Archives of disease in childhood. Fetal and neonatal edition
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Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed. · Nov 1995
Neurosensory outcome at 5 years and extremely low birthweight. The Victorian Infant Collaborative Study Group.
To establish the stability of neurosensory outcome at 5 years of age compared with 2 years of age, and to determine whether the improving survival rate of extremely low birthweight (ELBW) (500-999 g) children has been accompanied by an increase in the number of severely impaired and disabled children in the community. ⋯ The age of 2 is too early to be sure of neurosensory outcome in ELBW infants. The additional survivors born in the mid 1980s, compared with the late 1970s, are free of severe neurosensory disability at 5 years of age, with no increase in the absolute number of ELBW children surviving with severe neurosensory disability.
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Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed. · Nov 1995
Respiratory illness in families of preterm infants with chronic lung disease.
AIMS--To examine the relation, based on two types of questionnaires, between (1) chronic lung disease of the newborn (CLDN) and lower respiratory illness (LRI) in siblings, and between (2) CLDN and asthma, chronic obstruction pulmonary disease (COPD), or allergy in parents and grandparents. METHODS--Data from 209 children born before 32 weeks of gestation were randomly taken from the records of three neonatal units. Taking into account age and gender, the excess of LRI was calculated for each family compared with the average of all families. ⋯ The prevalence of LRI was 18.1% in study children, 29.6% in children with CLDN, and 16.9% in children without CLDN (P < 0.01). These prevalences were higher compared with that of a group of term siblings (9.3%) (P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS--These findings suggest that CLDN in preterm children is not related to a genetic or familial predisposition towards asthma, COPD, or allergy.
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Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed. · Nov 1995
Nellcor Stat Cap differentiates oesophageal from tracheal intubation.
A trial of the Nellcor Stat Cap, which detects exhaled carbon dioxide, as an aid to determining whether endotracheal tubes are placed in the oesophagus or the trachea, was carried out in the neonatal unit of this hospital. Twenty five neonates, with a mean (range) gestational age of 33 (24-42) weeks and a mean (range) birthweight of 2.17 (0.54-4.1) kg were studied over two months. These babies underwent a total of 58 intubations and 20 suspected self-extubations. ⋯ On 14/78 (19%) occasions the machine provided helpful additional information in reaching a decision on the adequacy of tube placement. Failure to detect rapidly accidental oesophageal intubation or unintentional tracheal extubation can result in rapid deterioration of the condition of ventilated newborns. The machine is a valuable aid to intubation and rapid diagnosis of self-extubation.
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Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed. · Jul 1995
Biography Historical ArticleSoranus of Ephesus (circa AD 98-138) and perinatal care in Roman times.
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Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed. · May 1995
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialApplication of nasal continuous positive airway pressure to early extubation in very low birthweight infants.
Using a preset protocol for early extubation, 50 babies were randomly selected to post-extubation headbox or post-extubation nasal continuous positive airway pressure (N-CPAP). All infants weighed less than 1500 g, had a gestational age of less than 34 weeks, and had been weaning from mechanical ventilation within seven days of life. The criteria for extubation included stable condition, fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO2) of < or = 35%, peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) of < or = 15 cm H2O (1.47 kPa), and ventilator rate of 6/minute. ⋯ There were no significant differences in clinical characteristics between the two groups. The most common cause of failure in early extubation was apnoea, and most occurred in the headbox group (9/12). These results suggest that application of N-CPAP to a preset protocol for extubation can achieve a better success rate of early extubation in very low birthweight (VLBW) infants.