Pre-discharge growth pattern of very low birth weight infants (VLBW): A 5 year single center experience

Author(s):  
S.H. Elbeely ◽  
M.A. AlQurashi

BACKGROUND: Very low birth weight infants born prematurely are at greater risk for growth delays that lead to Ex-utero Growth Restriction (EUGR) during vulnerable periods of organ structural and functional development. There is considerable evidence that early growth failure has adverse effects on long term neurodevelopment in children which often persists into adulthood. METHODS: This is a single-center cross-sectional study on live newborn infants with birth weight ranges from 500 to 1500 grams (VLBW) and gestational age (GA) between 24–32 weeks who were admitted to NICU at KAMC-Jeddah over a 5 year period (2009–2013). This study aims to evaluate predischarge growth pattern of VLBW infants in terms of weight, head circumference (HC) and length and to identify important variables that have influenced such growth pattern. RESULTS: Of the 135 infants included in the final analysis, 68 (50.4%) were male and 67 (49.6%) were female and the mean gestational age was 28.83±2.064 weeks and the mean birth weight 1166.74±256 grams. Ninety-two infants (68%) had discharge weight at ≤10th percentile and forty four (32%) had their weight >10th percentile. HC was the lowest affected among the anthropometric measurements with 42% ≤10th percentile. In terms of linear growth, 62% had their length ≤10th percentile. Amongst infants born ≤750 grams, 71% and 70% had HC and height at ≤10th percentile respectively, at the time of discharge. BPD was significantly associated with EUGR (p = 0.026). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that almost 2/3rd of VLBW infants born at KAMC-Jeddah with birth weight ≤750 grams were discharged home with EUGR as demonstrated by their weight, length, and HC ≤10th percentile. BPD was found to be significantly associated with EUGR amongst post-natal factors influencing EUGR.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Kouya ◽  
Annie Carole Nga Motaze ◽  
Jeannette Epee Ngoué ◽  
Arsene Brunelle Sandie ◽  
Paul Olivier Koki Ndombo ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction. Vaccination is very often delayed in premature and low birth weight infants. However, timely vaccination is even more important in the latter because of their increased susceptibility to infection.Objective. To assess immunization practice and factors associated with vaccine promptness and completeness in former preterm and low-birth-weight infants.Methods. We conducted a retrospective analytical cross-sectional study (January 2017 to February 2019). Main measurement : Promptness and completeness at each contact, Statistical analysis was performed using R software version 3.6.2, logistic regression was used to estimate the Odds Ratio (OR) and their 95% Confidence Interval (CI).Results. We recruited 310 children aged 12 to 36 months born before 37 weeks with low birth weight, 163 (52.6%) of whom were female. Two hundred and fifty-three had received the vaccines at the indicated age, with promptness rate of 81.6%, and 97.7% had completed routine immunization at 9 months. The mean age at vaccination initiation was 6 days ±11 and the mean weight at vaccination initiation was 2233g ±494. High prematurity and very low birth weight were associated with a high rate of vaccine delay: 61.5% [OR: 15.56; (CI: 3.22-118.52; p=0.002)] and 66.7% [OR: 19.19; (CI: 4.67-92.52; p<0.001)] respectively. Distance > 5 km with HEC [OR: 3.48; (CI: 1.68-7.47; p=0.001)] was associated with poor vaccination. Women in common-law unions had the lowest vaccine readiness rate (60.6%), (OR: 3.36; CI: 1.006-10.70; p=0.038). The frequency of occurrence of post immunization adverse events was 24.5%, with fever type in 94.7%.Conclusion. Nearly all premature and/or low-birth-weight children hospitalized at Essos Hospital Center had completed routine immunization at 9 months, and the majority had received the vaccines in a timely manner. Similar study is needed in rural area.


