Acta paediatrica
-
The safety of SwabCap alcohol impregnated disinfection caps was questioned in our unit because of malfunctions in luer access valves. We examined whether SwabCaps affected the integrity of two luer access valves and were associated with alcohol injected into the lines. ⋯ The SwabCap altered the valves' appearance and allowed significant amounts of isopropyl alcohol to be injected. It should not be used for neonates without further research.
-
It has been suggested that serum cardiac troponin-T (cTnT) can predict the severity of neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy. We evaluated whether cTnT was better correlated with adrenaline during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) than with the severity of the insult itself, based on the Apgar scores. ⋯ Although cTnT correlated with the severity of the insult in neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy, the levels may have been affected by adrenaline administered during CPR.
-
To review the outcome of preterm neonates treated with iNO. ⋯ There is an increasing trend in using iNO as a rescue treatment in preterm neonates. The outcomes were very poor in the preterm neonates <26(+0) weeks. A cautious approach is warranted in the absence of robust evidence to support the use of iNO, in preterm neonates <26(+0) weeks.
-
Controlled Clinical Trial
A midstream urine collector is not a good alternative to a sterile collection method during the diagnosis of urinary tract infection.
Guidelines recommend collecting urine with suprapubic aspiration or urethral catheterisation in infants with a suspected urinary tract infection (UTI), but the invasiveness of these methods continues to drive research on new urine collection devices. We studied children with a suspected UTI, who had not been toilet trained, to compare a new midstream urine collector and catheterisation. ⋯ The midstream collector did not appear to provide additional benefits to classic collection bags. A sterile collection method, such as suprapubic aspiration, catheterisation or clean catch, is still mandatory for diagnosing urinary tract infections in children who are not toilet trained.
-
Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is commonly used in paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) for respiratory failure. This review aims to improve paediatricians' understanding of NIV, by specifying technical or practical considerations, giving advice about selecting patients and presenting pertinent published data about NIV in different circumstances. ⋯ NIV is useful in PICUs if children are appropriately selected and carefully monitored. Technological advances and future clinical research will improve its use and success rate in PICU.