018. We investigated preterm infants at a gestational age of <28 weeks, who developed higher stage ROP (≥stage 2, n = 178).

Neonatal red blood cell transfusion practices in Switzerland: national survey and review of international recommendations.

Unlabelled: WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT? Red blood cell transfusions are frequently used in the care of newborns, particularly premature infants. Some countries have guidelines regarding preparation, indication and administration of red blood cells in newborns. There are no such guidelines in Switzerland.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia-impact of severity and timing of diagnosis on neurodevelopment of preterm infants: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To assess the contribution of the severity of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and the time point of its diagnosis to the prediction of neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) at corrected age of 2 years in preterm infants.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Level-III perinatal centre.

Short courses of dual-strain probiotics appear to be effective in reducing necrotising enterocolitis.

Aim: Prophylactic probiotics to reduce necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) are mostly given for at least 28 days or until discharge. We describe the effects of a shorter duration dosing strategy.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study of neonates (birthweight 400-1500 g) in three neonatal intensive care units in Switzerland and Germany that embarked on probiotic prophylaxis given for 10 or 14 days, employing a fixed combination (Lactobacillus acidophilus plus Bifidobacterium infantis, each 10(9) CFU/day) licensed as a drug in Switzerland.

Improved radiological assessment of neonatal feeding tubes.

Background: In about one-fifth of radiographs performed in neonates, no exact gastric feeding tube position can be defined.

Objectives: To determine whether injection of air via feeding tube before taking radiographs improves radiological assessment of its position.

Methods: In the study group (n=153), air was injected via gastric feeding tube before taking a radiograph.

Higher multiple births in Switzerland: neonatal outcome and evolution over the last 20 years.

Question Under Study: The study has following objectives: 1) to determine the incidence of higher-order multiple births from 2005 to 2008 in Switzerland and its evolution over the last twenty years, and 2) to analyse the neonatal outcome and its change over the last two decades.

Methods: Data on higher-order multiple births were retrospectively obtained from Swiss obstetric and neonatal hospitals and compared with results from the first two national surveys.

Results: The incidence of higher-order multiple births was 35.

Health-related quality of life of former very preterm infants in adulthood.

Aim: To assess health-related quality of life of young adults born very preterm compared with a term control group.

Methods: A cohort of preterm infants <1250 g and a term control group, both born between 1983 and 1985, were surveyed as adults at the median age of 23 years. Questionnaires including the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF 36) and a modified lifestyle questionnaire assessed quality of life, health attitudes, height and weight, chronic diseases, medication and drug consumption.

High copeptin concentrations in umbilical cord blood after vaginal delivery and birth acidosis.

Context: The pituitary-secreted nonapeptide arginine-vasopressin (AVP) is unstable and therefore unsuited for diagnostic use, but its secretion can be estimated by measuring copeptin, the C-terminal portion of the AVP precursor (pro-AVP).

Objective: Our objective was to investigate perinatal factors affecting copeptin concentrations in infants at birth and at 3 d of life.

Design And Setting: We conducted a prospective cross-sectional study at a tertiary university hospital.

Pulse oximetry in the newborn: is the left hand pre- or post-ductal?

Background: Over the past few years, great efforts have been made to screen duct-dependent congenital heart diseases in the newborn. Arterial pulse oximetry screening (foot and/or right hand) has been put forth as the most useful strategy to prevent circulatory collapse. The left hand, however, has always been ignored, as it was unclear if the ductus arteriosus influences left-hand arterial perfusion.

Pulse oximetry screening for congenital heart defects in Switzerland: most but not all maternity units screen their neonates.

Questions: In Switzerland, the screening of neonates for congenital heart defects (CHD) by using pulse oximetry (PO) on the first day of life was recommended in 2005. We assessed the current practice of Swiss maternity units regarding PO screening to define the actual screening rate in Switzerland and to detect possible difficulties in the implementation of this screening.

Methods: This descriptive study was conducted by means of a standardized questionnaire that was sent to all Swiss maternity units.

Malposition of feeding tubes in neonates: is it an issue?

Objectives: Accurate tube placement of orogastric and nasogastric feeding tubes in neonates is important to ensure safe and effective enteral feeding. Errors in placement and position of feeding tubes are described in literature, but there is little evidence of the exact prevalence of improperly placed tubes, especially in neonates.

Materials And Methods: To evaluate the prevalence of improperly placed feeding tubes, we reviewed 381 consecutive radiographs and defined the position of the feeding tubes.

The effect of ductal diameter on surgical and medical closure of patent ductus arteriosus in preterm neonates: size matters.

Objective: We sought to analyze the effect of patent ductus arteriosus diameter on treatment success in premature neonates.

Methods: Among 537 consecutive neonates born between 1985 and 2005 with a diagnosed patent ductus arteriosus, 201 premature patients (<35 weeks' gestation) treated for a hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus were retrospectively reviewed. Two groups were compared: group MED (n = 154; successful treatment with indomethacin) and group FAIL (n = 47; failure of medication to reduce the patent ductus arteriosus diameter to hemodynamic insignificance).

Cardiac autonomic balance in small-for-gestational-age neonates.

The cardiac sympathetic nervous system is one putative key factor involved in the intrauterine programming of adult cardiovascular disease. We therefore analyzed cardiac autonomic system activity in small for gestational age (SGA) neonates. Heart rate variability (HRV) from 24-h ECG recordings were analyzed for time-domain and frequency-domain parameters in 27 SGA neonates [median 261 (240-283) days of gestation] compared with 27 appropriate for gestational age (AGA) neonates [median 270 (239-293) days of gestation].