Acta paediatrica
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Cot-nursing using a heated, water-filled mattress and incubator care: a randomized clinical trial.
To evaluate the thermal responses and weight gain in preterm infants nursed in a cot on a heated, water-filled mattress (HWM) compared with infants receiving care in an air-heated incubator and to compare mothers' stress, anxiety levels and perceptions of their infants in the two groups. ⋯ There were no differences between infants cot-nursed on an HWM and those receiving incubator care, with the exception of episodes of high temperature. The results suggest that the HWM may be used safely for low-weight preterm infants.
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To develop a simplified amikacin dosage regimen for nosocomial infections in preterm infants including a loading dose in order to achieve therapeutic Maximum Serum Concentrations early in the course of therapy. ⋯ The new amikacin dosing protocol yielded targeted peak and trough concentrations in a high percentage of very low birthweight infants with nosocomial infection after the first week of life. Our simplified dosage regimen achieved acceptable serum concentrations in all birthweight and gestational age groups, with the exception of extremely low birthweight infants weighing less than 700 g and/or with a gestational age of 24 wk or less. Only limited information can be gained from our data regarding the use of amikacin during the first week of life.
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Valid and reliable data are needed to gain insight into the decisions of paediatricians concerning the end of life of newborns and infants. Such data could throw light on the poorly documented aspects of medical practice regarding these end-of-life decisions (ELDs). In this article a classification of ELDs is developed. ⋯ This classification has been devised with the aim of making reliable and valid descriptions of both the incidence and nature of ELDs in this specific population of newborns and infants.
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Comparative Study
Respiratory outcome in school-aged, very-low-birth-weight children in the surfactant era.
To assess respiratory outcome and its predictors during the surfactant era in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW, birth weight <1500g) schoolchildren with and without bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). ⋯ In the surfactant era, birth weight, neonatal respiratory morbidity, as well as later environmental factors appear to affect the respiratory outcome of VLBW children. However, careful pulmonary follow-up of all VLBW children seems to be indicated regardless of the severity of neonatal respiratory problems.
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The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of pain and characteristics of pain (frequency, duration, intensity) among children and adolescents and to compare them across different age and gender groups. ⋯ Almost half of the surveyed children and adolescents had suffered complaints for longer than 3 mo. The experience of pain in general and especially pain with a duration of longer than 3 mo is very common in children and adolescents, and requires further attention. Further studies are necessary to investigate the natural course, functional implications and prognosis due to pain complaints in children and adolescents.