COVID-19 Pandemic Adversely Affects the Provision of Desired Newborn Circumcision: Perinatal Physician Perspectives

Over half of boys in the United States undergo circumcision, which has its greatest health benefits and lowest risks when performed during the newborn period under local anesthesia. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected delivery of patient care in many ways and likely also influenced the provision of newborn circumcisions. Prior to the pandemic, we planned to conduct a qualitative study to ascertain physician perspectives on providing newborn circumcision care. The interviews incidentally coincided with the onset of the pandemic and thus, pandemic-related changes emerged as a theme. We elected to analyze this theme in greater detail. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with perinatal physicians in a large urban city from 4/2020 to 7/2020. Physicians that perform or counsel regarding newborn circumcision and physicians with knowledge of or responsibility for hospital policies were eligible. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and qualitative coding was performed. Twenty-three physicians from 11 local hospitals participated. Despite no specific COVID-19 related questions in the interview guide, nearly half of physicians identified that the pandemic affected delivery of newborn circumcision care with 8 pandemic-related sub-themes. The commonest sub-themes included COVID-19 related changes in: (1) workflow processes, (2) staffing and availability of circumcision proceduralists, and (3) procedural settings. In summary, this qualitative study revealed unanticipated COVID-19 pandemic-related changes with primarily adverse effects on the provision of desired newborn circumcisions. Some of these changes may become permanent resulting in broad implications for policy makers that will likely need to adapt and redesign the processes and systems for the delivery of newborn circumcision care.

Transvenous embolization of vein of galen aneurismal malformations using the “Chapot pressure cooker” technique

In some vein of galen aneurysmal malformation (VGAM) patients, transvenous embolization (TVE) is an attractive option, but its safety is unclear. Here we report the first two VGAM patients treated using the Chapot “pressure cooker” technique (ChPC). Methods Two patients, one 5-year-old and one 7-year-old, both presented with congestive heart failure in the newborn period and were subsequently treated in the newborn period with multiple, staged TAEs with n-BCA for choroidal VGAMs. Results We achieved progressive reduction in shunting and flow but were unable to accomplish complete closure of the malformation: in both patients, a small residual with numerous perforators persisted. The decision was made to perform TVE using the CHPC. In this technique, a guiding catheter is placed transjugular into the straight sinus (SS). One or two detachable tip microcatheters are advanced to the origin of the SS. Another microcatheter is advanced and the tip placed between the distal marker and the detachment zone of the former. Coils and n-BCA are used to prevent reflux of Onyx. Conclusions In this study, we recognized two important factors of traditional VGAM treatment that may cause interventionalists to consider the ChPC to treat VGAM: (1) without liquid embolic, deployed coils may not occlude the fistula entirely. (2) There is the concern of causing delayed bleeding should the arterial component of the fistula rupture. ChPC ameliorates these issues by offering complete closure of the fistula with liquid embolic material in TVE.

Venous Thromboembolism in Premature Neonates

While the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is lower among children than adults, the newborn period is one of two bimodal peaks (along with adolescence) in VTE incidence in the pediatric population. Most VTE cases in neonates occur among critically ill neonates being managed in the neonatal intensive care unit, and most of these children are born premature. For this reason, the presentation, diagnosis, management, and outcomes of VTE among children born premature deserve special emphasis by pediatric hematologists, neonatologists, pharmacists, and other pediatric health care providers, as well as by the scientific community, and are described in this review.

Neonatal Atrial Flutter: Case Report

Neonatal atrial flutter is a rare entity seen in the newborn period. With prompt treatment, they mostly revert to normal rhythm, with good long-term prognosis. But prolonged untreated atrial flutter can result in heart failure. This necessitates prompt diagnosis and treatment of the condition. However, all available treatment modalities are not effective in all patients. Here, we report 2 newborns with atrial flutter who did not respond initially to medical management, but eventually responded to cardioversion, with good outcome.

Prolonged Viral Shedding in Vertically Acquired SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Preterm Infants–Shedding Versus Infectivity

The reported median duration of viral shedding after infection with SARS-CoV2 is between 12 and 20 days. It is now established that infected individuals can continue to shed viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) without shedding live virus. This has implications for quarantine and infection control practices. COVID in the acute phase seems to be milder in children, and the duration of viral RNA shedding is shorter in children compared to adults. SARS-CoV-2 infections in the newborn period is rare. Little is known about the duration of viral shedding in preterm infants with vertically acquired SARS-CoV-2. 3 of the 4 preterm infants cared for at our center had prolonged shedding up to 34 days with live viral shedding not seen beyond the second week when tested in 3 of them.

