PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare cerebral hemispheric volumes between pharmacologic treatment and supportive management of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). METHODS: The study was conducted retrospectively. The subjects of period 1 group were very low birth weight infants whose PDA were treated with pharmacologic closure. Period 2 group were treated with supportive management. Regional brain volumes measured using magnetic resonance imaging were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: total of 12 infants were included. Their median gestational age was 27⁺⁶ (range: 24⁺¹–31⁺¹) weeks and birth weight was 1,065 g (range: 690–1,380). Between the two groups, there was no difference in Apgar score, incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, necrotizing enterocolitis, and culture proven sepsis. The regional brain volumes such as gray matter (Period 1 group, 76,833 mm³ [55,759–100,388] vs. Period 2 group, 79,870 mm³ [59,957–113,018], P=0.59), white matter (82,993 mm³ [63,130–121,311] vs. 92,576 mm³ [77,200–104,506], P=0.18), cerebrospinal fluid (17,167 mm³ [9,279–22,760] vs. 14,348 mm³ [7,018–27,604], P=0.94), basal ganglia (2,065 mm³ [1,697–2,482] vs. 2,306 mm³ [2,065–3,009], P=0.18), and cerebellum (18,374 mm³ [14,843–24,657] vs. 18,096 mm³ [16,134–23,627], P=0.94) were not different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Regional brain volumes were not different between pharmacological and conservative treatment in infants with PDA. Further wellcontrolled studies are required to evaluate the advantages or disadvantages of supportive management without pharmacologic treatment of PDA.
Apgar Score ; Basal Ganglia ; Birth Weight ; Brain* ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; Cerebellum ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent* ; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing ; Gestational Age ; Gray Matter ; Humans ; Ibuprofen* ; Incidence ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pilot Projects* ; Retrospective Studies ; Sepsis ; White Matter

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to investigate physicians' attitudes toward ethical end-of-life decision making about dying newborns. METHODS: Between October and December 2015, we surveyed 185 neonatal staff members working at 6 neonatal intensive care units to investigate their attitudes toward ethical end-of-life decision making about dying newborns. RESULTS: The respondents generally agreed with using sedatives/analgesics to suppress pain despite the risk of fatality (80%), continuing current treatment without using other treatment methods (56.2%), and withholding emergency treatment in the form of cardiac arrest resuscitation (48.1%). In contrast, most respondents disagreed with administering drugs for the purpose of ending life, withholding neonatal intensive care, and withholding mechanical ventilation. Although the respondents believed that it is necessary to suggest that the parents of dying neonates sign do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders (62.7%), most of them found it difficult to talk to parents/families about DNR orders (90.8%), or wanted to refrain from obtaining families' consent in person (84.9%). CONCLUSION: Korean neonatal staff members believed that withholding or withdrawal of treatment is necessary when making ethical decisions about dying neonates; however, they preferred to use conservative, rather than active interventions.
Decision Making* ; Emergency Treatment ; Ethics ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Parents ; Respiration, Artificial ; Resuscitation ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: Laser therapy for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is commonly performed under general anesthesia (GA). However, the use of GA for laser therapy in neonates who have already undergone invasive ventilation may lead to postoperative complications such as severe apnea or the development of ventilator dependency. This study aimed to examine the safety of administering only sedatives instead of GA in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants, who are the usual recipients of laser therapy for ROP. METHODS: Among ELBW infants who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Samsung Medical Center between January and December 2012, we studied 30 patients treated with laser therapy for ROP. RESULTS: The mean gestational age of the patients was 24.6±1.9 weeks, with a mean birth weight of 646±140 g. The mean age and weight of patients at the time of laser therapy for ROP was 36.3±2.3 weeks and 1,470±423 g. In terms of sedatives, 14 patients (46.7%) were administered chloral hydrate alone, 14 (46.7%) were administered a combination of chloral hydrate and midazolam, one was administered midazolam alone, and one received fentanyl. Prior to laser therapy, 16 patients (53.5%) had established self-respiration, 13 (43.3%) relied on non-invasive ventilation and one patient relied on invasive mechanical ventilation. Following laser therapy, two patients who initially had exhibited self-respiration required respiratory assistance via non-invasive positive pressure ventilation and no patient required intratracheal intubation. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the use of sedatives may be safe for ELBW infants who undergo laser therapy for ROP.
Anesthesia, General* ; Apnea ; Birth Weight ; Chloral Hydrate ; Fentanyl ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives* ; Infant ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Laser Therapy* ; Midazolam ; Noninvasive Ventilation ; Positive-Pressure Respiration ; Postoperative Complications ; Respiration, Artificial ; Retinopathy of Prematurity* ; Ventilation ; Ventilators, Mechanical