2005 ◽  
Vol 123 (6) ◽  
pp. 261-265
Author(s):  
Silvana Darcie ◽  
Cléa Rodrigues Leone

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants have special nutritional needs. There is a current tendency to individualize their protein needs. The objective of this study was to determine the suitability of serum and urinary urea as indicators for protein intake in adequate-for-gestational-age (AGA) and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) VLBW infants. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective study in the nursery attached to the Maternity Ward of the "Prof. Pedro de Alcântara" Children's Institute, Hospital das Clínicas, Department of Pediatrics, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: Seventy-two VLBW infants (mean protein intake = 3.7 mg/kg/day) were enrolled in a prospective cohort study in two groups: AGA (n = 34) and SGA (n = 38). Blood samples, six-hour urine (6hUr) collections and urine sample tests (STUr) were obtained for urea and creatinine assays at three and five weeks of life. Statistical analysis: Student's t test, Pearson correlation and linear regression (p < 0.05). RESULTS: There were no differences between groups for serum urea, 6hUr and STUr, or between two assessments within each group. Serum urea correlated with 6hUr in both AGA and SGA, and to STUr in SGA; 6hUr correlated with STUr in both AGA and SGA. There was no correlation between protein intake and serum or urine urea. CONCLUSIONS: Serum and urinary urea did not reflect protein intake when mean intakes of 3.7 g/kg/day were used. Sample tests of urinary urea can be as reliable as urea from urine collected over longer periods.


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 720 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kabilan S. ◽  
Mekalai Suresh Kumar

Background: Around 4-8% of all live births are very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.  In India currently 8 million VLBW infants are born each year which constitutes 40% of global burden the highest for any country. The present study was done to determine frequency of disease, complications, survival rate and risk factors for morbidity and mortality in VLBW babies.Methods: Between October 2016 and September 2017, we did a cross-sectional retrospective study at level three SNCU with >98% inborn admissions and about more than 10000 deliveries per year. The American Academy of Pediatrics protocol for neonatal resuscitation was followed for the management of VLBW. Data were entered in predetermined proforma and statistical analysis was done.Results: There were 154 registered cases of VLBW [75 females (48.7%) and 79 males (51.3%)]. The mean birth weight=1.198 (SD=0.211). The mean gestational age in weeks was 31.9 (SD=3.095).  Majority of them were in the gestational age 33-36 weeks (n=68, 44.2%), small for gestational age (n=89, 57.8), delivered through normal vaginal delivery (n=95, 61.7%), singletons (n=126, 81.8%), inborn (n=152, 98.7%), maternal age between 21-30 (n=95, 61.6%), clear amniotic fluid (n=137, 89%), on antenatal steroids (n=59, 38.3%), maternal disease were present in 55 mothers (33%) and gestational hypertension being more common (n=14, 9.6%). Majority of babies had Respiratory Distress Syndrome (n=56, 33.6%), birth asphyxia (n=54 32.4%) and sepsis (n=46, 27.6%). Mortality of 40.3% (n=62) observed in present study. Forty three babies with RDS, twenty babies with asphyxia and eight babies with sepsis expired.Conclusions: Multiple regression analysis with adjusted estimates of odds ratio showed that very low birth weight, low Apgar score at 5 minute, intubation and mechanical ventilation were predictors of outcome of VLBW babies. Birth weight and mechanical ventilation were significant predictors of the outcome of ELBW babies.


2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (10) ◽  
pp. 1032-1040 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Sharek ◽  
Peiyi Kan ◽  
Joseph Rigdon ◽  
Manisha Desai ◽  
Courtney Nisbet ◽  
...  

Background and Objective Teamwork may affect clinical care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) setting. The objective of this study was to assess teamwork climate across NICUs and to test scale-level and item-level associations with health care–associated infection (HAI) rates in very low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants. Methods Cross-sectional study of the association between HAI rates, defined as any bacterial or fungal infection during the birth hospitalization, among 6,663 VLBW infants cared for in 44 NICUs between 2010 and 2012. NICU HAI rates were correlated with teamwork climate ratings obtained in 2011 from 2,073 of 3,294 eligible NICU health professionals (response rate 63%). The relation between HAI rates and NICU teamwork climate was assessed using logistic regression models including NICU as a random effect. Results Across NICUs, 36 to 100% (mean 66%) of respondents reported good teamwork. HAI rates were significantly and independently associated with teamwork climate (odds ratio, 0.82; 95% confidence interval, 0.73–0.92, p = 0.005), such that the odds of an infant contracting a HAI decreased by 18% with each 10% rise in NICU respondents reporting good teamwork. Conclusion Improving teamwork may be an important element in infection control efforts.


