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Thrombotic events are severe, often under-diagnosed, complications occurring in newborn infants during their hospital stay. Currently, there is no consensus regarding the optimal treatment scheme for thrombolysis in neonates.We present the case of a newborn suffering from a life-threatening thrombosis. Diagnosis was suggested by a gradual increase of C-reactive protein, with repeatedly normal procalcitonin. Thrombosis was successfully and safely treated with a long scheme of 21 days of urokinase, supported by vascular ultrasound and d-dimer trend.Laboratory and ultrasound results may help in adjusting the duration of the thrombolytic treatment, allowing for longer therapeutic schemes that could optimize treatment success. In addition, our case may suggest a possible combined role of C-reactive protein and procalcitonin as an early diagnostic aid in neonatal thrombosis.

Purpose Delayed cord clamping for at least 60 s is recommended to improve neonatal outcomes. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether there are differences in cord BGA between samples collected after double clamping the cord or without clamping the cord, when blood collection occurs within 60 s from birth in both groups. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out, collecting data from 6884 high-risk women who were divided into two groups based on the method of cord sampling (clamped vs unclamped). Results There were significant decrease in pH and BE values into unclamped group compared with the clamped group. This difference remained significant when considering pathological blood gas analysis parameters, with a higher percentage of pathological pH or BE values in the unclamped group. Conclusion Samples from the unclamped cord alter the acid–base parameters compared to collection from the clamped cord; however, this difference does not appear to be of clinical relevance. Findings could be due to the large sample size, which allowed to achieve a high power and to investigate very small numerical changes between groups, leading to a statistically significant difference in pH and BE between samples even when we could not appreciate any clinical relevant difference of pH or BE between groups. When blood gas analysis is indicated, the priority should be given to the timing of blood collection to allow reliable results, to assess newborns status at birth and intervene when needed.

Neonatal myocardial infarction (MI) is a very rare but potentially life-threatening condition with an approximated mortality rate of 80%. Congenital heart disease, anomalous coronary artery anatomy, thromboembolism, coagulopathy, birth asphyxia or myocarditis have been suggested as possible causes of MI. Here we report the case of a premature infant who died at about 40 h of life from a massive MI. Autopsy revealed an occlusive thrombus in the right coronary artery. An isolated prothrombotic status, characterized by a double copy variant of the MTHFR A1298C mutation, was identified at the postmortem genetic studies as a possible explanation for the coronary artery thrombosis. No other risk factors were detected.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a major complication of premature birth, still lacks safe and effective treatment. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been proven to ameliorate critical aspects of the BPD pathogenesis. MSCs seem to exert therapeutic effects through the paracrine secretion of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiapoptotic, trophic, and proangiogenic factors. Although these findings are promising, understanding the mechanism of action of MSCs and MSC manufacturing is still evolving. Several aspects can affect the efficacy of MSC therapy. Further research is required to optimize this potentially game-changing treatment but the translation of regenerative cell therapies for patients has begun.

The aim of this single-institution retrospective study is to report the results of surgical and endovascular treatment of hepatic artery aneurysms.Twenty patients with an extraparenchimal hepatic artery aneurysm made part of the study In the first period, between February 1980 and December 1996, 12 patients were admitted and treated surgically. In the second period, January 1997 until December 2005, 8 patients were admitted. Four were treated surgically and 4 with an endovascular procedure. The aneurysms ranged from 2.3 cm to 6.2 cm Seventeen patients were asymptomatic, while three were symptomatic for pain and obstructive icterus. In 13 patients aneurysmectomy and graft interposition was performed, in three patients aneurysmectomy with dacron patch interposition was performed, and in 4 patients the aneurysm was excluded with a stent-graft.No perioperative mortality was noted and no major complication occurred. All endovascular procedures successfully excluded the aneurysm without signs of endoleak. Follow-up in 4 months, 6 months and 10 months postoperatively showed patency of the stent-graft with no signs of migration or endoleak. Only in one case, in the 8th post-operative month, thrombosis of the stent-graft occurred and the patient was completely asymptomatic.The natural history of hepatic artery aneurysms is rupture, and consequently there is an indication of treatment. Actually, we consider endovascular treatment as the first-choice-treatment whenever possible. Endovascularlly treated patients need a strict follow-up surveillance by imaging means. Particular attention so be given in the preoperative study of the collateral circulation in patient treated surgically.