Cost-effectiveness of strategies that are intended to prevent kernicterus in newborn infants.

Objective: There is concern about an increasing incidence of kernicterus in healthy term neonates in the United States. Although the incidence of kernicterus is unknown, several potential strategies that are intended to prevent kernicterus have been proposed by experts. It is necessary to assess the costs, benefits, and risks of such strategies before widespread policy changes are made.

Case study of a high-risk neonate failing to thrive post-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and post-necrotizing enterocolitis.

Infants discharged from neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) often face a long journey of chronic illness, family stresses, and financial burdens. Health care professionals involved in acute care need to be aware of the far-reaching repercussions of neonatal illness. This report presents a case study of a low-income, single mother from a rural community and her son, a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) graduate post-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and post-necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) discharged with a gastronomy tube (g-tube) and failure to thrive (FTT), from his birth to 10 months of age.

Are dermoid and epidermoid tumors preventable complications of myelomeningocele repair?

Dermoids and epidermoids found at reoperation for tethered cord following myelomeningocele repair have been attributed to inadequate excision of cutaneous elements and 'implantation' in the repair site. This study reviews the pathological findings in excised placodes from fresh myelomeningoceles and specimens from tethered cord release and concludes that hamartomatous lesions are a common feature of the myelodysplastic sequence.