Neonatology
-
Fetal to neonatal transition poses an extraordinary challenge for the extremely low birth weight (ELBW) neonate. Indeed a significant number of ELBW neonates will need proactive resuscitation to achieve postnatal stabilization. Positive pressure ventilation and oxygenation are the most relevant interventions in the delivery room (DR). ⋯ The availability of reference ranges for arterial oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) for ELBW neonates in the first 10 min after birth has been an extraordinary step forward in our ability to individually titrate oxygen needs thus avoiding the risks of both hypo- and hyperoxemia. The optimal fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO(2)) to initiate resuscitation and the safest SpO(2) percentiles for ELBW neonates during the first minutes of life are still unknown and will need further research in the future. Until then, optimal ventilation at birth and individually tailoring FiO(2) according to the nomogram seem to be the most reasonable and safe approach.
-
Ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) is considered an important risk factor in the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and is primarily caused by overdistension (volutrauma) and repetitive opening and collapse (atelectrauma) of terminal lung units. Lung-protective ventilation should therefore aim to reduce tidal volumes, and recruit and stabilize atelectatic lung units (open lung ventilation strategy). This review will summarize the available evidence on lung-protective ventilation in neonatology, discussing both high-frequency ventilation (HFV) and positive pressure ventilation (PPV). ⋯ The evidence on the optimal tidal volume, positive end-expiratory pressure and the role for lung recruitment during lung-protective PPV is extremely limited. Volume-targeted ventilation seems to be a promising mode in terms of lung protection, but more studies are needed. Due to the lack of convincing evidence, lung-protective ventilation and modes seem to be implemented in daily clinical practice at a slow pace.
-
Opinions and practice regarding end-of-life decisions in neonatal medicine show considerable variations between countries. A recent change of the legal framework, together with an ongoing debate among French neonatologists, led the French Society of Neonatology to reconsider and update its previous recommendations. ⋯ This statement provides the principles identified by French neonatologists on which to base their decisions concerning the ending of life. Arguments are set forth, discussed and compared with international statements and previously published considerations.
-
Neonatal resuscitation guidelines do not specify the gas flow rate during mask ventilation. ⋯ A low flow rate during neonatal mask ventilation may be a good alternative approach in reducing mask leak, provided that inflation time and flow rate warrants set pressures. Only large leaks seem to influence delivered pressures and volumes. Before resuscitation guidelines are advised, more studies on gas flow rates are needed.
-
The etiology of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants is multifactorial and is associated with low gestational age (GA) and severity of neonatal respiratory disease. The role of admission hypothermia (AHT) in the pathogenesis of IVH in VLBW infants has not yet been elucidated. We searched risk factors for IVH in VLBW infants while focusing on AHT. ⋯ In VLBW infants, AHT at ≤35.5 and at ≤35.0°C were not significantly associated with IVH. GA, use of nitric oxide, hypocarbia and base deficit >10 were strongly associated with IVH.