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to compare birth outcomes based on maternal ethnicity in Korea. METHODS: Using the birth data of Statistics Korea from 2010 to 2015, this study selected data from infants with a Vietnamese mother and Korean father (Vietnamese/Korean group), and a Chinese mother and Korean father (Chinese/Korean group), to compare them with that of a Korean mother and Korean father (Korean/Korean group). The newborn infants' birth outcomes and parental characteristics were investigated, and trends in annual changes were compared. In addition, this study investigated whether the mother's ethnicity affected the mean birth weight. RESULTS: Gestational age and birth weight were highest in the Chinese/Korean group, and were slightly lower in the Korean/Korean and Vietnamese/Korean group, in that order. The highest rate of preterm birth before 37 weeks and low birth weight rate were observed in the Vietnamese/Korean group; 4.62% and 4.26%, respectively. From 2010 to 2015, the mean gestational age decreased in all the three groups, and the preterm birth rate increased at gestational ages less than 37 weeks. However, the birth weight decreased only in the Korean/Korean group, but increased in the Chinese/Korean and Vietnamese/Korean groups. In addition, we found that factors such as parents' educational levels, percentage of hospital births, and appropriate maternal age improved in the Vietnamese/Korean group. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that the mean birth weight and low birth weight rate are affected by maternal ethnicity in Korea. Therefore, careful research and active national support policies are needed.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Birth Weight ; Continental Population Groups ; Cultural Diversity ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Fathers ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea* ; Maternal Age ; Mothers ; Parents ; Parturition* ; Premature Birth

Aspiration of meconium produces a syndrome (Meconium Aspiration Syndrome MAS) characterized by hypoxia, hypercapnia, and acidosis. Perinatal hypoxia, acute airway obstruction, pulmonary inflammation, pulmonary vasoconstriction, pulmonary hypertension, and surfactant inactivation all play a role in the pathogenesis of MAS. Most aspiration of meconium probably occurs before birth. Following aspiration, meconium may migrate to the peripheral airway, usually take about 2 hours as demonstrated in animal experiment, leading to airway obstruction and subsequent lung inflammation and pulmonary hypertension. The presence of meconium in the endotracheal aspirate automatically establishes the diagnosis of MAS. Clinical diagnosis can be made in any infant born with meconium staining of amniotic fluid who develops respiratory distress at or shortly after birth and has positive radiographic findings. Prevention of intrauterine hypoxia, early cleaning (suctioning) of the airway, and prevention and treatment of pulmonary hypertension are essential in the management of MAS. Recent studies suggest that avoidance of post-term delivery may reduce the risk of intrauterine hypoxia and the incidence of MAS. Routine intrapartum naso-and oropharyngeal suction does not appear to affect the incidence and outcome of MAS. Endotracheal suction at birth is considered a controversial procedure and only reserved for infants who have severe retraction at birth suggesting an upper airway obstruction. High frequency oscillatory ventilation with nitric oxide or surfactant may improve mortality. Mortality of MAS has improved; the causes of death are related primarily to hypoxic respiratory failure associated with irreversible pulmonary hypertension. Morbidity is affected mostly by perinatal hypoxia.
Acidosis ; Airway Obstruction ; Amniotic Fluid ; Animal Experimentation ; Anoxia ; Cause of Death ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Hypercapnia ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Meconium Aspiration Syndrome* ; Meconium* ; Mortality ; Nitric Oxide ; Parturition ; Pneumonia ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Resuscitation* ; Suction ; Vasoconstriction ; Ventilation

