Search

The main purpose of this study was to evaluate bedside tUS, carried out by neonatologists to assess correct ETT placement, compared with XR. Secondary objectives were threefold: to determine tUS reproducibility between neonatologists, to compare time delays between tUS and XR, and to evaluate its tolerance. We analysed sensitivity of tUS to detect the same ETT position as XR and Kappa coefficient for the concordance between XR and tUS. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Despite the critical importance of breast milk for preterm and sick neonates, there is no consensus regarding the use of raw mother's own milk (MOM) in neonatal units. Objectives: This study aimed to describe the use of raw MOM in hospitalised neonates before day 7 (early use), and to investigate: (i) related factors, (ii) maternal satisfaction, and (iii) the association with breastfeeding continuation. Methods: This prospective cohort included 516 neonates intended to be breastfed in 2 French neonatal units. Neonates receiving raw MOM before day 7 were compared to those who did not. The association between early use of MOM and breastfeeding continuation at hospital discharge, and up to 6 months later, was measured by logistic regression. Results: More than one-third (36.2%) of breastfed neonates did not receive any MOM during their first week, mainly due to organisational constraints and staff reluctance. Maternal satisfaction related to early raw MOM use was high (96%), and was coupled with a more frequent maternal feeling of being supported in breastfeeding (p = 0.003). There was a significant association between early use of MOM and breastfeeding continuation at discharge (OR 2.92, 95% CI 1.94-4.40, p < 0.0001), which persisted 6 months later (OR 2.70, 95% CI 1.21-6.03, p = 0.023). This association appeared independent in multivariable analyses (at discharge: aOR 2.03, 95% CI 1.27-3.25, p = 0.003; 6 months later: aOR 2.46, 95% CI 1.02-5.92, p = 0.045). Conclusion: While the early use of raw MOM in hospitalised neonates can be limited by multiple factors, it appears supportive for mothers, and might represent a simple opportunity to improve breastfeeding in neonatal units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To identify the gestational age (GA) at which risk of mortality and severe outcome was minimized comparing preterm delivery and expectant management.Methods: Retrospective study performed between 2009 and 2014 of newborns with gastroschisis in three large French level III neonatal intensive care units. Each department followed two distinct strategies: elective delivery at 35 weeks' GA and a delayed approach.Results: We included 69 gastroschisis cases. The lengths of stay lasting more than 60 days were significantly greater in the planned delivery group than in the expectant approach group (18/30 (60%) vs. 8/39 (20.5%), p = 0.001). Gastroschisis cases receiving antenatal corticoids during the last two weeks of gestation required significantly less surgeries during their initial stay (p = 0.003) as well as shorter parenteral feedings (p = 0.002). A multivariate logistic regression showed that a GA of less than 36 weeks' GA was is a pejorative factor for a stay above 60 days, regardless of whether it was a simple or complex gastroschisis, (OR= 3.8; p = 0.021). A complex gastroschisis was a risk factor for significantly longer parenteral feedings, regardless of the center where patient is treated (Beta = -0.3, p = 0.035).Conclusions: Future research should focus on decisions about delivery timing by incorporating risk of neonatal morbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Quantify quality of life (QoL) outcomes in gastroschisis children is little assessed. The primary objective was to describe the long-term outcome of newborns with gastroschisis treated in three tertiary care hospitals of France in terms of neurodevelopment and QoL. Materials and Methods The study reported was a cross-sectional, descriptive multicentric retrospective study assessing the outcome of newborns with gastroschisis, born between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2014, treated at two large and French level III neonatal intensive care units. Long-term outcome data were assessed by questionnaires sent to the infants' parents. Questionnaires explored global health, neurological development, and quality of life (overall assessment including socio-economic and medical), Age & Stages Questionnaire, infants' quality of life (KIDSCREEN), and quality of parents' life (General Questionnaire Short Form-36). Results In this study, 50% of the survivor's families answered the assessment form (n = 33). The average follow-up age was 40 months, ranging from 8 months to 6 years. Cases of simple gastroschisis more often had a normal score for "communication" (p = 0.033), while patients who received morphine for a longer duration had significantly lower scores for the items "communication" and "problem resolving" (p = 0.024 and p = 0.011, respectively). Children's QoL was significantly lower for patients with gestational age younger than 36 weeks (p = 0.023) and for patients born following "fetal cause delivery" (p = 0.022). Parents had a significantly higher physical composite score if their child underwent primary closure (p = 0.012). Conclusion Our analyses confirm the idea that cases of complex gastroschisis and preterm delivery may lead to poorer outcome. Such hindsight (40 months in mean) allowed for an interesting assessment of development long after the patient's initial hospitalization and to confirm these results, a standardized neuropsychological evaluation of patients should be done when at least 6 years old. An accurate assessment of the social environment and its impact on the development and QoL of children will be fundamental to avoid selection bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Since 2005, the French Food Safety Agency has recommended that very preterm or low-birthweight babies should be fed with pasteurised, expressed breastmilk, and feeding policies on this vary widely in French neonatal units. We investigated the differences between using a mother's expressed milk, in fresh or pasteurised forms, for very preterm infants.Methods: This observational multicentre study analysed data on 926 very preterm infants: 636 from neonatal units who used the mother's own fresh milk and 290 who used the mother's milk after pasteurisation. We analysed necrotising enterocolitis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, in-hospital mortality, late-onset sepsis, weight gain, length of hospital stay, the duration of parenteral nutrition and the duration of