Archives of disease in childhood. Fetal and neonatal edition
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Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed. · Mar 1995
Changes in oxygenation and heart rate after administration of artificial surfactant (ALEC) to preterm infants.
To determine if changes in oxygenation and heart rate occur after surfactant, changes in these variables were recorded continuously for 15 minutes before, during, and 15 minutes after the administration of the artificial surfactant ALEC to 21 preterm infants ventilated for respiratory distress syndrome. Median (range) birth weight and gestation were 1199 (561-2680) g and 28 (21-43) weeks, respectively. ⋯ No clinically important changes resulted from the administration of ALEC in the mean (SD) values for oxygen saturation (before 91.3 (3.4)%, during 90.7 (3.2)%, after 90.4 (3.7)% and heart rate (before 143 (15), during 138 (17), after 142 (16)). The maximum change in mean arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) was a fall of 4.8%.
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Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed. · Mar 1995
Stress and mental health in neonatal intensive care units.
The views of 34 neonatologists (a 78% response rate) and 192 neonatal intensive care nurses (a 66% response rate) were obtained on work, stress, and relationships in neonatal intensive care units. The survey was conducted by post and included Goldberg's General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). A comparison of the responses of neonatologists and nurses to 21 identical statements showed significant differences in 12. ⋯ However, the nurses' responses differed significantly in these areas, suggesting that the neonatologists may have a more rosy view of life in the neonatal intensive care unit than their nurse colleagues. Twenty seven per cent of neonatologists and 32% of nurses had GHQ scores indicating psychological dysfunction. The neonatologists who had dysfunctional scores differed from their colleagues in only one area surveyed--a higher proportion experienced conflict between the demands of their work and their personal lives.
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Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed. · Nov 1994
Computerised determination of spontaneous inspiratory and expiratory times in premature neonates during intermittent positive pressure ventilation. II: Results from 20 babies.
Twenty premature infants ventilated for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) were studied using a new computerised technique to determine spontaneous inspiratory and expiratory times. The technique is continuous and non-invasive. Infants were studied during intermittent positive pressure ventilation for periods of up to 45 minutes. ⋯ The median number of breaths analysed for each baby was 925. The median (range) for spontaneous inspiratory time was 0.30 (0.26 to 0.34) seconds and for spontaneous expiratory time it was 0.46 (0.34 to 0.66) seconds. The spontaneous inspiratory and expiratory times were different from the ventilator settings.
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Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed. · Jul 1994
Concentrations of vitamins A and E in amniotic fluid, extraembryonic coelomic fluid, and maternal serum in the first trimester of pregnancy.
Paired samples of amniotic fluid and coelomic fluid were obtained by transvaginal ultrasound guided amniocentesis from 15 women with an ultrasonographically normal pregnancy between 8 and 12 weeks' gestation. Vitamins A and E were measured in the two pregnancy fluids and in maternal serum by high performance liquid chromatography with detection by ultraviolet absorption and fluorimetry respectively. Concentrations of vitamins A and E were higher in maternal serum than in coelomic fluid and were generally undetectable in amniotic fluid. ⋯ The vitamin E/cholesterol ratio was similar in maternal serum and coelomic fluid. No correlation was shown between the vitamin concentrations in the three fluids. These findings suggest that the coelomic cavity plays a part in the maternofetal exchange of these vitamins.