Factors influencing confidence in tracheal intubation among neonatal trainees: A questionnaire-based study.

Aim: Tracheal intubation (TI) is pivotal in managing critically ill neonates. This study aims to investigate the disparities in exposure and training techniques that affect self-perceived confidence in neonatal fellows concerning TI.

Methods: A comprehensive, structured questionnaire-based survey was conducted among neonatal trainees from October to November 2022.

Care of Healthy as well as Sick Newborns in India: A Narrative Review.

Majority of neonatal deaths occur in developing countries. There is an increase in the proportion of neonatal deaths as part of the under-5 mortality over the past decade. Hence we need to accelerate further to achieve the goal of single digit neonatal mortality rate (NMR) by 2030.

Comparison of efficacy of a 7-day versus a 14-day course of intravenous antibiotics in the treatment of uncomplicated neonatal bacterial sepsis: study protocol of a randomized controlled non-inferiority trial.

Background: Neonatal sepsis is a global public health problem. There is no consensus regarding the optimum duration of antibiotics for culture-proven neonatal sepsis. Published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing shorter versus longer courses of antibiotics provide low-quality evidence with serious risk of bias.

Scaling up Kangaroo Mother Care in Ethiopia and India: a multi-site implementation research study.

Objectives: Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), prolonged skin-to-skin care of the low birth weight baby with the mother plus exclusive breastfeeding reduces neonatal mortality. Global KMC coverage is low. This study was conducted to develop and evaluate context-adapted implementation models to achieve improved coverage.

Fetal vascular malperfusion (FVM): diagnostic implications and clinical associations.

Introduction: Fetal vascular malperfusion (FVM) is diagnosed by the presence of vascular lesions in the muscularized fetal vessels in the placenta and the resultant changes in the downstream villi. The Amsterdam Placental Working Group recognizes two patterns of FVM namely segmental and global. The aim of this study was to estimate the frequency of FVM lesion in our population and to understand its neonatal associations.

Medication errors in neonatal intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital in South India: A prospective observational study.

Introduction: Medication errors (MEs) can prolong hospital stay and are a cause of morbidity and mortality. Studies evaluating MEs and its determinants in Indian neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) are limited. Therefore, this study was done to assess the prevalence, characteristics, determinants, and outcomes of MEs in an Indian NICU setting.

Simulation training to improve aseptic non-touch technique and success during intravenous cannulation-effect on hospital-acquired blood stream infection and knowledge retention after 6 months: The snowball effect theory.

Background: Intravenous cannulation is a common procedure and a valuable skill in the neonatal intensive care unit. Standardized procedure and personnel training are needed in the unit to prevent hospital-acquired blood stream infections. Hence, we evaluated the effect of training using a low-fidelity simulation on the improvement of the aseptic non-touch technique during intravenous cannulation and knowledge retention after 6 months.

Therapeutic hypothermia for moderate and severe hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy in newborns using low-cost devices - ice packs and phase changing material.

: Different methods have been used for therapeutic hypothermia for neonates with moderate-to-severe hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE). As standard cooling devices are expensive, there is a need to establish the safety and efficacy of low-cost devices such as ice packs (IP) and phase changing material (PCM). : To assess the efficacy and safety of therapeutic hypothermia (TH) and the clinico-laboratory profile of neonates who underwent cooling with IP or PCM.

Umbilical cord milking in preterm neonates requiring resuscitation: A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of cord milking on short term morbidity and hematologic parameters at 6 weeks in preterm neonates requiring resuscitation.

Methods: This trial randomized preterm infants requiring resuscitation to milking group and no milking group. Multiple pregnancy, Rh negative mothers, hydrops, cord abnormalities were excluded.

Barriers and enablers to skin-to-skin contact at birth in healthy neonates - a qualitative study.

Background: Skin to skin contact (SSC) at birth is the standard of care for newborns without risk factors. However, implementation of SSC at birth has been far from optimal. A qualitative study was undertaken to determine the barriers, enablers and potential solutions to implementation of SSC at birth in healthy newborn infants in a level III neonatal-care facility in Bangalore, India.

Efficacy of modified Tochen's formula for optimum endotracheal tube placement in low birth weight neonates: an RCT.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of modified Tochen's formula (birth weight + 5 cm) when compared to Tochen's formula for optimum placement of endotracheal tubes (ET) in low birth weight (LBW) neonates.

Study Design: In the NICU of a tertiary care hospital, LBW babies requiring intubation were randomized to Tochen's formula or modified Tochen's formula. The incidence of inadequate placement and optimum length of ET insertion were estimated.

Probiotics for Promoting Feed Tolerance in Very Low Birth Weight Neonates - A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To measure the efficacy of a probiotic formulation on time to reach full enteral feeds in VLBW (very low birth weight) newborns.

Design: Blinded randomized control trial.

Setting: A tertiary care neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Southern India between August 2012 to November 2013.

Perfusion Index-Bedside Diagnosis of Hemodynamically Significant Patent Ductus Arteriosus.

Background: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a significant problem in preterm babies <34 weeks old. Echocardiogram (echo) is the gold standard for diagnosing PDA. Perfusion index (PI) using a pulse oximeter could aid in diagnosing a hemodynamically significant PDA (HsPDA).

PAIN--perception and assessment of painful procedures in the NICU.

This prospective cross-sectional study was undertaken to determine the frequency of procedural pain among 101 neonates in the first 14 days of admission to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in South India and to study the perception of health-care professionals (HCP) about newborn procedural pain. The total number of painful procedures was 8.09 ± 5.

Low cost calibrated mechanical noisemaker for hearing screening of neonates in resource constrained settings.

Background & Objectives: There is a need to develop an affordable and reliable tool for hearing screening of neonates in resource constrained, medically underserved areas of developing nations. This study valuates a strategy of health worker based screening of neonates using a low cost mechanical calibrated noisemaker followed up with parental monitoring of age appropriate auditory milestones for detecting severe-profound hearing impairment in infants by 6 months of age.

Methods: A trained health worker under the supervision of a qualified audiologist screened 425 neonates of whom 20 had confirmed severe-profound hearing impairment.

Maintaining reduced noise levels in a resource-constrained neonatal intensive care unit by operant conditioning.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of operant conditioning in sustaining reduced noise levels in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Design: Quasi-experimental study on quality of care.

Setting: Level III NICU of a teaching hospital in south India.

Efficacy of a low cost protocol in reducing noise levels in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Objective: To examine the effectiveness and cost of implementing a noise reduction protocol in a level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Methods: A prospective longitudinal study was done in a level III NICU, wherein a noise reduction protocol that included behavioral and environmental modification was implemented. The noise levels were measured sequentially every hour for 15 days before and after this intervention.

Spectral analysis of noise in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Objective: To perform spectral analysis of noise generated by equipments and activities in a level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and measure the real time sequential hourly noise levels over a 15 day period.

Methods: Noise generated in the NICU by individual equipments and activities were recorded with a digital spectral sound analyzer to perform spectral analysis over 0.5 - 8 KHz.