Clinical considerations in premature infants

Approximately 1 in 10 babies in the United States is born prematurely. Prematurity is the leading cause of death in newborns. Rates of morbidity and mortality are inversely related to gestational age or birthweight. Even infants born 2 or 3 weeks prematurely have an increased risk of death during their first year, compared with term infants. Premature infants suffer short-term and long-term consequences such as hypothermia, respiratory distress, cardiovascular disturbances, and increased hospitalizations, as well as visual, auditory, and learning disabilities. Drug therapy for common ailments affecting premature infants continues to evolve as new data become available

Screening and treatment of pediatric dyslipidemias

Guidelines for the screening and management of dyslipidemias in children were published in November 2011 by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. They recommend universal screening of all children aged 9 to 11 and 17 to 21 years regardless of family history and risk factors. Despite this recommendation, pediatric practitioners do not routinely screen children without a family history or risk factor present. This article will review current guidelines for screening and treatment of dyslipidemias in children and adolescents. © 2000 - 2014 Jobson Medical Information LLC unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved

Nicotine replacement therapy in the hospitalized patient

Smoking contributes to comorbidities that may lead to hospitalization. When smokers are admitted to a hospital, healthcare professionals are in an optimal position to implement effective strategies to promote smoking cessation. Whether the smoker is admitted to the ICU or to a general medical floor, research shows that nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) in conjunction with behavioral counseling increases the chance of abstinence. Data supporting initiation of NRT in the ICU patient are conflicting, while its benefits in the general hospitalized patient support a longer duration of smoking cessation post discharge