Acta paediatrica
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Comparing suprapubic urine aspiration under real-time ultrasound guidance with conventional blind aspiration.
To determine the optimal method of suprapubic aspiration (SPA), the success rates of real-time ultrasound-guided SPA were compared with those of conventional SPA, and factors associated with success were studied. Thirty infants were randomly allocated to group A (for real-time ultrasound-guided SPA) and 30 infants to group B (for blind SPA with a prehydration protocol). The results showed that the overall success rates for all attempts were similar (26/30 or 87% in group A vs 24/30 or 80% in group B, p > 0.05). The first attempts in both groups were equally successful (both 18/30 or 60%). In comparison with failed attempts, successful ultrasound SPA attempts were associated with a greater bladder depth (mean +/- SD: 28 +/- 11 vs 21 +/- 5 mm, p < 0.01), length (32 +/- 12 vs 23 +/- 9 mm, p < 0.05) and volume (17 +/- 13 vs 8 +/- 6 ml, p < 0.01), but similar width (33 +/- 9 vs 29 +/- 5 mm, p > 0.05). In blind SPA, successful attempts were associated with the presence of bladder dullness on percussion (odds ratio 29). ⋯ This study confirms that ultrasound-guided SPA has a high success rate. Blind SPA could also be equally successful with appropriate preparation. Ultrasound-guided SPA is recommended when the bladder depth exceeds 3 cm, or the bladder length exceeds 3.7 cm. If an ultrasound machine is not available, blind SPA may be an alternative, with attention being paid to prehydration and the demonstration of bladder dullness by percussion.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Randomized controlled trial of heparin for prevention of blockage of peripherally inserted central catheters in neonates.
To determine whether the addition of heparin to total parenteral nutrition (TPN) fluid would prevent blockage of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) in neonates. ⋯ Addition of heparin to TPN fluid was not associated with a significant reduction in the incidence of blocked PICCs. However, the sample size of this study was too small to exclude even rather marked differences between the groups.
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Multicenter Study
Pain management in French neonatal intensive care units.
The aim of this study was to investigate pain management in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in France and to identify factors associated with variability across units. A questionnaire sent to 143 heads of level II or III NICUs investigated the use of pain scores, pain management organization and pharmacological treatment in five clinical situations (endotracheal intubation, prolonged mechanical ventilation, acute stage of necrotizing enterocolitis, central venous catheter insertion and cephalhaematoma). The response rate was 81%. Among the 35 (30%) units that used no pain scores, 40% ascribed this to lack of knowledge. Factors associated with failure to use pain scores were level II status, no university affiliation, no surgical patients and neonatal patients only. Among the units that scored pain, 78% used valid scores for acute pain and 73% for prolonged pain. Written guidelines were available for acute pain in 65% of units and for prolonged pain in 36%. The rate of pharmacotherapy use varied widely across the five clinical situations studied (from 16 to 77%) and across units for a given clinical situation. Also extremely variable were the regimens used in each situation and the dosages of analgesics and sedatives. Only 11% of units adjusted dosages to gestational age. ⋯ Pain assessment was performed in the most French NICUs, but a strong heterogeneity for pain treatment was observed. Reference to recently published pain management guidelines and new randomized trials could be useful to optimize pain treatment in NICUs.
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The presence in blood of proteins normally confined to the cytoplasm of brain cells is considered peripheral evidence of brain damage. Only recently have these proteins been measured in the blood of children at risk of brain damage. To show the value and limitations of measuring these proteins, we review their biology and the adult literature that has correlated the blood concentrations of these proteins with lesion size and dysfunction. ⋯ We conclude that brain damage markers will increasingly be measured in the blood of newborns and other children at risk of brain damage.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Food intake and oral sucrose in preterms prior to heel prick.
To investigate the soothing effect of feeding on infants in distress, the effects of 2 mL 15% and 1 mL 25% sucrose given orally 2 min before heel prick in fasting preterms to reduce the pain response were assessed. The effects of milk intake by nasogastric tube were also assessed once during the last hour before heel prick, and the effects of milk intake by nasogastric tube once during the last hour before heel prick together with 1 mL 25% sucrose given orally 2 min before heel prick. The pain response was measured as changes in crying time, behavioural state, skin conductance and heart rate. ⋯ Differences in the measured variables before and during heel prick showed that only the crying time was reduced when the infants received milk or 25% sucrose prior to heel prick (p < 0.05). If the infants received milk and 25% sucrose before heel prick, the crying time and the level of behavioural state were reduced (p < 0.05). The increase from before to during heel prick in skin conductance (number and amplitude of the waves) and heart rate correlated with the crying time (p < 0.01).