System-based strategy for the management of meconium aspiration syndrome: 198 consecutive cases observations.

To evaluate whether the system-based strategy for management of meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) could reduce the morbidity and mortality rate of MAS in our institute, a prospective consecutive clinical observation was conducted. System-based strategy including appropriately trained the relevant medical staff to familiar with neonatal resuscitation program, early surfactant replacement or lavage following with high-frequency ventilator (HFV) and/or inhaled nitric oxide (iNO). Outcome measurements were the morbidity and mortality rates of MAS.

Epidemiologic trends in nosocomial bacteremia in a neonatal intensive care unit.

The primary goal of this study was to analyze the epidemiologic features of nosocomial bloodstream infection (NBSI) in a neonatal intensive care unit over a 7-year period. All neonatal patients with NBSI treated from January 1997 to December 2003 were retrospectively analyzed. 232 NBSI episodes were diagnosed in 208 patients.

Interleukin-8 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of premature infants at risk of chronic lung disease.

Background And Purpose: Persistence of neutrophils in the tracheal fluid of premature infants is associated with chronic lung disease (CLD). Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a potent neutrophil chemoattractant. This study investigated whether IL-8 is increased in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of premature infants with different types of CLD.

No association of urokinase gene 3'-UTR polymorphism with bronchopulmonary dysplasia for ventilated preterm infants.

Pathological findings pertaining to bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) are consistent with a process of prolonged lung inflammation and impaired healing. The balance of the competing activities of coagulation and fibrinolysis may contribute to the premature lung's response to acute injury. We investigated the association of the urokinase gene polymorphism with BPD in ventilated preterm infants whose gestational age was below 30 weeks.

Outcome of vocal cord paralysis in infants.

Although laryngomalacia is the leading cause of stridor in infancy, vocal cord paralysis, despite its low incidence, is still the second most common cause. However, the etiology of infant vocal cord paralysis is different from that of adults, and the management protocol is controversial. Therefore, we conducted this study to better characterize the cause and outcome of vocal cord paralysis in infants.

Oral probiotics reduce the incidence and severity of necrotizing enterocolitis in very low birth weight infants.

Objective: We evaluated the efficacy of probiotics in reducing the incidence and severity of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.

Patients And Methods: A prospective, masked, randomized control trial was conducted to evaluate the beneficial effects of probiotics in reducing the incidence and severity of NEC among VLBW (<1500 g) infants. VLBW infants who started to fed enterally and survived beyond the seventh day after birth were eligible for the trial.

Risk factors of meconium aspiration syndrome developing into persistent pulmonary hypertension of newborn.

Clinical experience indicates that persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is one of the major causes of death in infants with meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS). We aimed to investigate the risk factors associated with MAS which lead to PPHN in order to search for ways to reduce the mortality associated with MAS. From 1995 to 2003, we conducted a retrospective study of infants with MAS at the China Medical University Hospital.

Evaluation of the severity of chronic lung disease in premature infants by pulse oximeter.

Three parameters obtained by pulse oximeter were tested to assess the severity of chronic lung disease (CLD) in premature infants. The FiO2 required to keep oxygen saturation of 90% on pulse oximeter at rest condition was defined as FiO2Sp90. The value of oxygen saturation with a FiO2 of 0.

Role of antibiotics in management of non-ventilated cases of meconium aspiration syndrome without risk factors for infection.

There are limited data on the efficacy of antibiotics in the management for meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS). This purpose of the prospective randomized controlled clinical trial compared the infection-related outcome of non-ventilated cases of MAS without perinatal risk factors for infection, treated with or without antibiotics therapy, as measured by the incidence of pneumonia and sepsis up to the age of 2 months. From January 1997 to July 2003, this study was carried out in our nursery.

Risk factors of mortality in meconium aspiration syndrome: review of 314 cases.

Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) is a common severe respiratory disease in full-term infants. To investigate the risk factors for mortality of MAS, a retrospective chart-review study of MAS was conducted from 1995 to 2001. All cases of MAS were included except cases of cyanotic congenital heart disease or congenital fetal anomaly.

Risk factors of extubation failure in extremely low birth weight infants: a five year retrospective analysis.

Extubation failure is one of the most serious complications in extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWI) on mechanical ventilation therapy. We performed a 5-year retrospective analysis to realize the status of extubation failure in ELBWI. Extubation failure was defined as requirements of re-intubation within 72 hours after extubation.

Inhaled nitric oxide in persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn: four-year experience in a single medical center.

Forty-eight infants with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) from July, 1997 to June, 2001 were enrolled for a prospectively study to determine the role of inhaled nitric oxide (NO) treatment and to determine an appropriate weaning strategy of NO. The initial dose of NO was started at 10 ppm for 10 minutes. If the infant's symptoms did not improve, we used a rapid dose ladder schedule for increasing the dose of NO to 20, 40 and 80 ppm every 10 minutes until we achieved the desired response.

Clinical analysis of necrotizing enterocolitis with intestinal perforation in premature infants.

To identify the prognostic factors correlating with the outcome of the perforated necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), the charts of 20 premature infants with perforated NEC were reviewed. Eight patients had long-term survival and 12 died. Infants in the survival group had significantly lower incidence of starting to feed before perforation, patent ductus arteriosus, indomethacin use, acidosis, and shock.

A comparison of survival in extremely low birth weight infants between periods 1997-1998 and 1998-2000.

The survival rates and the influential perinatal factors of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants were compared between two periods, including January 1997 through May 1998 (Period 1, n = 84) and June 1998 through December 2000 (Period 2, n = 145). The survival rate was 48.8% (41/84) during Period 1 and 55.