Neonatology
-
Little is known about the effects of hypothermia on the cardiovascular system in term newborns with neonatal encephalopathy. ⋯ The raised, but similar, cTnI values between hypothermia- and nonhypothermia-treated infants indicate similar myocardial damage in both groups. The lower BNP levels during hypothermia treatment suggest that hypothermia after perinatal asphyxia exerts a beneficial effect on cardiac function.
-
Conventional mechanical ventilator (CMV) breaths during high-frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) are advocated to recruit and stabilize alveoli. ⋯ Preterm lambs were ventilated effectively with HFJV and 5 CMV breaths/min. CMV breath duration did not alter blood gas exchange, ventilation parameters, ex vivo static lung mechanics or markers of lung injury over a 2-hour study, although consistent trends towards increased inflammatory markers with the longer t(I) suggest greater risk of injury.
-
Review
Mechanisms of injury to the preterm lung and airway: implications for long-term pulmonary outcome.
Despite changes in the epidemiology of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), longer-term morbidity, particularly in the form of airway dysfunction, remains a substantial problem in former preterm infants. The stage for this respiratory morbidity may begin as early as the transition from fetal to neonatal life. Newer therapeutic approaches for BPD should be directed toward minimizing this longer-term respiratory morbidity. Neonatal animal models focused primarily on hyperoxic exposure may provide important insights into the pathogenesis of longer-term airway hyperreactivity in this population.
-
Review
High-flow nasal cannulae for respiratory support of preterm infants: a review of the evidence.
High-flow nasal cannulae (HFNC) are gaining in popularity as a form of non-invasive respiratory support for preterm infants in neonatal intensive care units around the world. They are proposed as an alternative to nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) in a variety of clinical situations, including post-extubation support, primary therapy from birth and 'weaning' from NCPAP. ⋯ There is growing evidence of the feasibility of HFNC as an alternative to other forms of non-invasive ventilation in preterm infants. However, there remains uncertainty about the efficacy and safety of HFNC in this population. Until the results of larger randomised trials are known, widespread use of HFNC to treat preterm infants cannot be recommended.
-
Recent economic improvements in China have allowed the development of perinatal-neonatal care in sub-provincial regions. However, variations in neonatal respiratory and intensive care exist, especially in regions with limited resources. We conducted a series of collaborative clinical investigations into neonatal hypoxemic respiratory failure (NRF). ⋯ NRF made up 16.9% of total NICU admissions, with increased use of surfactant (>50%) and continuous positive airway pressure (>80%) in this study. However, mortality due to RDS, meconium aspiration syndrome and pulmonary infection/sepsis remained higher than 30%, in part affected by socioeconomic factors. With measures to assist hospitalized neonates from low income families in urban areas, as well as the 'new rural cooperative health care program' to subsidize families from rural areas, the quality and affordability of NICU services may be improved in the forthcoming years.