Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association
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Since the enactment of the Texas Advance Directives Act of 1999, the Memorial Hermann Hospital Medical Appropriateness Review Committee (MARC) MARC reviewed six cases of children in the first year of life, three from the Neonatal ICU and three from the Pediatric ICU. We aimed to describe the characteristics of these patients and the role of the MARC in this process. ⋯ These cases document the application of the TADA/MARC process in infants, even in circumstances where care was withdrawn without concurrence of the family. We found the MARC process to demand a very high degree of certainty of diagnosis and prognosis to determine continuation of care to be inappropriate. We conclude that the MARC promoted communication and provided additional protections to patients, families, physicians and staff.
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Review Meta Analysis
Prophylactic antibiotics in the prevention of catheter-associated bloodstream bacterial infection in preterm neonates: a systematic review.
To evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic antibiotics in preventing infection associated with central venous catheters in preterm neonates. ⋯ Prophylactic vancomycin appeared to be effective in preventing catheter-related sepsis in preterm neonates. The potential risks, however, of the emergence of resistance because of prophylactic antibiotics, and their continued effectiveness, need further evaluation, before routine use can be recommended.
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We critically reviewed every NICU blood component transfusion (packed erythrocytes, platelets, frozen plasma (FP) and cryoprecipitate) administered during a one-year period. This was done to determine the proportion of transfusions given out of compliance with the Intermountain Healthcare transfusion guidelines, and to look for patterns of non-compliance that could be addressed by quality improvement measures. ⋯ Opportunities exist in our healthcare system to improve compliance with our transfusion guidelines. Such opportunities are greatest among neonates receiving multiple transfusions, among those receiving erythrocyte transfusions late in their NICU course and among those receiving platelet transfusions early in their NICU course.
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Review Comparative Study
Lung protective ventilatory strategies in very low birth weight infants.
Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is the most common respiratory diagnosis in preterm infants. Surfactant therapy and mechanical ventilation using conventional or high-frequency ventilation have been the standard of care in the management of RDS. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) continues to remain as a major morbidity in very low birth weight infants despite these treatments. ⋯ Studies using noninvasive ventilation, such as nasal continuous positive airway pressure and noninvasive positive pressure ventilation, have shown to decrease postextubation failures as well as a trend toward reduced risk of BPD. Lung protective ventilatory strategy may involve noninvasive ventilation as a primary therapy or following surfactant administration in very preterm infants with RDS. Initial steps in the management of preterm infants may also include sustained inflation to establish functional residual capacity, followed by noninvasive ventilation to minimize lung injury and subsequent development of BPD.
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In 1929 Kurt von Neergaard performed experiments suggesting the presence of pulmonary surfactant and its relevance to the newborn's first breath. Almost 25 years later, Richard Pattle, John Clements and Chris Macklin, each working on the effects of nerve gases on the lungs, contributed to the understanding of the physiology of pulmonary surfactant. About 5 years later Mary Ellen Avery and Jere Mead published convincing evidence that preterm neonates dying of hyaline membrane disease (respiratory distress syndrome, RDS) had a deficiency of pulmonary surfactant. ⋯ A surfactant protocol based upon early treatment and CPAP is suggested for very preterm infants. Earlier treatment may improve survival rates for these infants; however, there is a risk of increasing the prevalence of milder forms of chronic lung disease. Nevertheless, surfactant therapy has been a major contribution to care of the preterm newborn during the past 25 years.