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Neonatal ventriculomegaly often, but not always, follows intraventricular haemorrhage in infants born preterm. Serial cranial ultrasonography (CUS) is a very useful tool to evaluate the mechanism behind ventricular dilatation, to differentiate several types of cerebrospinal fluid retention, and to guide treatment. This review examines neonatal ventriculomegaly and its definition, pathophysiology, treatment, and prognosis from the perspective of CUS assessment. It also outlines the consensus statements formulated by the EurUS.Brain group, which are based on rounds of expert opinions on neonatal ventriculomegaly management, detailing the need and timing of ventricular access device placement, in the context of posthaemorrhagic ventricular dilation. The pathophysiology of neonatal ventriculomegaly is more complex than previously considered. CUS is a valuable, non‐invasive tool to determine pathophysiology, intervention thresholds, and prognosis in neonates with ventriculomegaly. Given new insights into the existence of glymphatics and water circulation in the cerebrum, further research in that area may bring new treatment options. What this paper adds: Cranial ultrasonography has a significant role in better understanding the complex pathophysiology of neonatal ventriculomegaly.The latest research suggests that treating posthaemorrhagic ventricular dilation in its early stages has several advantages.Proper definition, management, and a follow‐up plan are essential because they can impact the infant and their family, health care providers, educational systems, and society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have evaluated whether topical anesthetic cream reduces pain during pneumococcal vaccination. This is crucial, since effective pain management should be evidence‐based. Previous studies have shown that topical lidocaine‐prilocaine (EMLA®) reduces vaccination‐related pain, measured using pain‐rating instruments and observation of crying time. This intervention study aimed to compare the efficacy of topical lidocaine‐prilocaine cream with that of the standard of care on the expression of pain during the first pneumococcal vaccination administered at age 3 months under the Swedish national vaccination program. A randomized controlled trial included 72 infants receiving their first pneumococcal vaccination (Prevenar 13®). The study showed that topical lidocaine‐prilocaine before pneumococcal vaccination significantly reduced infants' expression of pain according to the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) score (P =.006) and increased latency to cry (P =.001). There were no statistically significant differences in the total crying time (P =.146) between the groups. Topical lidocaine‐prilocaine cream reduced pain expression and increased latency to cry in infants receiving their first pneumococcal vaccine. Systematic efforts are needed to successfully implement the use of topical anesthetic cream and other effective non‐pharmacological pain‐relieving strategies during infant vaccination procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim was to determine whether preterm and full-term newborn infants could process maternal breast odour at a cortical level.Methods: Newborn infants were exposed to cloths containing their own mother's breast odour and freshly laundered control cloths for 10 seconds, while functional near-infrared spectroscopy measured cortical activation in their olfactory processing areas. We studied 45 newborn infants born at 28-41 weeks of gestation and divided them into three groups: full-term (37-41 weeks), late preterm (33-36 weeks) and very preterm (28-32 weeks). Cortical activation was defined as a regional increase of oxyhaemoglobin following maternal breast odour stimuli.Results: Full-term infants demonstrated bilateral activation of their olfactory cortices following exposure to maternal breast odour. Late preterm infants and very preterm boys exhibited unilateral cortical activation, unlike very preterm girls.Conclusion: Infants born from 32 weeks, and possibly earlier, could process low concentration maternal odours at a cortical level, which suggests they were more aware of their environment. These findings could make a significant contribution to improving the sensory environment of preterm infants and improve bonding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]