2-Jahres-Nachuntersuchung (Bayley) sehr kleiner Frühgeborener der Jahrgänge 2004–2007: Ergebnisse und Vollständigkeitsanalyse eines Perinatalzentrums

Neonatal sepsis and neurodevelopment in very low birth weight infants in Matanzas, Cuba 2006-2010: a prospective cohort study

INTRODUCTION

Neonatal sepsis has been associated with poor neurodevelopmental outcome in very low birth weight infants (VLBW infants). The impact of neonatal sepsis on neurodevelopment in very low birth weight infants discharged from Cuban neonatal intensive care units is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the impact of neonatal sepsis as a risk factor of neurodevelopmental disorders in a Cuban very low birth weight infants’ population.

METHODS

A cohort study was carried out that enrolled 89 infants with birth weight less than 1500 g who were admitted during the period 2006-2010 to the Teaching Provincial Gynecological and Obstetrical Hospital of Matanzas. All patients were followed-up at the outpatient clinic until two years of corrected gestational age. Then they were divided into two groups: those who had been diagnosed with neonatal sepsis (n=19) and those who had not (n=70). The association power of neonatal sepsis with neurodevelopmental disorders was determined with calculation of relative risk (RR) and their confidence intervals at 95% (CI95%). A multivariate analysis with logistic regression enabled us to compare sepsis with other neonatal variables as risk factors.

RESULTS

Very low birth weight infants with neonatal sepsis had an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders (47.4 vs 17.1%; RR 2.7 CI95% 1.3-5.5; p=0.005). This risk was significant after correction for other variables (male sex, mechanical respiratory assistance, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and hyperbilirrubinemia >15 mg/dl) (odds ratio 4.0; CI95% 1.1-14.3; p=0.03).

CONCLUSION

Neonatal sepsis should be considered an important factor among the multiple events related to poor neurodevelopmental outcome in the preterm newborn.

Cardiorespiratory events in preterm infants: interventions and consequences

Stabilization of respiration and oxygenation continues to be one of the main challenges in clinical care of the neonate. Despite aggressive respiratory support including mechanical ventilation, continuous positive airway pressure, oxygen and caffeine therapy to reduce apnea and accompanying intermittent hypoxemia, the incidence of intermittent hypoxemia events continues to increase during the first few months of life. Even with improvements in clinical care, standards for oxygen saturation targeting and modes of respiratory support have yet to be identified in this vulnerable infant cohort. In addition, we are only beginning to explore the association between the incidence and pattern of cardiorespiratory events during early postnatal life and both short- and long-term morbidity including retinopathy of prematurity, growth, sleep-disordered breathing and neurodevelopmental impairment. Part 1 of this review included a summary of lung development and diagnostic methods of cardiorespiratory monitoring. In Part 2 we focus on clinical interventions and the short- and long-term consequences of cardiorespiratory events in preterm infants.

Very low birth weight infants after discharge: What do parents describe?

BACKGROUND

Morbidity and mortality in Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) infants during their hospital stay have been well described. However, there are insufficient data regarding health problems after discharge.

STUDY DESIGN

In a multicenter study performed between January 2009 and December 2010 including 2493 VLBW infants, questionnaires were sent out to all participating parents in the first year of life. We compared the parental reported health of VLBW infants with a national cohort (KIGGS).

RESULTS

The reported health of VLBW infants born after 29 weeks of gestation was identical to term infants. Even in the group of infants born before 24 weeks of gestation health was regarded as very good or good in >70% of cases. However, parents described a delayed development in >50% increasing to >70% with lower gestational age. In the first year of life VLBW infants have an increased risk of visual and hearing problems. Bronchitis was more frequent in VLBW infants but there were no differences in other infections typical for that age group. VLBW infants had less sleeping problems. No gender differences were described.

CONCLUSION

VLBW infants in our study require slightly more medical care compared to their peers. However, medical problems are relatively small compared to the developmental needs as perceived by their parents. Therefore, close follow-up and advice by specialists in infant development are needed.

Surgical management of extremely low birth weight infants with neonatal bowel perforation: a single-center experience and a review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and focal intestinal perforation (FIP) are major causes of morbidity in infants with extremely low birth weight (ELBW).

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the surgical procedures applied, and the survival and long-term outcome of ELBW infants with NEC and FIP in a single-center study.

METHODS

Inborn and outborn ELBW infants (<1000 g) with NEC and FIP were analyzed retrospectively from 2002 to 2007. Data collected include surgical procedures, survival as well as complications, length of partial parenteral nutrition and hospital stay. The short-term and long-term outcomes after 2-7 years were assessed and compared with a matched control group.

RESULTS

Out of 280 ELBW infants, 28 underwent surgery, 19 because of FIP and 9 for NEC. Fourteen infants in the FIP group were treated with primary laparotomy and 5 with peritoneal drainage (PD). In the NEC group, only 1 infant was treated with PD. PD was used for unstable patients and was always followed by secondary laparotomy after stabilization. Five of 28 (18%) surgically treated ELBW infants and 4 (14%) matched controls died. The following complications occurred in the surgical group: complete (n = 1) or minor wound dehiscence (n = 4), stoma prolapse (n = 5), parastomal hernia (n = 2), stoma fistula (n = 1), and wound infection (n = 2). Dependency on parenteral nutrition was significantly shorter in infants with FIP, while there were no differences in time to stoma closure and length of hospital stay between those with FIP and those with NEC. Eleven of 23 (47.8%) surviving patients with FIP or NEC showed developmental delay, compared with 9 of 24 (37.5%) in the controls.

CONCLUSIONS

The management of EBLW infants with NEC and FIP remains challenging. Our treatment approach was associated with low mortality. Developmental delay seems to be caused by extreme prematurity rather than NEC- or FIP-related bowel perforation.