American journal of diseases of children (1911)
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Review Guideline
Guidelines for auditing pediatric blood transfusion practices.
Although transfusion of blood products is an essential and potentially life-saving measure, not all blood transfusions are beneficial to patients. The associated risks, particularly transfusion-transmitted viral illnesses, such as hepatitis and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, require that careful consideration be given before a decision is made to transfuse any blood product. Many institutions have established a local committee to monitor transfusion practices and audit such practices regularly. ⋯ These guidelines, summarized herein, cover transfusion of red blood cells, platelets, white blood cells, fresh-frozen plasma, albumin, and clotting concentrates. The use of cytomegalovirus low-risk and irradiated blood products is also discussed. Throughout the report, special attention is given to the transfusion needs of newborn infants.
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Historical Article
Physicians, formula companies, and advertising. A historical perspective.
The recent advent of new advertising campaigns for infant formulas aimed at the general public via television commercials, newspapers, free formula coupons, and lay periodicals has disrupted a comfortable symbiotic relationship between infant food manufacturers and the medical profession that has endured for more than 50 years. In the late 19th century, physicians were concerned about the advertising claims of these products and generally felt that indications and directions for their use should be the province of the physician. Between 1929 and 1932, the American Medical Association, through its Committee on Foods and "Seal of Acceptance," essentially required the entire formula industry to advertise only to the medical profession. ⋯ These actions threaten to once again remove the realm of infant feeding from the exclusive supervision of the medical profession. The new multimedia public advertising campaigns may increase the cost of infant formula to the general public and have a negative impact on the incidence of breast-feeding. In addition, formula advertising campaigns will likely increase the danger of advertising hyperbole and affect the level of financial support by formula companies for scientific meetings, medical research, education, and social events at medical meetings.
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In Colorado, newborn screening for hemoglobinopathies by cellulose acetate and citrate agar electrophoresis of dried capillary blood spots was established in 1979. We reviewed the results of screening 528,711 infants through 1988. Forty-seven infants with sickle cell diseases and 27 infants with other hemoglobin diseases were identified. ⋯ There was no mortality among these infants. The screening test identified 3779 infants (1:140 births) with a suspected hemoglobin trait; confirmatory retesting was obtained in 53%. The results of our experience confirm the value of newborn screening for hemoglobinopathies but suggest that a more sensitive test would improve the program.
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Comparative Study
Evaluations of diapers containing absorbent gelling material with conventional disposable diapers in newborn infants.
We evaluated 149 infants diapered in either conventional cellulose core disposable diapers or diapers containing cellulose core with absorbent gelling material. The infants were evaluated from 1 day of age to 14 weeks of age for the prevalence and severity of diaper dermatitis. We identified a low prevalence of diaper dermatitis throughout the study period. ⋯ Despite the overall low prevalence of diaper dermatitis in the newborn period, 7 of 204 infants evaluated had small skin erosions in the diaper area noted within the first 4 days of age. Both diaper types were associated with infants with erosions. This surprisingly high incidence of erosions in newborn infants suggests previously undocumented increased skin fragility of full-term infants.
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We assessed the morphologic findings of the brain prospectively before and after cardiac surgery using magnetic resonance imaging. There were 12 patients with acyanotic and 6 with cyanotic heart disease. There were 2 deaths, and 1 patient did not have to undergo postoperative magnetic resonance imaging. ⋯ The subdural hematomas were small and caused no demonstrable mass effect on magnetic resonance imaging. One patient had a preoperative white matter infarction. There was 1 patient with a postoperative infarction.