enteral feeding with a nasogastric tube. Multivariate analyses were conducted to assess the impact of maternal milk policies.Results: After adjustment, there was a reduced risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in the fresh milk group with an odds ratio of 0.40 and 95% confidence interval of 0.27-0.67 (p < 0.001). No other statistically significant differences were observed.Conclusion: Feeding very preterm infants with their mother's expressed fresh milk was associated with a reduced risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and further investigations are needed to evaluate the clinical impact of this practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Background & aims Hyperglycemia occurs in more than half of the extremely low birth weight (ELBW) neonates during the first weeks of life, and is correlated with an increased risk of morbi-mortality. Hypophosphatemia is another frequent metabolic disorder in this population. Data from animal, adult studies and clinical observation suggest that hypophosphatemia could induce glucose intolerance. Our aim was to determine whether a low phosphatemia is associated with hyperglycemia in ELBW neonates. Methods This observational study included ELBW infants admitted in a tertiary neonatal care center (2010–2011). According to the center's policy, they received parenteral nutrition from birth and human milk from day 1. Phosphatemia and glycemia were measured routinely during parenteral nutrition. Hyperglycemia was defined by two consecutives values >8.3 mmol/L (150 mg/dL). Statistical analysis used a joint model combining a mixed-effects and a survival submodels to measure the association between phosphate and hyperglycemia. Results The study included 148 patients. Mean gestational (Standard Deviation) age was 27.3 (1.6) weeks; mean birth weight was 803 (124) grams; 57% presented hyperglycemia. The multivariate joint model showed that the hazard of hyperglycemia at a given time was multiplied by 3 for each 0.41 mmol/L decrease of phosphate level at this time (p = 0.002) and by 3.85 for the same decreased of phosphate the day before (p = 0.0015). Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first study suggesting that low phosphatemia can be associated with hyperglycemia in ELBW neonates. Further studies will have to demonstrate whether better control of phosphatemia could help in preventing hyperglycemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Background & aims Recent studies have suggested that the gut microflora has metabolic effects. We aimed to evaluate postnatal growth in preterm infants who received different probiotic supplements, and to assess the safety of probiotic administration. Methods This prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial was performed at three tertiary care neonatal units. Preterm infants were randomly assigned to receive daily supplementation over 4–6 weeks with placebo (group C) or probiotics (group P). Group P comprised three subgroups: P1 received Bifidobacterium lactis , P2 received Bifidobacterium longum , and P3 received B. lactis and B. longum . We assessed postnatal growth during the supplementation period and up to a corrected gestational age (GA) of 41 weeks when body composition was assessed using whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Aerobic and anaerobic blood cultures were performed on suspicion of late-onset sepsis. Results The study comprised 199 preterm infants with a mean GA of 29.1 ± 1.4 weeks and a mean birth weight of 1173 ± 210 g, who received a placebo (group C, n = 52) or probiotics (group P, n = 147) from the first week of life. At the end of the supplementation period, no statistically significant differences were seen between the groups in relation to the mean body weight (group C = 1906 ± 23 g, group P = 1875 ± 14 g, p = 0.25), length, or head circumference. The incidence rates of necrotizing enterocolitis and late-onset sepsis were similar in the two groups. At the corrected GA of 41 weeks, there were no differences between the groups with respect to anthropometric measurements or body composition analysis. Conclusions Preterm infants receiving Bifidobacterium supplements did not exhibit better postnatal growth compared with those who received placebo treatment. No adverse effects were associated with probiotic administration. Registered under ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier no. NCT01379417 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The SafeBoosC phase II randomised clinical trial recently demonstrated the benefits of a combination of cerebral regional tissue oxygen saturation (rStO2) by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and a treatment guideline to reduce the oxygen imbalance in extremely preterm infants.Aims: To analyse rStO2-alarm-related clinical decisions and their heterogeneity in the NIRS experimental group (NIRS monitoring visible) and their impact on rStO2 and SpO2.Methods: Continuous data from NIRS devices and the alarms (area under the curve of the rStO2 out of range had accumulated 0.2%h during 10 min), clinical data at discrete time points and interventions prompted by the alarms were recorded.Results: Sixty-seven infants had data that fulfilled the requirements for this analysis. 1107 alarm episodes were analysed. The alarm triggered a treatment guideline intervention in 25% of the cases; the type of intervention chosen varied among clinical sites. More than 55% of alarms were not followed by an intervention ('No action'); additionally, in 5% of alarms the rStO2 value apparently was considered non-reliable and the sensor was repositioned. The percentage of unresolved alarms at 30 min after 'No action' almost doubled the treatment guideline intervention (p<0.001). Changes in peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), were observed only after treatment guideline interventions.Conclusions: This study shows that 25% of rStO2 alarms were followed by a clinical intervention determined by the treatment guideline. However, the rStO2 and SpO2 returned to normal ranges after the intervention, supporting the notion that decisions taken by the clinicians were appropriate.Trial Registration Number: ClinicalTrial.gov NCT01590316. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a study conducted on medical prescription of unlicensed and off label drugs to neonates by pediatricians in Lyon, France. Topics discussed include the most prescribed drugs, data on the pharmacokinetics and tolerability of antibiotics in newborns and preterm infants, and effects of various unlicensed drugs including folinic acid, ferrous fumarate and phytomenadione.