2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (05) ◽  
pp. 426-432
Author(s):  
Dario Consonni ◽  
Francesco Macchini ◽  
Giovanni Parente ◽  
Andrea Zanini ◽  
Stefania Franzini ◽  
...  

Introduction We present a single-center experience with very low birth weight (VLBW) infants with focal intestinal perforation (FIP), comparing the results of primary anastomosis (PA) and stoma opening (SO). Materials and Methods Clinical records of VLBW infants with FIP who underwent surgery between 2006 and 2015 were reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups according to the procedure performed: limited bowel resection and PA or SO. Patients with gastric perforation or patients who underwent clip and drop were excluded. Information regarding birth weight (BW), gestational age (GA), weight at surgery (WS), number of abdominal reoperations, duration of parenteral nutrition (PN), and demise was recorded. Results In this study, 40 patients were included: 22 in PA group and 18 in SO group. BW was 865 g in PA and 778 in SO (p-value: 0.2). GA was 26.1 weeks in PA and 25.6 in SO (p-value: 0.3). WS was 1,014 g in PA and 842 in SO (p-value: 0.09). Duration of surgery was 115 minutes in PA and 122 in SO (p-value: 0.67). Five patients (23%) belonging to PA group developed complications and required SO. Five patients (23%) demised in PA group and six (33%) in SO (p-value: 0.2). Seventeen abdominal reoperations were performed in PA group and 22 in SO group (p-value: 0.08). Conclusion Both procedures appear to be safe. When possible, PA should be performed as it reduces the number of abdominal reinterventions.


Author(s):  
Santina A. Zanelli ◽  
Maryam Abubakar ◽  
Robert Andris ◽  
Kavita Patwardhan ◽  
Karen D. Fairchild ◽  
...  

Objective Severe intraventricular hemorrhage (sIVH, grades 3 and 4) is a serious complication for very low birth weight (VLBW) infants and is often clinically silent requiring screening cranial ultrasound (cUS) for detection. Abnormal vital sign (VS) patterns might serve as biomarkers to identify risk or occurrence of sIVH. Study Design This retrospective study was conducted in VLBW infants admitted to two level-IV neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) between January 2009 and December 2018. Inclusion criteria were: birth weight <1.5 kg and gestational age (GA) <32 weeks, at least 12 hours of systemic oxygen saturation from pulse oximetry (SpO2) data over the first 24 hours and cUS imaging. Infants were categorized as early sIVH (sIVH identified in the first 48 hours), late sIVH (sIVH identified after 48 hours and normal imaging in the first 48 hours), and no IVH. Infants with grades 1 and 2 or unknown timing IVH were excluded. Mean heart rate (HR), SpO2, mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), number of episodes of bradycardia (HR < 100 bpm), and desaturation (SpO2 < 80%) were compared. Results A total of 639 infants (mean: 27 weeks' gestation) were included (567 no IVH, 34 early sIVH, and 37 late sIVH). In the first 48 hours, those with sIVH had significantly higher HR compared with those with no IVH. Infants with sIVH also had lower mean SpO2 and MABP and more desaturations <80%. No significant differences in VS patterns were identified in early versus late sIVH. Logistic regression identified higher HR and greater number of desaturations <80% as independently associated with sIVH. Conclusion VLBW infants who develop sIVH demonstrate VS differences with significantly lower SpO2 and higher mean HR over the first 48 hours after birth compared with VLBW infants with no IVH. Abnormalities in early VS patterns may be a useful biomarker for sIVH. Whether VS abnormalities predict or simply reflect sIVH remains to be determined. Key Points


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Yue-feng Li ◽  
Chuan-rui Zhu ◽  
Xue-lei Gong ◽  
Hui-ling Li ◽  
Li-kuan Xiong ◽  
...  

