Mortality and severe morbidity of very preterm infants: comparison of two French cohort studies.

Background: In Reunion Island, a French overseas department, the burden of preterm birth and perinatal mortality exceed those observed in mainland France, despite similar access to standard perinatal care. The purpose of the study was to compare the outcome of two cohorts of NICU-admitted very preterm infants born between 24 and 31 weeks of gestation (WG): the registry-based OGP (Observatoire de la Grande Prématurité, Reunion Island, 2008-2013) cohort, and the nationwide EPIPAGE-2 (mainland France, 2011) observational cohort.

Methods: The primary outcome was adverse neonatal outcomes defined as a composite indicator of in-hospital mortality or any of three following severe morbidities: bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), necrotising enterocolitis, or severe neurological injury (periventricular leukomalacia or grade III-IV intraventricular haemorrhages).

One-Year Outcome for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia: Results From the French National Register.

Objective: To evaluate the status of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) management in France and to assess predictors of adverse outcomes.

Study Design: We reviewed the first-year outcome of all cases of CDH reported to the French National Register in 2011.

Results: A total of 158 cases were included.

Management of neonatal spontaneous intestinal perforation by peritoneal needle aspiration.

Objective: To describe conservative management of spontaneous intestinal perforation (SIP) in preterm infants using peritoneal needle aspiration (PNA).

Study Design: Monocentric retrospective review of SIP cases treated primarily by PNA between 1999 and 2015 (n=31).

Results: Mean gestational age was 29.

Follow-up at two years of age and early predictors of non-compliance in a cohort of very preterm infants.

Aim: To examine the rates of follow-up at two years of age and perinatal factors associated with non-compliance in an observational population-based cohort of very preterm children enrolled in a routine follow-up program.

Method: Data review of infants born between 2008 and 2012 in the Observatoire de La Grande Prématurité, Reunion Island cohort. All singletons born alive before 33weeks of gestational age and resident on the island at two years of age were included.

Diagnosis Accuracy of Transcutaneous Bilirubinometry in Very Preterm Newborns.

Background: Transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) is a validated test for systematic screening of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and monitoring term and near-term infants under phototherapy.

Objectives: To evaluate TcB diagnostic accuracy for very preterm neonates.

Methods: Total serum bilirubin (TSB) and TcB measurements were performed prospectively in a multicenter sample of newborns <30 weeks of gestational age (GA).

Neurocognitive outcome of children exposed to perinatal mother-to-child Chikungunya virus infection: the CHIMERE cohort study on Reunion Island.

Background: Little is known about the neurocognitive outcome in children exposed to perinatal mother-to-child Chikungunya virus (p-CHIKV) infection.

Methods: The CHIMERE ambispective cohort study compared the neurocognitive function of 33 p-CHIKV-infected children (all but one enrolled retrospectively) at around two years of age with 135 uninfected peers (all enrolled prospectively). Psychomotor development was assessed using the revised Brunet-Lezine scale, examiners blinded to infectious status.

Fryns syndrome without diaphragmatic hernia, DOOR syndrome or Fryns-like syndrome? Report on patients from Indian Ocean islands.

We report on six patients (five unpublished patients) from the Indian Ocean islands, with coarse face, cleft lip or palate, eye anomalies, brachytelephalangy, nail hypoplasia, various malformations (genitourinary or cerebral), abnormal electroencephalograms with impaired neurological examination and lethal outcome. Massive polyhydramnios was noted in the third trimester of pregnancy and neonatal growth was normal or excessive. The combination of the features is consistent with the diagnosis of Fryns syndrome (FS) without congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Antibody kinetics in infants exposed to Chikungunya virus infection during pregnancy reveals absence of congenital infection.

To search for serological evidence of congenital infection in apparently healthy neonates born to women infected with the Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) during pregnancy, monitoring for CHIKV-specific antibodies was performed within the CHIMERE cohort study (Reunion island, 2006-2008). CHIKV-specific antibody kinetics showed no evidence of asymptomatic congenital infection as neonates were tested negative for CHIKV-specific IgM antibodies at birth and 368 infants with CHIKV-specific IgG antibodies seroreversed completely (mean seroreversion time: 7.7 months).

[Prevalence, severity, and predictors of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in a cohort of very preterm infants].

Objectives: The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to determine the prevalence and severity of BPD and its predictors in a regional cohort of very preterm (VP) infants in Reunion Island.

Methods: All autochthonous VP infants, live-born before the 33rd week of gestation (WG) between 1st January 2008 and 31st December 2009, were eligible for the study. Only VP infants surviving at least 28 days, for whom the parameters were known from birth, were included in the case-control study of predictors of moderate to severe BPD (BPDmo/s).

[Severe forms of chikungunya virus infection in a pediatric intensive care unit on Reunion Island].

