Comparing the Efficacy of Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure and Nasal Intermittent Positive Pressure Ventilation in Early Management of Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Preterm Infants

Objectives: There is a tendency to use noninvasive ventilation (NIV) as a substitute for mechanical ventilation in preterm infants who need respiratory support. Two important modes of NIV include nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) and nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV). We sought to compare the efficacy of NCPAP and NIPPV as early respiratory support in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome in reducing the need for intubation, surfactant administration, and mechanical ventilation. Methods: We conducted a randomized clinical trial. Sixty-one preterm infants with a gestational age of 28–32 weeks and a birth weight < 1500 g were randomly allocated to early NCPAP (n = 31) or NIPPV (n = 30) groups. The primary outcome was the need for intubation and mechanical ventilation in first 72 hours of life and the secondary outcome was oxygen dependency beyond day 28 post-birth. Results: Surfactant replacement therapy was done in 15 neonates (50.0%) in the NIPPV group and 19 neonates (61.3%) in the NCPAP group, odds ratio (OR) = 1.58 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.57–4.37; p = 0.370). Intubation and mechanical ventilation in the first 72 hours of life were needed in five cases (16.7%) in the NIPPV group and two cases (6.5%) in the NCPAP group, OR = 2.90 (95% CI: 0.51–16.27; p = 0.250). The mean duration of hospitalization was 26.2±17.4 days in the NIPPV group and 38.4±19.2 days in the NCPAP group, p = 0.009. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) occurred in two (6.7%) neonates in the NIPPV group and eight (25.8%) neonates in the NCPAP group, p = 0.080. Conclusions: NIPPV and NCPAP are similarly effective as initial respiratory support in preterm infants in reducing the need for mechanical ventilation and occurrence of BPD. The duration of hospitalization was significantly reduced using NIPPV in our study

Goldenhar Syndrome in an Infant of Diabetic Mother

Background: Goldenhar syndrome (oculoauriculovertebral dysplasia) is a rare congenital anomaly with unknown etiology and consists of non accidental association of hemifacial microsomia, auricular anomalies, epibulbar dermoid and vertebral anomalies. Although some malformations are more frequent in infants of diabetic mothers, developmental defects of first and second branchial arch is not a common finding in these patients. Case Presentation: We report a female case of Goldenhar syndrome in a newborn infant of a diabetic mother (IDM). Follow up of this patient after 6 months showed normal neurodevelopment and no evidence of hearing loss. She had developed epibulbar dermoid tumor in her right eye. Conclusion: It is necessary to evaluate IDM for presence of anomalies implying oculoauriculo-vertebral dysplasia

Mother’s own milk versus donor human milk: effects on growth and outcomes in preterm neonates

Introduction: The present study compares the effects of mother’s own milk (MOM) and donor human milk (DM) on anthropometric indices, incidence of sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and feeding intolerance (FI) among preterm neonates.  Methods: Ninety neonates born at 30-32 weeks and hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit were assigned to 3 groups based on their daily milk intake. The first group received only MOM or < 20% DM, the second group received ≥ 20% to < 80% DM, and the third group received ≥ 80% DM.  Results: Weight gain velocity was 1.5 g/kg/day in the group that received ≥ 80% DM and 6.2 g/kg/day in the group that received 80-100% MOM (without a statistically significant p-value). Furthermore, there was no statistically significant difference in height increase among the 3 groups, and no sepsis or NEC were observed in any of the 3 groups either. The incidence of FI was not significantly different among the 3 groups.  Conclusion: Based on the results, DM is as effective as MOM in preventing sepsis, NEC, and FI. Every effort should be made to educate mothers on this subject, provide breastfeeding support, and use pasteurized and appropriately fortified DM

Comparing the Efficacy of High and Low Doses of Vitamin A in Prevention of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Background Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is one of the most common serious squeal of preterm infants. It involves approximately one quarter of infants with birth weight less than 1500 grams and 30% of less than 1000 grams. Vitamin A has been shown to reduce BPD rate. We compared efficacy of low and high doses of vitamin A for prevention of BPD in very low birth weight preterm infants. Materials and Methods In a randomized clinical trial, 120 preterm infants with gestation age 32 weeks or less and birth weight less than 1,500 grams were enrolled in the study. Group A (n=60) received 1,500 IU vitamin A intramuscularly three times per week and group B (n=60) received 5,000 IU vitamin A intramuscularly 3 times/week. Vitamin A was continued for 4 weeks in all patients. Oxygen dependency at age 28 days after birth and at 36 weeks’ postmenstrual age was determined in all studied infants. Results The mean gestation age and birth weight in group A was 29.2 ± 2.1 weeks and 1095 ± 211 gr and in group B 28.7 ± 2.1week and 1147 ± 218 grams (P>0.05). Moderate to severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia was detected in 6 (10%) neonates in group A and 13(21.6%) infants in group B, P= 0.09. Mortality rate was 4 (6.6%) infants in group A and 3 (5%) patients in group B (P>0.05). Conclusion In our study, high and low doses of vitamin A were similar with respect to the BPD, intra-ventricular hemorrhage, and retinopathy of prematurity and total number of days for hospital stay in very low birth weight preterm infants

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 in preterm infants with retinopathy of prematurity

