Early human development
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Early human development · Oct 2009
ReviewNeonatal end-of-life decisions and bioethical perspectives.
In the nineties the EURONIC project documented the staff views and practices regarding ethical decision-making in neonatal intensive care units of eight Western Europe countries: France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain and Sweden. This paper reviews the changes occurred in the ethical and legal background of these countries, and discusses possible influences on neonatal care practices. To a certain extent, many of these changes appear to be in line with the neonatal physicians' views and attitudes previously documented by the EURONIC project, while some are not. Large differences persist within Western Europe on what constitutes appropriate neonatal end-of-life care.
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Early human development · Oct 2009
Group B streptococcal meningitis: cerebrospinal fluid parameters in the era of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis.
Describe cerebrospinal fluid parameters in infants with culture-proven Group B streptococcal meningitis in the era of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis. ⋯ Group B streptococcal meningitis occurs in the presence of negative blood cultures. In hospitalized infants who undergo a lumbar puncture, Group B streptococcal sepsis is frequently complicated by GBS meningitis.
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The importance of vascular access in neonatal clinical practice is increasing, because of the survival of a larger number of premature babies, who require administration of long-term intravenous fluids and medications than in the past. In these newborn central venous lines are preferred to peripheral lines, particularly Peripherally Inserted Central Venous Catheter (PICC). Despite of the benefits of this device, PICC complications can negatively affect morbidity and mortality of the neonate. This article describes the principal strategies and recommendations for the success of the PICC insertion procedure and for its better management.