Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association
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To determine the practical value of the new pediatric disposable ETCO2 detector Pedi-CAP in verifying endotracheal tube placement in neonatal resuscitation. ⋯ The use of a disposable pediatric endotracheal CO2 detector significantly reduces the time spent in verifying the endotracheal tube position (trachea versus esophagus) in newborns, including premature babies with body weight < 1000 gm. This is of particular benefit to babies who are erroneously intubated in the esophagus, because using the device allows much faster detection of this problem and much earlier reintubation.
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To determine if the scientific literature supports the practice of electronic monitoring of the fetal heart rate (FHR) during nonobstetric surgery. ⋯ Fetal monitoring is an indirect assessment of maternal anesthetic and surgical management that is not as specific or effective as direct assessment of the maternal parameters to detect respiratory compromise. Current clinical evidence obtained does not substantiate the need for obstetric personnel to monitor FHR changes during surgical procedures because no change in fetal outcome has been documented.
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In Florida during the period 1992 through 1994, there was a major drop in the length of stay for full-term, singleton, vaginally delivered newborn babies in the hospital. A major concern on the part of clinicians has been the potential of an increased risk of sepsis (manifesting itself after discharge) associated with earlier newborn discharge from the hospital. We used the Florida hospital discharge dataset to study the frequency of readmission with sepsis after early newborn discharge to home. ⋯ From 1992 through 1994, the increased number of babies discharged early in Florida was temporally associated with an increased rate of readmission during the week after discharge for both GBS and E. coli infection among babies discharged on the calendar day after birth. With an increase in both the number of babies exposed to the risks of early discharge, and an increased rate of these serious infections during the week after discharge from the hospital, the number of these babies grew to exceed, by several fold, the number of babies with inborn errors of metabolism picked up by state screening programs.
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To describe 20 years of regional outreach education by the New Hampshire Perinatal Program, its interaction with all 26 community hospitals in the state with maternity services and an additional four in adjoining Vermont. ⋯ Perinatal outreach education is a shared responsibility of providers in both the academic center and community hospitals and is necessary to ensure optimal care for mothers and infants.