Archives of disease in childhood. Fetal and neonatal edition
-
Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed. · May 2005
Is surgical ligation of patent ductus arteriosus necessary? The Western Australian experience of conservative management.
Surgical ligation of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is widely practised in preterm infants despite no clear evidence that this improves outcomes. Geographical isolation meant that ductal ligation was not an option in King Edward Memorial Hospital until recently. ⋯ Mortality was higher in infants with a persistent PDA, but other morbidities were not significantly different. A randomised trial is needed to determine whether surgical ligation will reduce mortality in such infants.
-
Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed. · May 2005
Significant head cooling can be achieved while maintaining normothermia in the newborn piglet.
Hypothermia has been shown to be neuroprotective in animal models of hypoxia-ischaemia. It is currently being evaluated as a potentially therapeutic option in the management of neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy. However, significant hypothermia has adverse systemic effects. It has also recently been found that the stress of being cold can abolish the neuroprotective effects of hypothermia. It is hypothesised that selective head cooling (SHC) while maintaining normal core temperature would enable local hypothermic neuroprotection while limiting the stress and side effects of hypothermia. ⋯ It is possible to maintain systemic normothermia in piglets while significantly cooling the deeper structures of the brain. This method of cooling may further limit the side effects associated with systemic hypothermia and be feasible for premature infants.
-
Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed. · May 2005
What factors are important to parents making decisions about neonatal research?
Although parents of neonates with congenital heart disease are often asked permission for their neonates to participate in research studies, little is known about the factors parents consider when making these decisions. ⋯ Addressing parental decision making in the light of these reasons could enhance the parental permission process for parents of critically ill neonates.