Background: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is the main cause of visual impairment in preterm newborn infants. Objective: This study was conducted to determine whether insulin-like growth factor binding protein -3 (IGFBP-3) is associated with proliferative ROP and has a role in pathogenesis of the disease in premature infants. Materials and Methods: A total of 71 preterm infants born at or before 32 weeks of gestation participated in this study. Studied patients consisted of 41 neonates without vaso-proliferative findings of ROP as the control group and 30 preterm infants with evidence of severe ROP in follow up eye examination as the case group. Blood samples obtained from these infants 6-8 weeks after birth and blood levels of IGFBP-3 were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The mean gestation age and birth weight of the studied patients were 28.2±1.6 weeks and 1120.7±197 gram in the case group and 28.4±1.6 weeks and 1189.4±454 gram in the control group (P=0.25 and P=0.44 respectively). The infants in the case group had significantly lower Apgar score at first and 5 min after birth. Insulin-like growth factor binding protein -3 (IGFBP-3) was significantly lower in the patients with proliferative ROP than the patients without ROP [592.5±472.9 vs. 995.5±422.2 ng/ml (P=0.009)]. Using a cut-off point 770.45 ng/ml for the plasma IGFBP-3, we obtained a sensitivity of 65.9% and a specificity of 66.7% in the preterm infants with vasoproliferative ROP. Conclusion: Our data demonstrated that the blood levels IGFBP-3 was significantly lower in the patients with ROP and it is suspected that IGFBP-3 deficiency in the premature infants may have a pathogenetic role in proliferative ROP

The effect of clofibrate with phototherapy in late pre-term newborns with non-hemolytic jaundice

Background : Despite an understanding of the enzymatic pathways leading to bilirubin production and degradation, very few pharmacologic interventions are utilized and the mainstay of treatment remains phototherapy. Aims : To evaluate the efficacy of clofibrate in reducing total serum bilirubin levels in late pre-term neonates with non-hemolytic jaundice. Design and Setting : Double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial; tertiary level neonatal unit. Materials and Methods : A randomized controlled study was carried out in the neonatal ward of Children′s Hospital, Tabriz, Iran, over a 1-year period. Sixty-eight healthy late pre-term infants readmitted with non-hemolytic hyperbilirubinemia were randomized to receive phototherapy and clofibrate (n= 35) or phototherapy and placebo (n= 33). Statistical Analysis Used : Chi-square test and independent sample ′t′ test. Results : There were no significant differences in the weight, gender, modes of delivery and age of neonates between the two groups. Similarly the mean total serum bilirubin (TSB) level at the time of admission was not significantly different between the two groups [mean± SD: 19.72 ± 1.79 (95% confidence interval: 19.12-20.54 mg/dL) vs. 20.05 ± 2.82 (95% confidence interval, 19.54-22.04 mg/dL), P= 0.57]. The mean TSB 48 hours after phototherapy [mean± SD: 8.06± 1.34 (95% confidence interval: 7.94-10.18 mg/dL) vs.10.94 ± 2.87 (95% confidence interval: 9.92-12.16 mg/dL), P= 0.02] and the mean duration of phototherapy [mean± SD: 64.32 ± 12.48 (95% confidence interval: 60-81.6 hours) vs. 87.84 ± 29.76 (95% confidence interval: 79.2-108 hours), P< 0.001] were significantly lower in the clofibrate-treated group. Conclusions : Clofibrate is an effective adjunctive drug in neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, which results in decreased TSB level and reduced duration of phototherapy in late pre-term newborns

The effect of body status on gastroesophageal reflux after feeding among hospitalized premature infants: a randomized crossover clinical trial

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux is a common condition among premature infants, which causes problems such as reduced weight gain and prolonged length of hospital stay. Body status is an appropriate way to reduce this condition. However, there have been few studies conducted in this regard. The objective of this study was therefore to investigate the effect of body status on gastroesophageal reflux in premature infants. Methods: The present research was a crossover study conducted on premature infants with a gestational age of 33-36 weeks in Al-Zahra Hospital in Tabriz, Iran, from January to March 2015. In this clinical trial, thirty-two premature infants hospitalized in this center were selected as the sample. The initial selection of the participants was based on the simple random sampling. Then the participants were allocated to groups using randomized block procedure. Each infant was under study for 4 days. After each feeding and about two hours before the beginning of next feeding, the infants were randomly and not repeatedly put in one of the following four status for 12 hours (8 am -8 pm) every day: facilitated fetal tucking posture in lateral position, free body posture in lateral position, facilitated fetal tucking posture in supine position, and free body posture in supine position. Then, the incidence of gastroesophageal reflux was measured in each of these statuses. SPSS software, version 21 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) was used to analyze the data at significant level of P<0.05. Results: The results showed that there was a significant difference between facilitated fetal tucking posture in lateral position and other status (P<0.001). The incidence of gastroesophageal reflux in facilitated fetal tucking posture was lower than free body posture, but there was no statistically significant difference in this regard. Moreover, the incidence of reflux in lateral position was significantly less than those in supine position (P=0.04). Conclusion: The findings of this study revealed that facilitated fetal tucking posture and lateral positioning reduced the incidence of gastroesophageal reflux in hospitalized premature infants. &nbsp