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Background: Parents play a crucial role in the care of infants during their stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Recent studies have reported a decrease in parental participation due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which has led to restricted access policies in hospitals. The aim of this study was to describe the barriers to good parental participation during their stay in the neonatal intensive care unit in the COVID-19 era. Methods: This was a quantitative, observational study. Results: A total of 270 parents participated in this study. Mothers' participation in care was higher than that of fathers (p = 0.017). Parents who lived at the birth of their first child reported a better level of participation in care compared to those who lived at the birth of their second-born (p = 0.005). Parents of extremely preterm neonates reported a lower interaction with their infants than parents of term newborns (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Some disadvantaged categories reported lower scores for cultural and linguistic minorities, parents of multiple children, and fathers. The COVID-19 pandemic has made several family-centred care activities impossible, with a higher impact on those who benefited most of these facilities. This study was prospectively approved by the IRB-CRRM of the University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara on 23 January 2024 (approval number CRRM: 2023_12_07_01). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anomalies of the urogenital sinus, which is a transient feature of the early human embryological development, are rare birth defects. Urogenital sinus abnormalities commonly present as pelvic masses, hydrometrocolpos, or ambiguous genitalia and most commonly occur within the context of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Anomalies of the urogenital sinus requires surgical repair. We experienced a case of a female newborn with congenital urogenital sinus abnormality in which the early diagnosis helped us to prevent complications by decompressing the vagina soon after birth. Antibiotic prophylaxis was sufficient to avoid infections and to decompress the genitourinary system, thus allowing a deferred elective surgery to correct the sinus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report highlights the importance for neonatologists/pediatricians of considering Marcus Gunn jaw‐winking syndrome among differential diagnoses of ptosis. A detailed clinical assessment is crucial to promptly recognize and appropriately manage it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The clinical approach plays a pivotal role in neonates with evidence of a skull mass, together with the need of monitoring unclear cases. Indeed, apparently transient alterations of the skull may be neural tube defects, which need prompt treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Omphalocele is a congenital abdominal wall malformation consisting of abdominal contents protrusion at the base of the umbilical cord. We report a case of a newborn with a giant omphalocele (Figure 1), undergoing surgical treatments for gradual repositioning of liver and intestinal loops and subsequent Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) for the management of the non-suturable surgical wound (Figures 3, 4 and 5). The purpose is to describe the efficacy of NPWT in this case. Method: A male infant was born at 35 weeks by elective caesarean section performed for the prenatal diagnosis of omphalocele. Clinical examination confirmed a giant omphalocele with extensive liver and small bowel herniation. Immediately, the omphalocele was wrapped with hydrocolloid dressings (Figure 2). At 22, 32 and 68 days of life patient underwent surgery for gradual liver and bowel repositioning. During the second surgical intervention a porcine dermal implant was placed to close the abdominal wall defect (Figure 3). Due to partial dehiscence of the surgical wound, NPWT was performed (Figures 4 and 5). Results: NPWT was applied for 51 days, using increasing pressures (from -20 mmHg to -40 mmHg), obtaining progressive improvement of the 6 cm diameter wound (Figure 6). After NPWT removal, a calcium alginate dressing was placed. Conclusion: This case highlights the efficacy of NPWT in abdominal surgical wounds due to congenital omphalocele, demonstrating a reduction in dressing frequency and related stress for the infant. Furthermore, NPWT guaranteed a relevant reduction in days needed for the surgical wound resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]