scholarly journals Reference values for N-terminal Pro-brain natriuretic peptide in premature infants during their first weeks of life

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnes-Sophie Fritz ◽  
Titus Keller ◽  
Angela Kribs ◽  
Christoph Hünseler
Keyword(s):  
Brain Natriuretic Peptide ◽  
Natriuretic Peptide ◽  
Preterm Infants ◽  
Premature Infants ◽  
Reference Values ◽  
Gestational Age ◽  
Temporal Distribution ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Extremely Preterm ◽  
Extremely Preterm Infants

Abstract The aim of our study was to observe the temporal distribution of serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in premature infants of ≤ 31 weeks of gestational age (GA) during the first weeks of life. NT-proBNP values of 118 preterm infants born ≤ 31 weeks GA were determined during the first week of life, after 4 ± 1 weeks of life, and at a corrected GA of 36 ± 2 weeks. Infants were divided into two groups: those without relevant complications and those with complications related to prematurity. NT-proBNP values of infants without complications define our exploratory reference values. The Median NT-proBNP level of these infants was 1896 ng/l (n = 27, interquartile range (IQR): 1277–5200) during the first week of life, 463 ng/l (n = 26, IQR: 364–704) at 4 ± 1 weeks of life, and 824 ng/l (n = 33, IQR: 714–1233) at a corrected GA of 36 ± 2 weeks. Infants born < 28 + 0 weeks GA had significantly higher NT-proBNP values (n = 9, median: 5200, IQR: 1750–8972) than infants born ≥ 28 + 0–31 weeks GA (n = 18, median: 1528, IQR: 838–3052; p = 0.017). Growth restriction or PDA status could not account for the difference in NT-proBNP values between GA groups. Conclusions: The results of our observational and cross-sectional study describe exploratory reference values for NT-proBNP levels in preterm infants of ≤ 31 weeks GA according to postnatal age. NT-proBNP levels during the first week of life are high and widely distributed in preterm infants and decrease subsequently to reach a distinctly lower and stable plateau at around 1 month of life. Our results suggest an influence of GA on NT-proBNP values in the first week of life. What is Known:• Several complications related to prematurity, e.g., hemodynamically significant PDA, pulmonary hypertension, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and retinopathy of prematurity, have been associated with a temporary rise in NT-proBNP values in preterm infants during their first weeks of life.What is New:• This observational study provides reference values for NT-proBNP levels of very and extremely preterm infants during their first weeks of life.• In premature infants without complications, NT-proBNP values during their first week of life depend on gestational age at birth.

scholarly journals Absence of relationship between serum cortisol and critical illness in premature infants

2021 ◽  
pp. fetalneonatal-2020-319970
Author(s):  
Irina Prelipcean ◽  
James Lawrence Wynn ◽  
Lindsay Thompson ◽  
David James Burchfield ◽  
Laurence James-Woodley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Critical Illness ◽  
Preterm Infants ◽  
Premature Infants ◽  
Gestational Age ◽  
Serum Cortisol ◽  
Illness Severity ◽  
Cortisol Concentration ◽  
Extremely Preterm ◽  
Extremely Preterm Infants ◽  
The Relationship

BackgroundInadequate cortisol production in response to critical illness in extremely preterm infants may exacerbate poor outcomes. Despite commonly measuring cortisol concentration and administering hydrocortisone for presumed adrenal insufficiency, the relationship between serum cortisol concentration and illness severity remains unclear in this unique population.ObjectiveTo determine the relationship between cortisol concentrations and illness severity as measured by the Score for Neonatal Acute Physiology II, neonatal Sequential Organ Failure Assessment and Vasoactive-Inotropic Score in premature infants.Design/MethodsThis retrospective, single-center cohort study included preterm infants born <30 weeks gestational age admitted to a level IV neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) between June 2011 and July 2018, who had a serum cortisol obtained for clinical indications before 36 weeks PMA. Demographic data were collected on infants and mothers. Nine clinical variables were identified a priori that could potentially modify cortisol concentration including critical illness. Univariate and multivariable analyses determined the relationship between cortisol concentration and each of these variables.ResultsA total of 224 preterm infants with pretreatment serum cortisol concentration met criteria for inclusion. The median (IQR) gestational age at birth was 25 weeks (24, 26) and at cortisol measurement was 26 weeks (25, 28). The median cortisol was 13.3 ug/dL. Non-survivors had the highest values. Cortisol concentration did not correlate with any of the selected illness severity scores.Conclusion(s)Cortisol concentrations in extremely preterm infants did not correlate with illness severity regardless of gestational age. Further studies are needed to identify clinically useful mediators of adrenal dysfunction and to guide clinical management.

scholarly journals Risk Factors Associated with Retinopathy of Prematurity in Very and Extremely Preterm Infants

Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (5) ◽  
pp. 420
Author(s):  
Claudia Ioana Borțea ◽  
Florina Stoica ◽  
Marioara Boia ◽  
Emil Radu Iacob ◽  
Mihai Dinu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Preterm Infants ◽  
Gestational Age ◽  
Retinopathy Of Prematurity ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Extremely Preterm ◽  
Extremely Preterm Infants ◽  
Surfactant Administration ◽  
Stage 1

Background and Objectives: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is the leading cause of blindness in preterm infants. We studied the relationship between different perinatal characteristics, i.e., sex; gestational age (GA); birth weight (BW); C-reactive protein (CRP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) concentrations; ventilation, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), and surfactant administration; and the incidence of Stage 1–3 ROP. Materials and Methods: This study included 247 preterm infants with gestational age (GA) < 32 weeks that were successfully screened for ROP. Univariate and multivariate binary analyses were performed to find the most significant risk factors for ROP (Stage 1–3), while multivariate multinomial analysis was used to find the most significant risk factors for specific ROP stages, i.e., Stage 1, 2, and 3. Results: The incidence of ROP (Stage 1–3) was 66.40% (164 infants), while that of Stage 1, 2, and 3 ROP was 15.38% (38 infants), 27.53% (68 infants), and 23.48% (58 infants), respectively. Following univariate analysis, multiple perinatal characteristics, i.e., GA; BW; and ventilation, CPAP, and surfactant administration, were found to be statistically significant risk factors for ROP (p < 0.001). However, in a multivariate model using the same characteristics, only BW and ventilation were significant ROP predictors (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively). Multivariate multinomial analysis revealed that BW was only significantly correlated with Stage 2 and 3 ROP (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively), while ventilation was only significantly correlated with Stage 2 ROP (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The results indicate that GA; BW; and the use of ventilation, CPAP, and surfactant were all significant risk factors for ROP (Stage 1–3), but only BW and ventilation were significantly correlated with ROP and specific stages of the disease, namely Stage 2 and 3 ROP and Stage 2 ROP, respectively, in multivariate models.

scholarly journals Regional variation in cost of neonatal intensive care for extremely preterm infants

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Asaph Rolnitsky ◽  
David Urbach ◽  
Sharon Unger ◽  
Chaim M. Bell
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care ◽  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Preterm Infants ◽  
Gestational Age ◽  
Regional Variation ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Cost Optimization ◽  
Program Cost ◽  
Extremely Preterm ◽  
Extremely Preterm Infants

Abstract Background Regional variation in cost of neonatal intensive care for extremely preterm infant is not documented. We sought to evaluate regional variation that may lead to benchmarking and cost saving. Methods An analysis of a Canadian national costing data from the payor perspective. We included all liveborn 23–28-week preterm infants in 2011–2015. We calculated variation in costs between provinces using non-parametric tests and a generalized linear model to evaluate cost variation after adjustment for gestational age, survival, and length of stay. Results We analysed 6932 infant records. The median total cost for all infants was $66,668 (Inter-Quartile Range (IQR): $4920–$125,551). Medians for the regions varied more than two-fold and ranged from $48,144 in Ontario to $122,526 in Saskatchewan. Median cost for infants who survived the first 3 days of life was $91,000 (IQR: $56,500–$188,757). Median daily cost for all infants was $1940 (IQR: $1518–$2619). Regional variation was significant after adjusting for survival more than 3 days, length of stay, gestational age, and year (pseudo-R2 = 0.9, p < 0.01). Applying the model on the second lowest-cost region to the rest of the regions resulted in a total savings of $71,768,361(95%CI: $65,527,634–$81,129,451) over the 5-year period ($14,353,672 annually), or over 11% savings for the total program cost of $643,837,303 over the study period. Conclusion Costs of neonatal intensive care are high. There is large regional variation that persists after adjustment for length of stay and survival. Our results can be used for benchmarking and as a target for focused cost optimization, savings, and investment in healthcare.

Decision-making at the border of viability: determining the best interests of extremely preterm infants

2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (11) ◽  
pp. 773-779
Author(s):  
Eric Vogelstein
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Preterm Infants ◽  
Gestational Age ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Best Interests ◽  
Life Saving ◽  
Extremely Preterm ◽  
Extremely Preterm Infants ◽  
To Receive

This paper proposes and employs a framework for determining whether life-saving treatment at birth is in the best interests of extremely preterm infants, given uncertainty about the outcome of such a choice. It argues that given relevant data and plausible assumptions about the well-being of babies with various outcomes, it is typically in the best interests of even the youngest preterm infants—those born at 22 weeks gestational age—to receive life-saving treatment at birth.

