Clinics in perinatology
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Pulse oximetry has become ubiquitous and is used routinely during neonatal care. Emerging evidence highlights the continued uncertainty regarding definition of the optimal range to target pulse oximetry oxygen saturation levels in very low birth weight infants. Furthermore, maintaining optimal oxygen saturation targets is a demanding and tedious task because of the frequency with which oxygenation changes, especially in these small infants receiving prolonged respiratory support. This article addresses the historical perspective, basic physiologic principles behind pulse oximetry operation, and the use of pulse oximetry in targeting different oxygen ranges at various time-points throughout the neonatal period.
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Critically ill neonates are at risk for acute kidney injury (AKI). AKI has been associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality in adult and pediatric patients, and increasing evidence suggests a similar association in the neonatal population. This article describes the current AKI definitions (including their limitations), work on novel biomarkers to define AKI, diagnosis and management strategies, long-term outcomes after AKI, and future directions for much-needed research in this important area.
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Clinics in perinatology · Mar 2014
ReviewOutcomes of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in neonates treated with hypothermia.
This article examines the evidence regarding mortality and neurodevelopmental outcomes following hypothermia for neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Data from randomized controlled trials regarding neurodevelopmental outcome at the end point of the major trials, and from 2 of the trials on childhood outcome following hypothermia for neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy are presented. The predictors of outcome that can be evaluated in the neonatal period are also reviewed, as this information may assist in the counseling of families. Most trials of hypothermia have been performed in high-resource countries; published studies from the low- and middle-income countries are also reviewed.
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Survival of extremely preterm infants has improved since 2000. Neurodevelopmental impairment rates remain high at the limits of viability. Although improved survival and neurodevelopmental impairment rates are associated with higher gestational age and more recent year of birth, significant variability in findings among geographic areas and networks is evident, and seems related to differences in population, management style, regional protocols, definitions, and outcome assessments. Outcome studies during adolescence and young adult age are needed to determine the long-term impact of extremely preterm birth.
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Clinics in perinatology · Mar 2014
ReviewThe role of neuroimaging in predicting neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm neonates.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a safe and high-resolution neuroimaging modality that is increasingly used in the neonatal population to assess brain injury and its consequences on brain development. It is superior to cranial ultrasound for the definition of patterns of both white and gray matter maturation and injury and therefore has the potential to provide prognostic information on the neurodevelopmental outcomes of the preterm population. Furthermore, the development of sophisticated MRI strategies, including diffusion tensor imaging, resting state functional connectivity, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy, may increase the prognostic value, helping to guide parental counseling and allocate early intervention services.