Search

Icterus is the most common medical problem in neonates and photo-therapy is the standard treatment for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and length of hospital stay of double and triple phototherapy in newborns with indirect hyperbilirubinemia. Methods: In a clinical trial, 40 healthy term newborns (gestational age > 37 weeks) with bilirubin 3 12 and 3 15 mg/dL in the second and third day, respectively, were randomly assigned to triple (n = 20) or double phototherapy (n = 20) groups. Total and direct serum bilirubin were measured at admission, 8, 16, and 24 hours after beginning of phototherapy, and every 12 hours thereafter until discharge (when bilirubin levels reached £ 10 mg/dL). Results: There were 21 male (52%) and 19 female (48%) term neonates, with significant difference between patients' age, weight, and age of icterus. There was no significant difference in the rate of bilirubin decline between the two groups within the first 8, 16 and 24 hours. There was no significant difference in mean length of hospital stay between the two groups. Analysis of complications showed no difference between triple and double groups. Conclusion: Triple phototherapy failed to reduce total serum bilirubin and shorten length of hospitalization more rapidly than double phototherapy.

Objective: To compare the course of the transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) values of early-term newborns with those of term newborns in the first month of life and to investigate whether early-term newborns have an increased risk of significant hyperbilirubinemia requiring treatment., Design: A prospective, controlled cohort analysis., Setting: A tertiary level mother-child birth and health care center., Participants: Four hundred early-term (37 0/7 to 38 6/7 weeks) and 320 term (39 0/7 to 41 6/7 weeks) newborns born during a 27-month period., Methods: A total of six TcB measurements in a longitudinal manner were made in early-term and term newborns: the first two at 6 and 48 hours after birth and the next four on routine examination days (Days 4, 7, 15, and 30). Demographic characteristics, values of daily TcB measurements, number of newborns with significant hyperbilirubinemia, and risk of jaundice requiring treatment were compared between the two groups., Results: All six TcB values were significantly greater in the early-term group than in the term group (p < .001 for each). Early-term newborns had a statistically significant increased risk of jaundice requiring treatment compared to term newborns (risk ratio = 1.91; 95% confidence interval [1.23-2.96]; p = .0046). Results of the repeated-measures analysis of variance and post hoc adjusted multiple comparison analysis showed that TcB levels increased to and peaked at 96 hours after birth and then gradually decreased to baseline (first measurement) levels at 30 days after birth in each group., Conclusions: Early-term newborns should not be treated as full-term newborns because they have significantly higher TcB levels. These newborns should be closely monitored for pathologic jaundice because they have increased risk for significant hyperbilirubinemia requiring phototherapy., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest The authors report no conflict of interest or relevant financial relationships., (Copyright © 2021 AWHONN, the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Electroencephalography (EEG) is the reference tool for the analysis of brain function, reflecting normal and pathological neuronal network activity. During the neonatal period, EEG patterns evolve weekly, according to gestational age. The first analytical criteria for the various maturational stages and standardized neonatal EEG terminology were published by a group of French neurophysiologists training in Paris (France) in 1999. These criteria, defined from analog EEG, were completed in 2010 with digital EEG analysis. Since then, this work has continued, aided by the technical progress in EEG acquisition, the improvement of knowledge on the maturating processes of neuronal networks, and the evolution of critical care. In this review, we present an exhaustive and didactic overview of EEG characteristics from extremely premature to full-term infants. This update is based on the scientific literature, enhanced by the study of normal EEGs of extremely premature infants by our group of neurophysiologists. For educational purposes, particular attention has been paid to illustrations using new digital tools., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To examine whether delayed newborn bathing would increase rates of in-hospital exclusive breastfeeding and plans to use human milk at discharge., Design: A retrospective, two-group, pre- and postintervention design., Setting/local Problem: At our facility, the initial bath was completed within 2 hours of birth, and the rate of in-hospital exclusive breastfeeding was low., Participants: Couplets of mothers and healthy newborns (N = 996)., Intervention/measurements: Newborn baths were delayed at least 12 hours after birth. Pre- and postintervention data were retrieved from the hospital's electronic medical record and administrative database. Univariate and multivariate analyses were completed., Results: Of 996 mother-newborn couplets, 448 were preintervention couplets and 548 were postintervention couplets. Of all mothers, 63.3% were White, 67.8% were married, and 67.1% gave birth vaginally. Of all newborns, 49.6% were female, and the mean (standard deviation) birth weight was 3.3 kg (0.50). We found no differences in maternal or newborn characteristics by group. Median (25th percentile, 75th percentile) times from birth to first bath before and after the intervention were 1.9 (1.6, 2.3) and 17.9 (11.9, 25.0) hours, respectively (p < .001). In-hospital exclusive breastfeeding increased from 59.8% before the intervention to 68.2% after the intervention (p = .006). In multivariate modeling, in-hospital exclusive breastfeeding increased for all couplets after the intervention (odds ratio = 1.49, 95% confidence interval [1.14, 1.96]; p = .004) and with vaginal versus cesarean birth (odds ratio = 1.60, 95% confidence interval [1.14, 2.25]; p = .006). In addition, the postintervention discharge feeding plan reflected an increase in use of human milk., Conclusion: Delaying the newborn bath was associated with increased in-hospital exclusive breastfeeding rates and use of human milk as a part of the discharge feeding plan., (Copyright © 2019 AWHONN, the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This is a synopsis of the term newborn and infant portion of the 2007 document (Brierley et al., Crit Care Med 2009;37(2):666-88) which examined and graded new studies performed to test the utility and efficacy of the 2002 recommendations. This 2007 document examined and graded relevant new treatment and outcome studies to determine to what degree, if any, the 2002 guidelines should be modified. More than 30 clinical investigators and clinicians affiliated with the Society of Critical Care Medicine who had special interest in hemodynamic support of pediatric patients with sepsis volunteered to be members of the "update" task force. Subcommittees were formed to review and grade the literature using the evidence-based scoring system of the American College of Critical Care Medicine. The literature was accrued in part by searching PUBMED/MEDLINE using the following keywords: sepsis, septicemia, septic shock, endotoxemia, persistent pulmonary hypertension, nitric oxide, and ECMO. The search was narrowed to identify studies specifically relevant to term newborns, infants, and children. "Best Practice Outcomes" were identified and described clinical practice in these centers was used as a model. The new taskforce is presently working on updating new guidelines evaluating the literature of the past 6 years., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)