scholarly journals Merits and perils of targeted neonatal echocardiography-based hemodynamic research: a position statement

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (3) ◽  
pp. 183-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashraf Kharrat ◽  
Patrick J. McNamara ◽  
Dany Weisz ◽  
Amish Jain

In the neonatal setting, point-of-care ultrasound is increasingly being used to help clinicians with the evaluation of heart function. Practices in neonatology, particularly with regard to acute and chronic hemodynamic managements, were traditionally more driven on dogma and predefined thresholds and not always supported by demonstrable physiology. For the first time, targeted neonatal echocardiography (TNE) provided neonatal intensivists with a bedside tool that made real-time assessment of neonatal hemodynamics status feasible in even the tiniest of babies. This opened the door towards more targeted physiological driven practices, allowing us to test historical approaches to clinical problems in a more precise way. Despite the standardization of TNE training and the creation of a formalized curriculum, little attention has been paid to the establishment of an empirical framework to adjudicate scientific investigation. In this position statement, we reflect on the evolution of TNE in Canadian neonatal intensive care units, appraise its strengths and limitations, and suggest guiding principles for clinicians and researchers to consider as they take this field forward.

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (1-4) ◽  
pp. 13-21
Author(s):  
Sujata Deshpande ◽  
Pradeep Suryawanshi ◽  
Neha Sharma ◽  
Rajesh Maheshwari ◽  
Rema Nagpal ◽  
...  

Objectives: Point-of-care ultrasonography (POCU) refers to the process of ultrasound performed at the bedside by treating physicians, for the ongoing assessment of disease, evaluation of response to treatment, and assistance in procedures. This study was conducted to assess the current utilization, training, and barriers to the implementation of neonatologist-performed POCU (NP-POCU) in Indian neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Methods: A survey questionnaire was disseminated to practicing neonatologists in India via an online survey tool from July 2017 to September 2017. The questionnaire addressed the information related to the availability of NP-POCU services, indications for its use, perception among neonatologists about its usefulness, training for NP-POCU, and access to pediatric cardiology and radiology services. Results: The overall response rate was 78%. A total of 72% respondents reported having access to NP-POCU services in their units. Neonatologist-performed POCU (NP-POCU) was used most frequently for cranial ultrasound (97%), functional echocardiography (90%), and evaluating line position (67%). Majority (92%) of the units had no training program for NP-POCU. The most common reasons cited for not having NP-POCU services were non-availability of trained personnel to perform POCU (50%) and strict Pre-conception and Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques (PC-PNDT) Act (50%). Conclusions: Neonatologist-performed point-of-care ultrasonography is being increasingly utilized in Indian NICUs. However, there is a lack of structured training and guidelines for its use. Non-availability of trained personnel and strict PC-PNDT Act are major barriers to its implementation. We recommend that accredited training programs and standardized guidelines be established for the safer use of NP-POCU in India.


Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 1098
Author(s):  
J. Lauren Ruoss ◽  
Catalina Bazacliu ◽  
Nicole Cacho ◽  
Daniele De Luca

A neonatal point-of-care ultrasound has multiple applications, but its use has been limited in neonatal intensive care units in the Unites States. An increasing body of evidence suggests that lung ultrasound performed by the neonatologist, at the bedside, is reliable and accurate in differentiating neonatal respiratory conditions, predicting morbidity, and guiding invasive interventions. Recent research has shown that a lung ultrasound can assist the clinician in accurately identifying and managing conditions such as respiratory distress syndrome, transient tachypnea of the newborn, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. In this review, we discuss basic lung ultrasound terminology, evidence for applications of neonatal lung ultrasound, and its use as a diagnostic and predictive tool for common neonatal respiratory pathologies.


