Neonatology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
A Randomized Trial of Low-Flow Oxygen versus Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure in Preterm Infants.
Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) stabilizes the residual volume and may decrease the risk of 'atelectotrauma', potentially promoting lung development in neonates. ⋯ Replacing nCPAP by low-flow O2 in preterm infants with GA >26 weeks at the end of the first week of life did not seem to affect the a/A pO2 ratio or weight gain negatively. Thus, prolonged nCPAP seems not to have a positive effect on lung function at 28 days of life and replacement by low-flow O2 could reduce the cost of equipment and increase the ease of nursing.
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The fetal-to-neonatal transition is a complex process that includes changes in cardiac and respiratory systems. ⋯ Routine HR monitoring using electrocardiography or pulse oximetry is used to evaluate adequate hemodynamic transition, and reference ranges have been established. Measuring blood pressure noninvasively though noncontinuously might be of some value in future, considering that the normative data have been established recently. Echocardiographic monitoring during the immediate transition period will improve the knowledge about cardiac function changes, but introduction in clinical routine remains questionable.
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Peripheral muscle near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) measurements are of increasing interest especially in the care of critically ill patients. ⋯ In the care of critically ill neonates peripheral muscle NIRS measurements alone or in combination with cerebral or multi-site NIRS measurements provide useful additional information about peripheral circulation and oxygenation. This method is a promising tool in the recognition of early states of centralization (compensated shock) in this vulnerable group of patients. However, before this method can be used in the clinical routine it has to be tested as monitoring to guide interventions in further studies.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
A randomised crossover trial of clinical algorithm for oxygen saturation targeting in preterm infants with frequent desaturation episodes.
Strategies for oxygen therapy for preterm infants, such as the Vermont-Oxford's 'Breathsavers' guidelines, seek to strike a balance between the potential risks of the extremes of hyperoxia and hypoxia in preterm infants. Using an algorithm based on those guidelines, we aimed to compare the proportion of time spent within the SpO2 target range during algorithm-based management of oxygen delivery compared with routine nursing care. ⋯ The observation that algorithm-based control did not improve time spent within the SpO2 target and alarm limits suggests nursing care has reached an optimum in the unit studied. Our finding indicates that significant modifications to the algorithm are likely to be necessary to improve target range compliance.