Archives of disease in childhood
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A volumetric Doppler technique was used to measure net ductus arteriosus shunt during the first 48 hours of life in 30 infants of less than 33 weeks' gestation, and in 10 full term infants. In the full term infants a left to right shunt of 62 ml/kg/minute (95% confidence limits 43-82) shortly after birth decreased rapidly over the first 12 hours and was not measurable by 48 hours. ⋯ The respiratory distress syndrome did not affect the size of the ductal shunt, but the shorter the gestation period the larger the shunt by 48 hours. A ductal flow of greater than 70 ml/kg/minute at 48 hours of age predicted the subsequent development of a ductal murmur with 75% sensitivity and 100% specificity.
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The activity of the right external abdominal oblique muscle, in relation to respiration, in newborn babies from 25 to 34 weeks' gestation was studied, using surface electrodes. Babies without respiratory difficulties showed no activity associated with respiration in these muscles. ⋯ This activity continued when the babies were endotracheally intubated; if the babies were ventilated it sometimes disturbed the tidal ventilation delivered by the machines. When the baby expired during a ventilator inflation, so that gas came up the endotracheal tube against the inflating pressure, the abdominal oblique muscles contracted in 98% of the breaths.
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The adequacy of initial ventilation in 21 preterm babies (25-36 weeks' gestation), who required endotracheal intubation and positive pressure ventilation, were studied. Pressure and flow were measured at the proximal end of the endotracheal intubation tube and expiratory volume calculated from the flow trace. The results were compared with those from a group of 26 term infants who also required resuscitation. ⋯ Respiratory reflex responses to resuscitation were seen in 41% of inflations in preterm and 56% of inflations in term infants. There was a significant correlation between reflex activity and adequate ventilation in the preterm group (chi 2 = 11.83, p less than 0.001) but not in the term group (chi 2 = 0.212, p = NS). No correlation was seen between initial ventilation and outcome.
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Mortality before surgery must be taken into account when comparing the surgical mortality of atrial redirection procedures (Mustard's or Senning's operation) and the arterial switch operation for patients with complete transposition. This is because the switch operation is usually performed within the neonatal period or early infancy but Mustard's or Senning's operation usually after 4 months of age. The outcome of balloon atrial septostomy was therefore assessed in all 102 infants with transposition of the great arteries (plus or minus associated anomalies) who underwent the procedure at our hospital in the 10 years from January 1975 to December 1984. ⋯ Statistical analysis showed that low weight, presence of a persistent arterial duct, and coarctation of the aorta were significant risk factors. Early survival of infants with transposition of the great arteries has been dramatically improved after the introduction of balloon atrial septostomy. Nevertheless, there is considerable attrition before definitive repair, which must be included in the prediction of overall outcome.