Author(s):  
Nilam J Soni ◽  
Daniel Schnobrich ◽  
Benji K Mathews ◽  
David M Tierney ◽  
Trevor P Jensen ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Khushboo Qaim Ali ◽  
Sajid Bashir Soofi ◽  
Ali Shabbir Hussain ◽  
Uzair Ansari ◽  
Shaun Morris ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Simulators are an extensively utilized teaching tool in clinical settings. Simulation enables learners to practice and improve their skills in a safe and controlled environment before using these skills on patients. We evaluated the effect of a training session utilizing a novel intubation ultrasound simulator on the accuracy of provider detection of tracheal versus esophageal neonatal endotracheal tube (ETT) placement using point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS). We also investigated whether the time to POCUS image interpretation decreased with repeated simulator attempts. Methods Sixty neonatal health care providers participated in a three-hour simulator-based training session in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi, Pakistan. Participants included neonatologists, neonatal fellows, pediatric residents and senior nursing staff. The training utilized a novel low-cost simulator made with gelatin, water and psyllium fiber. Training consisted of a didactic session, practice with the simulator, and practice with intubated NICU patients. At the end of training, participants underwent an objective structured assessment of technical skills (OSATS) and ten rounds of simulator-based testing of their ability to use POCUS to differentiate between simulated tracheal and esophageal intubations. Results The majority of the participants in the training had an average of 7.0 years (SD 4.9) of clinical experience. After controlling for gender, profession, years of practice and POCUS knowledge, linear mixed model and mixed effects logistic regression demonstrated marginal improvement in POCUS interpretation over repeated simulator testing. The mean time-to-interpretation decreased from 24.7 (SD 20.3) seconds for test 1 to 10.1 (SD 4.5) seconds for Test 10, p < 0.001. There was an average reduction of 1.3 s (β = − 1.3; 95% CI: − 1.66 to − 1.0) in time-to-interpretation with repeated simulator testing after adjusting for the covariates listed above. Conclusion We found a three-hour simulator-based training session had a significant impact on technical skills and performance of neonatal health care providers in identification of ETT position using POCUS. Further research is needed to examine whether these skills are transferable to intubated newborns in various health settings. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03533218. Registered May 2018.


2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick Evans ◽  
Veronique Gournay ◽  
Fernando Cabanas ◽  
Martin Kluckow ◽  
Tina Leone ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 284-288
Author(s):  
Sidhant Swarup ◽  
Rakesh Panigrahi ◽  
Suryakanta Swain ◽  
Hemant Agrawal

Introduction: Up to 29% of late preterm babies suffer from respiratory distress due to which they need to be admitted to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Point-of-care ultrasound is a useful tool in critical neonate care, providing valuable information without any risk of ionizing radiation to the newborn. Materials and Method: This mono-centric, descriptive, and prospective study was conducted in NICU. Preterm newborns of less than 36 weeks with respiratory distress at birth on non-invasive ventilation were recruited. A lung ultrasound was performed at first 12 h of life and followed till their discharge. Main outcomes need for surfactant treatment. Results: Sixty preterm infants (median gestational age: 29 weeks) were recruited. Newborn in the surfactant group requiring ultrasound and intervention was significantly higher than in no surfactant group (p<0.0001). In 15 newborns who received surfactant, the first dose was administered at a median age of 4.5 h. In 13 of these 15 newborns, the lung ultrasound scan was subsequently repeated an average of 2 h (Standard deviation or SD: 2) On average, the second dose of surfactant was administered at 24 h of life (SD: 9). Conclusion: Early lung ultrasound in preterm infants with respiratory distress appears to be a useful tool with no adverse effects for the patient. It allows a better assessment of respiratory distress by detecting patients with a greater risk of requiring surfactant or mechanical ventilation, even before oxygenation criteria.


CJEM ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (S1) ◽  
pp. S67-S67
Author(s):  
P.R. Atkinson ◽  
D. Lewis ◽  
J. Fraser

Introduction: Organizations including CAEP, CEUS, the International Federation for Emergency Medicine (IFEM) and the Canadian Association of Radiologists have all called for defined competency assessments for point of care ultrasound (PoCUS). Definitions of core indications vary. The requirement for ongoing assessment of performance and skills maintenance is often overlooked. We describe the introduction an IFEM approved Assessment of Practice (AP) tool across a PoCUS training program and for continued assessment. Methods: We completed a cross sectional survey and cohort study including the entire body of emergency medicine physicians at a tertiary hospital. Over a 3 year period, all practitioners were assessed for CAEP position statement defined core applications at baseline and again after 2 years using a published PoCUS AP tool. We describe the tool, its application and the performance assessment findings. Emergency physicians (EP) underwent AP following formal training including an approved course and a logbook documenting a variable number of scans. Results: 23 EPs completed training and underwent AP initially, with all 23 EPs completing further assessment within 3 years. Assessment of practice was completed for 1. Focused Diagnostic Ultrasound Assessment for AAA, eFAST, cardiac, early pregnancy; and 2. Focused Procedural Ultrasound Guidance for venous catheterization. All EPs demonstrated initial and continuing competency in these PoCUS modalities. Conclusion: The IFEM PoCUS curriculum promotes ongoing local assessment of performance. We successfully implemented this competency based approach and demonstrated feasibility, flexibility and utility in a Canadian emergency medicine program.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document