The very low birth weight (VLBW) infant is at great risk for marked dysbiosis of the gut microbiota. In the present study, a total of 36 VLBW infants were randomly divided into two groups, who were treated with combined probiotics and placebo, and 72 fecal specimens on days 14 and 28 of life were collected from them. Finally, 32 fecal specimens extracted from 16 preterm VLBW infants were qualified and analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The primary outcome was to evaluate the change of gut microbiota in VLBW infants after combined probiotic supplement. The secondary outcome was to analyze the correlation gut microbial composition and levels of cytokines. We found that probiotic treatment, but not placebo, decreased the α-diversity of gut microbiota in VLBW infants. At the phylum level, probiotic treatment strongly increased the abundance of Firmicutes, whereas that of Proteobacteria was significantly reduced. At the family level, Streptococcaceae and Lactobacillaceae became prevalent after probiotic treatment, while the relative abundance of Enterobacteriaceae was reduced in the meantime. Most notably, significant correlations were observed between Lactobacillaceae abundance and serum cytokine levels. Further studies are required to shed more light on the characteristics of gut microbiota of VLBW neonates. And the modulation of microbiota should be considered to improve the survival rate of VLBW infants.


2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 160-167
Author(s):  
Yasumi Nakashima ◽  
Yoshiki Mori ◽  
Sachie Kaneko ◽  
Nao Inoue ◽  
Tomotaka Murakami ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. e15-e16
Author(s):  
Wissam Alburaki ◽  
Belal Alshaikh ◽  
Kamran Yusuf

Abstract Background Approximately 43-65% of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants develop extra-uterine growth restriction (EUGR). EUGR is associated with a significant increase in the risk of neurodevelopmental impairment. Inadequate early postnatal nutrition results in excessive weight loss that cannot be explained by the physiologic contraction of body water alone. EUGR and postnatal growth failure are usually associated with negative early energy and nitrogen balance in the first week of life. Growth trajectories after initial weight loss have similar slopes regardless of gestational age, which indicates that the early excessive weight loss is a lead cause for EUGR. Objectives To study whether an early and higher parenteral lipid intake in the first week after birth would decrease the percentage of weight loss and subsequently the incidence of EUGR. Design/Methods This was a randomized, open-label, control trial of appropriate-for-gestational age VLBW infants admitted to our level III NICU. Lipid intake in the control group started at 0.5-1 g/kg/day and was increased daily by 0.5-1 g/kg/day until 3 g/kg/day was reached. The intervention group was started on 2 g/kg/day then increased to 3 g/kg/day the following day. Triglyceride levels were measured the day after the start and after each increase in lipid intake. Results Among the 176 infants assessed for eligibility, eighty-three were included in the trial. There were no significant differences between the control and the intervention group in mean gestational age (27.3 ± 2.4 vs. 27.1 ± 2.3 weeks respectively) or birth weight (1011 ± 250 vs. 1019 ± 271 g respectively). Infants in the intervention group were started on lipid earlier (13.8±7.8 vs. 17.5±7.8 h; p=0.03) and had higher cumulative lipid intake in the first 7 days of age (13.5±4.2 vs. 10.9±3.5 g/kg; p=0.004) that led to a protein to energy ratio; closer to the recommended values. Total fluid intake was similar between the two groups. Infants in the intervention group had a lower percentage of weight loss (10.4±3.6 vs. 12.7±4.6; p=0.02). The mean triglyceride level was higher in the intervention group (1.91± 0.79 vs. 1.49±0.54 mmol/L; p= 0.01), however, hypertriglyceridemia was similar between the two groups at 2 and 3 g/kg/day of lipid intake. Enteral energy and protein intake calculated weekly between the time of parenteral nutrition discontinuation and 36 weeks corrected gestational age (CGA) were similar between the 2 groups. EUGR at 36 weeks CGA was significantly lower in the intervention group (38.6% vs. 67.6%; p=0.01). Conclusion In VLBW infants, the provision of an early and higher dose of parenteral lipid in the first week of life results in less weight loss and lower incidence of EUGR.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document