Trends in Outcomes for Neonates Born Very Preterm and Very Low Birth Weight in 11 High-Income Countries

Objective To evaluate outcome trends of neonates born very preterm in 11 high-income countries participating in the International Network for Evaluating Outcomes of neonates. Study design In a retrospective cohort study, we included 154 233 neonates admitted to 529 neonatal units between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2015, at 24(0/7) to 31(6/7) weeks of gestational age and birth weight <1500 g. Composite outcomes were in-hospital mortality or any of severe neurologic injury, treated retinopathy of prematurity, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD); and same composite outcome excluding BPD. Secondary outcomes were mortality and individual morbidities. For each country, annual outcome trends and adjusted relative risks comparing epoch 2 (2012-2015) to epoch 1 (2007-2011) were analyzed. Results For composite outcome including BPD, the trend decreased in Canada and Israel but increased in Australia and New Zealand, Japan, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. For composite outcome excluding BPD, the trend decreased in all countries except Spain, Sweden, Tuscany, and the United Kingdom. The risk of composite outcome was lower in epoch 2 than epoch 1 in Canada (adjusted relative risks 0.78; 95% CI 0.74-0.82) only. The risk of composite outcome excluding BPD was significantly lower in epoch 2 compared with epoch 1 in Australia and New Zealand, Canada, Finland, Japan, and Switzerland. Mortality rates reduced in most countries in epoch 2. BPD rates increased significantly in all countries except Canada, Israel, Finland, and Tuscany. Conclusions In most countries, mortality decreased whereas BPD increased for neonates born very preterm

Breast feeding twins and high multiples

Breast feeding offers major health advantages for all infants, whether born singleton or from multiple pregnancy. Adequate quantity and quality of milk production has been documented even for high multiples. Combined efforts of parents, close family, friends, and the medical team can help to make either full or partial breast feeding of multiples possible

Early enteral feeding and nosocomial sepsis in very low birthweight infants

Background: The interrelations between early enteral feeding, necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), and nosocomial sepsis (NS) remain unclear. Objective: To evaluate the effect of age at the introduction of enteral feeding on the incidence of NS and NEC in very low birthweight (VLBW< 1500 g) infants. Methods: Data were collected on the pattern of enteral feeding and perinatal and neonatal morbidity on all VLBW infants born in one centre during 1995–2001. Enteral feeding was compared between infants with and without NS and/or NEC. Results: The study sample included 385 infants. Of these, 163 (42%) developed NS and 35 (9%) developed NEC. Enteral feeding was started at a significantly earlier mean (SD) age in infants who did not develop nosocomial sepsis (2.8 (2.6) v 4.8 (3.7) days, p  =  0.0001). Enteral feeding was introduced at the same age in babies who did or did not develop NEC (3.1 (2) v 3.7 (3) days, p  =  0.28). Over the study period, the mean annual age at the start of enteral feeding fell consistently, and this correlated with the mean annual incidence of NS (r(2)  =  0.891, p  =  0.007). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed age at start of enteral feeding, respiratory distress syndrome, and birth weight to be the most significant predictors of risk of NS (p  =  0.0005, p  =  0.024, p  =  0.011). Conclusions: Early enteral feeding was associated with a reduced risk of NS but no change in the risk of NEC in VLBW infants. These findings support the use of early enteral feeding in this high risk population, but this needs to be confirmed in a large randomised controlled trial

Uso do copo e da mamadeira e o aleitamento materno em recém-nascidos prematuros e a termo: uma revisão sistemática Cup and bottle feeding and breastfeeding in premature and term infants: a systematic review

OBJETIVOS: revisar ensaios clínicos randomizados que avaliaram a prevalência e/ou duração do aleitamento materno na alta hospitalar e/ou durante o primeiro ano de vida, em recém-nascidos a termo ou prematuros. Foram selecionados estudos que incluíram neonatos e que receberam suplementação por copo ou por mamadeira, durante a estadia hospitalar. MÉTODOS: foram pesquisados artigos publicados em português ou inglês, no período de 1966 a 2006, nas bases de dados Medline, Lilacs e Scielo. Os seguintes termos foram utilizados: "amamentação + mamadeira" combinado com "prevalência", "métodos de alimentação", "duração", "baixo peso", "prematuro" e "recém-nascido". RESULTADOS: cinco artigos preencheram os critérios de inclusão, suas casuísticas variaram de 14 a 686 recém-nascidos, totalizando 1552 crianças. O uso do copo para a suplementação da amamentação foi associado a maior prevalência de aleitamento materno em neonatos a termo, nascidos de parto cesárea e em prematuros no momento da alta hospitalar. CONCLUSÕES: parece haver uma influência favorável do uso do copo sobre o aleitamento materno, embora a presente revisão não seja conclusiva e definitiva.<br>OBJECTIVES: to review randomized clinical trials that investigated breastfeeding prevalence and/or duration at maternity discharge and/or during first year of life, in term or premature infants. The focus was on studies that have included neonates fed by cup or by bottle during their hospital stay. METHODS: authors examined articles published in English or Portuguese between 1996 and 2006, and included on the Medline, Lilacs and Scielo databases. The following keywords were used: "breastfeeding + bottle feeding" plus "prevalence", "feeding methods", "duration", "low birth weight", "premature" and "neonate". RESULTS: five articles met the inclusion criteria. The number of subjects covered ranged from 14 to 686, amounting to a total of 1552 infants. Cup-feeding for breastfeeding supplementation was related to increased breastfeeding prevalence only in term neonates delivered by cesarean, and in premature neonates at discharge. CONCLUSIONS: cup-feeding is likely to have a favorable influence on breastfeeding, however the present revision is not conclusive and definitive