Prematurity and postnatal alterations in intermittent hypoxaemia

2021 ◽  
pp. fetalneonatal-2020-320961
Author(s):  
Juliann M Di Fiore ◽  
Vidhi Shah ◽  
Abhijit Patwardhan ◽  
Abdus Sattar ◽  
Shengxuan Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preterm Infants ◽  
Gestational Age ◽  
Postnatal Life ◽  
Extremely Preterm ◽  
Extremely Preterm Infants ◽  
Moderately Preterm ◽  
Early Postnatal Life

Intermittent hypoxaemia (IH) events are well described in extremely preterm infants, but the occurrence of IH patterns in more mature preterm infants remains unclear. The objective of this study was to characterise the effect of gestational age on early postnatal patterns of IH in extremely (<28 weeks), very (28–<32 weeks) and moderately (32–<34 weeks) preterm infants. As expected, extremely preterm infants had a significantly higher frequency of IH events of longer durations and greater time with hypoxaemia versus very and moderately preterm infants. In addition, the postnatal decrease in IH duration was comparable in the very and moderately preterm infants. This progression of IH events should assist clinicians and families in managing expectations for resolution of IH events during early postnatal life.

Evaluation of the congenital hypothyroidism detection strategy in extremely preterm infants in western Andalusia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricardo Rubio-Sánchez ◽  
David Núñez-Jurado ◽  
Enrique Melguizo-Madrid ◽  
Ana Isabel Álvarez-Ríos ◽  
Carmen Delgado-Pecellín
Keyword(s):  
Retrospective Study ◽  
Preterm Infants ◽  
Congenital Hypothyroidism ◽  
Premature Infants ◽  
Free T4 ◽  
Detection Strategy ◽  
Extremely Preterm ◽  
Extremely Preterm Infants ◽  
Screening Population ◽  
The Moment

Objective: To identify extremely premature infants (< 31 weeks of gestation and/or < 1,500 grams) affected by congenital hypothyroidism (CH) with delayed elevation of thyrotropin (TSH) and to evaluate the detection strategy for this pathology in our reference screening population. Study Design: A descriptive and retrospective study was carried out with samples collected from western Andalusia and the autonomous city of Ceuta. Results: This protocol allowed us to detect six neonates with delayed TSH elevation. One of them, due to serious heart problems, died without being able to confirm CH. In two neonates, however, it was possible to detect CH, another two presented a persistent TSH elevation but normal free T4, and another one presented a temporary TSH elevation. Conclusion: It is essential to repeat the CH screening in extremely premature infants; not only at the age of 15 days, but also with a third sample at the moment of hospital discharge to detect cases with delayed TSH elevation.

scholarly journals Psychosocial support for parents of extremely preterm infants in neonatal intensive care: a qualitative interview study

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Bry ◽  
Helena Wigert
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care ◽  
Preterm Infants ◽  
Premature Infants ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Medical Condition ◽  
Qualitative Interview Study ◽  
Extremely Preterm ◽  
Extremely Preterm Infants

Abstract Background Extremely premature infants (those born before 28 weeks’ gestational age) are highly immature, requiring months of care at a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). For parents, their child’s grave medical condition and prolonged hospitalization are stressful and psychologically disruptive. This study aimed at exploring the needs of psychosocial support of parents of extremely premature infants, and how the NICU as an organization and its staff meets or fails to meet these needs. Method Sixteen open-ended interviews were conducted with 27 parents after their infant’s discharge from the NICU. Inductive content analysis was performed. Results Four themes were identified: Emotional support (with subthemes Empathic treatment by staff, Other parents as a unique source of support, Unclear roles of the various professions); Feeling able to trust the health care provider; Support in balancing time spent with the infant and other responsibilities; Privacy. Parents of extremely premature infants needed various forms of emotional support at the NICU, including support from staff, professional psychological help and/or companionship with other patients’ parents. Parents were highly variable in their desire to discuss their emotional state with staff. The respective roles of nursing staff, social workers and psychologists in supporting parents emotionally and identifying particularly vulnerable parents appeared unclear. Parents also needed to be able to maintain a solid sense of trust in the NICU and its staff. Poor communication with and among staff, partly due to staff discontinuity, damaged trust. Parents struggled with perceived pressure from staff to be at the hospital more than they could manage and with the limited privacy of the NICU. Conclusions The complex and individual psychosocial needs of parents of extremely preterm infants present many challenges for the NICU and its staff. Increasing staffing and improving nurses’ competence in addressing psychosocial aspects of neonatal care would help both nurses and families. Clarifying the roles of different professions in supporting parents and developing their teamwork would lessen the burden on nurses. Communicating with parents about their needs and informing them early in their NICU stay about available support would be essential in helping them cope with their infant’s hospitalization.

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