Neonatology
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Prescription drug shortages have increased significantly during the past two decades and also impact drugs used in critical care and pediatrics. ⋯ Drug shortages affected many agents used in NICUs, which can have quality and safety implications for patient care, especially in extremely low birth weight infants. Neonatologists must be aware of current shortages and implement mitigation strategies to optimize patient care.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
High-Flow Nasal Cannula versus Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure for Primary Respiratory Support in Preterm Infants with Respiratory Distress: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) is the standard noninvasive respiratory support for newborns with respiratory distress. Evidence for high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) as an alternative mode of respiratory support is inconclusive. ⋯ When comparing HFNC to nCPAP as a primary noninvasive respiratory support in preterm infants with respiratory distress, HFNC is inferior to nCPAP in avoiding the need for a higher mode of respiratory support in the first 72 h of life.
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Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), severe retinopathy of prematurity (sROP), and cystic periventricular leukomalacia (cPVL) are 3 major morbidities with long-term neurodevelopmental impairments in preterm infants. ⋯ BPD and sROP were most strongly associated. Most risk factors contributed to BPD, with differentially shared effects on sROP and cPVL. Prolonged MV was the only risk factor shared by all 3 morbidities, and avoiding it potentially reduced the risk of having at least 1 of them.
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The current evidence regarding the indication, advantages and risks of red blood cell transfusion (RBCT) for preterm infants is discussed. This is an important area in Neonatology to be examined given that 90% of extremely low birth weight infants receive RBCT and many controversies remain regarding when to transfuse and the risks of RBCT. ⋯ This is important when trying to establish the optimal trigger threshold for RBCT in preterm infants, especially because the knowledge about the adaptive physiological responses to anaemia in very low birth weight infants and the effects of RBCT at various levels of anaemia is also inadequate. Further research into the physiological adaptive response to anaemia of varying degrees and to RBCT at different levels of anaemia in preterm infants of different gestational and post-natal ages is needed before we can conclusively guide the optimal timing and trigger thresholds for RBCT in preterm infants.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Hypoxemia Episodes during Day and Night and Their Impact on Oxygen Saturation Targeting in Mechanically Ventilated Preterm Infants.
Hypoxemia episodes (HE) occur frequently in ventilated preterm infants and hinder the achievement of arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) targets. These episodes may increase the risk for retinopathy of prematurity and neurodevelopmental disability. There are no data on the variation in HE and SpO2 targeting between day and night. ⋯ In this group of infants with frequent HE, nighttime was associated with fewer episodes when compared to daytime. This is likely due to less handling and sensory stimulation during the night. The increase in time spent with hyperoxemia during the night is likely to be due to more tolerance of high SpO2 with less proactive weaning of FiO2.