Unlabelled: In 2005-2006, an unexpected, massive outbreak of chikungunya occurred on Reunion Island, a French overseas territory in the Indian Ocean. This arboviral infection transmitted by a mosquito of the Aedes genus is usually benign. A surprising feature of the Reunion Island epidemic was the occurrence of rare severe forms involving adults as well as children.

Chikungunya virus infection during pregnancy, Reunion, France, 2006.

Mother-to-child transmission of chikungunya virus was reported during the 2005-2006 outbreak on Reunion Island, France. To determine the effects of this virus on pregnancy outcomes, we conducted a study of pregnant women in Reunion in 2006. The study population was composed of 1,400 pregnant women (628 uninfected, 658 infected during pregnancy, 27 infected before pregnancy, and 87 infected on unknown dates).

Mother-to-child transmission of Chikungunya virus infection.

Background: In 2005-2006 Reunion Island experienced a massive outbreak of chikungunya, a mosquito-borne alphavirus infection. During this epidemic, early neonatal cases were observed with a highly probable mother-to-child transmission.

Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted in 5 neonatal medicine departments.

[Fryns syndrome. Report on 3 new cases].

Background: Fryns syndrome is a lethal autosomal recessive syndrome which includes congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), pulmonary hypoplasia, cranio-facial manifestations including a coarse face, a cleft palate / lip and cloudy corneae, distal limb hypoplasia and internal malformations including central nervous system, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, urogenital and skeletal anomalies.

Cases Report: We report on 3 patients with Fryns syndrome in the french Indian Ocean islands (La Réunion and Mayotte islands). Pregnancies were complicated by polyhydramnios.

Fryns syndrome without diaphragmatic hernia. Report on a new case and review of the literature.

Fryns syndrome is an autosomal recessive multiple congenital anomaly syndrome characterized by coarse facies, diaphragmatic hernia, distal limb hypoplasia and malformations of the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, genitourinary and central nervous systems. Diaphragmatic hernia is a leading diagnostic feature in Fryns syndrome, recorded in more than 80% of cases. We report a newborn with clinical features of Fryns syndrome except the diaphragmatic hernia.

[Primary amebic meningoencephalitis: 1st case observed in Madagascar].

The primary amebic meningoencephalitis is an acute suppurative infection that involves both the brain and the meninges. It is caused by Naegleria fowleri and is a very rare and fulminating condition, so far nearly always fatal. We report the first case in the area of Southern part of Indian Ocean that occured in a 7-year old French boy living in Madagascar.

[Neonatal accidental burn by isopropyl alcohol].

Antiseptic solutions are commonly used for skin care but are not always safe. In preterm infants, application of antiseptic solutions can lead to serious burns. We report the case of a premature newborn who developed severe burns at 35 weeks post-conceptional age, after his mother used disposable antiseptic towels containing isopropyl alcohol for his skin care.

Peritoneal needle suction for intestinal perforation in the preterm neonate.

Unlabelled: A few years ago, most intestinal perforations in the premature newborn appeared within the clinical context of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC). Since then, we have observed an increase in the number of isolated perforations appearing outside typical NEC. The fact that the perforations are more often isolated, and the healing capabilities of the premature intestine, led us to propose peritoneal needle suction (PNS) alone as first treatment for intestinal perforations in the premature neonate.

[Bronchopulmonary dysplasia and cytomegalovirus pneumonia].

Hyaline membrane disease (HMD) of premature newborn can lead to bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). We report the observation of a 33 weeks premature newborn with HMD, treated with exogenous surfactant and mechanical ventilation. The patient developed respiratory distress with oxygen dependency initially related to BPD.

[Malignant pertussis in the young infant].

Unlabelled: Pertussis remains in France the first cause of bacterial, infectious death in infant aged 10 days to 2 months. It is especially in this age group that malignant pertussis occurs.

Case Report: A 40-day-old infant was admitted in the intensive care unit with symptoms of bronchiolitis along with a 200 bpm permanent tachycardia.

Antenatal diagnosis and management of a vallecular cyst.

Vallecular cysts are rare. It is important to be aware of their presence as they can cause upper airway obstruction. We describe a case of congenital vallecular cyst diagnosed at 28 weeks of gestation.

[Prenatal diagnosis at 25 weeks gestation and neonatal management of a vallecular cyst].

Due to the anatomical location, vallecular cyst is a rare but well-recognized cause of upper airway obstruction and death in newborn. This cyst can be accurately diagnosed by echography in utero and by MR imaging. Prenatal diagnosis allows for early consultation with surgical specialist, so that the time and place of the delivery can be addressed for neonatal preoperative planning.

[27-gauge percutaneous catheters: use in nutritional management of very-low-birth-weight and severely premature newborns in a neonatal intensive care unit].

Unlabelled: Percutaneous central venous catheterization for parenteral feeding is a permanent problem in the management of very low birth weight neonates. Usually, 23-gauge catheters (diameter: 0.6 mm) are used.