Abstract 1122‐000045: Transvenous Embolization of Vein of Galen Aneurismal Malformations Using the “Chapot Pressure Cooker” Technique

Introduction : There are various procedural techniques described in the literature to treat VGAM: 1) transarterial embolization (TAE) via a transfemoral or transumbilical approach, 2) transfemoral or transtorcular venous coiling, and 3) the combined transarterial and transvenous “trapping” of the fistula. The transarterial technique has permitted our team to obtain total or near‐total obliteration in approximately 80% of cases; however, there is a patient population in whom the residual arterial supply is comprised of small perforators. In these patients, transvenous embolization (TVE) is an attractive option, but its safety is unclear. Here we report the first two VGAM patients treated using the Chapot “pressure cooker” technique (ChPC). Methods : Two patients, one 5‐year‐old and one 7‐year‐old, both presented with congestive heart failure in the newborn period and were subsequently treated in the newborn period with multiple, staged TAEs with n‐BCA for choroidal VGAMs. We achieved progressive reduction in shunting and flow but were unable to accomplish complete closure of the malformation: in both patients, a small residual with numerous perforators persisted. The decision was made to perform transvenous embolization using the CHPC. In this technique, a guiding catheter is placed transjugular into the straight sinus (SS). One or two detachable tip microcatheters are advanced to the origin of the SS. Another microcatheter is advanced and the tip placed between the distal marker and the detachment zone of the former. Coils, and n‐BCA if necessary, are used to prevent reflux of Onyx. This forces the Onyx to occlude the vein and the most distal arterial segment. Results : Both patients had complete occlusion of the VGAM after ChPC. Conclusions : This is the first report to describe TVE to cure VGAM after multiple sessions of TAE. This is also the first report to apply ChPC to VGAM treatment. In this study, we recognized two important factors of traditional VGAM treatment that may cause interventionalists to consider the ChPC to treat VGAM: 1) without liquid embolic, deployed coils may not occlude the fistula entirely. 2) There is the concern of causing delayed bleeding should the arterial component of the fistula rupture. ChPC ameliorates these issues by offering complete closure of the fistula with liquid embolic material in TVE. Not only is the residual vein blocked, but also the incoming arterial supply which prevents delayed bleeding. In endovascular treatment of VGAM, TVE is feasible option once the dilated vein of Galen becomes small enough. To prevent incomplete occlusion or post‐procedural hemorrhagic complications, the use of the ChPC using DMSO liquid embolic material is a promising and necessary introduction to the neurointerventionalist’s treatment arsenal.

Umbilical venous catheterisation: emergency central venous access which saves lives in coarctation of the aorta

We describe a 9-day-old baby with coarctation of the aorta who required urgent resuscitation including intubation and cardiac compressions. Despite the commencement of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) to reopen the ductus arteriosus via the intraosseous route, postductal saturations remained unrecordable for a further 45 min. Within 3 min of administration of PGE1 via an umbilical venous catheter (UVC), saturations were recordable at 92%. UVC access was the sentinel intervention that irrevocably altered the clinical prognosis. This baby boy has survived with excellent neurodevelopmental outcome. Clinicians are less familiar with UVCs outside of the newborn period. Our data demonstrate successful placement in neonates up to 28 days of age. We hope this case encourages clinicians to consider the UVC as first-line central venous access in collapsed neonates. In cases of suspected left heart obstruction, we argue that UVCs are the optimal route.

An interesting case of neonatal aural myiasis in a 13 hours old neonate in a tertiary care hospital

Myiasis is infestation by fly larvae (diptera) in live vertebrates, including humans. Newborn period is very unusual for any infestation. In literature there are only a few cases reported of neonatal aural myiasis from India. We described a case of aural myiasis caused by the Sarcophagidae family in a 13 hours old newborn in this paper. Aural myiasis in a newborn can be dangerous because of the fatality risk due to penetration to the brain.

Low Neonatal Circumcision Bleeding Rate in Patients Diagnosed with Delta-Storage Pool Deficiency Later in Life

Introduction male circumcision is a common procedure, generally performed during the newborn period. Few reports have described circumcision in patients with bleeding disorders. Aim to determine bleeding rate after circumcision in neonatal male subjects who were diagnosed later in life with delta-storage pool disease (SPD). Methods we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of male subjects (<18 years of age) who were diagnosed with SPD later in life and were circumcised at birth without hemostatic prophylaxis due to lack of family history at that time from 2000-2020. Intraoperative/postoperative bleeding and bleeding severity were the main outcomes evaluated. Results 153 male subjects were included. Circumcision was performed at a median age of 2 days (range, 1 day-4 months). The main indication for circumcision was parental request. Median severity of granule deficiency was 2.76 dense granules/platelet (range, 1.12-3.82 DG/Plt). None of the subjects had intraoperative bleeding. Three subjects (2%) had postoperative bleeding and only one (0.65%) required ER intervention to stop bleeding. Conclusion the overall incidence of bleeding in our subjects with SPD who were undiagnosed and untreated at circumcision, is comparable to that reported for patients without a bleeding disorder.