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between prenatally diagnosed isolated single umbilical artery (iSUA) and perinatal outcomes. METHODS: We searched Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and KoreaMed from inception to January 2016, with no language or regional restrictions, for cohort and case-control studies reporting on the relationship of iSUA and perinatal outcomes. We assessed the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the occurrence of small for gestational age, preterm birth, pregnancy-induced hypertension, neonatal intensive care unit admission, and perinatal mortality in fetuses with iSUA compared with those in fetuses with three vessel cord. RESULTS: Eleven articles totaling 1,731 pregnancies with iSUA met the selection criteria. Studies varied in design, quality, outcome definition, and results. Meta-analysis carried out within predefined groups showed that the presence of an iSUA was associated with small for gestational age (OR, 2.75; 95% CI, 1.97 to 3.83; P<0.00001), preterm birth (OR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.72 to 2.57; P<0.00001), pregnancy-induced hypertension (OR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.00 to 2.63; P=0.05), neonatal intensive care unit admission (OR, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.33 to 3.19; P=0.001), and perinatal mortality (OR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.32 to 3.98; P=0.003). CONCLUSION: Pregnancies complicated by iSUA are at increased risk for small for gestational age, preterm birth, pregnancy-induced hypertension, neonatal intensive care unit admission and perinatal mortality. Further, large prospective cohort studies are required to improve the quality of prenatal counseling and the neonatal care for pregnancies with iSUA.
Case-Control Studies ; Cohort Studies ; Counseling ; Female ; Fetus ; Gestational Age ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Odds Ratio ; Patient Selection ; Perinatal Mortality ; Pregnancy ; Premature Birth ; Prospective Studies ; Single Umbilical Artery*

Neonatal Marfan syndrome (nMFS) is considered to be on the most severe end of the spectrum of type I fibrillinopathies. The common features of nMFS include ascending aortic dilatation, severe mitral and/or tricuspid valve insufficiency, ectopia lentis, arachnodactyly, joint contractures, crumpled ear, loose skin, and pulmonary emphysema.We describe a newborn male diagnosed with nMFS. He presented several atypical features, such as diaphragmatic eventration, severe hydronephrosis with hydroureter, and dilated cisterna magna. Molecular analysis revealed a missense mutation at nucleotide 3217 (c.3217G>A) in exon 26 of the fibrillin-1 (FBN1) gene, resulting in the substitution of a glutamate for a lysine at codon 1073 (E1073K) in the 12th calcium binding epidermal growth factor-like domain of the FBN1 protein. Here we report a rare case of Nmfs with several combined atypical features, such as diaphragmatic eventration, severe hydronephrosis with hydroureter, and dilated cisterna magna. Our report is the first atypical nMFS case with p.Glu1073Lys mutation of FBN1 in Korea and may help clinicians with the diagnosis and follow-up of atypical nMFS.
Arachnodactyly ; Calcium ; Cisterna Magna ; Codon ; Contracture ; Diagnosis ; Diaphragmatic Eventration ; Dilatation ; Ear ; Ectopia Lentis ; Exons ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glutamic Acid ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Infant, Newborn ; Joints ; Korea* ; Lysine ; Male ; Marfan Syndrome* ; Mutation, Missense ; Skin ; Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency

OBJECTIVES: Low birth weight (LBW) is a major public health concern, especially in developing countries, and is frequently related to child morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to identify key determinants that influence the prevalence of LBW in selected developing countries. METHODS: Secondary data analysis was conducted using 10 recent Demography and Health Surveys from developing countries based on the availability of the required information for the years 2010 to 2013. Associations of demographic, socioeconomic, community-based, and individual factors of the mother with LBW in infants were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of LBW in the study countries was 15.9% (range, 9.0 to 35.1%). The following factors were shown to have a significant association with the risk of having an LBW infant in developing countries: maternal age of 35 to 49 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2 to 3.1; p<0.01), inadequate antenatal care (ANC) (aOR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.1 to 2.8; p<0.01), illiteracy (aOR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1 to 2.7; p<0.001), delayed conception (aOR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.4 to 2.5; p<0.001), low body mass index (aOR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.2 to 2.1; p<0.001) and being in the poorest socioeconomic stratum (aOR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1 to 1.8; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that delayed conception, advanced maternal age, and inadequate ANC visits had independent effects on the prevalence of LBW. Strategies should be implemented based on these findings with the goal of developing policy options for improving the overall maternal health status in developing countries.
Body Mass Index ; Child ; Demography ; Developing Countries* ; Fertilization ; Global Health ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Low Birth Weight* ; Infant, Newborn ; Literacy ; Logistic Models ; Maternal Age ; Maternal Health ; Mortality ; Mothers ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Public Health ; Statistics as Topic

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess whether different anesthetic techniques and oxytocin use applied during delivery affect transcutaneous bilirubin levels during the first 24 hours in neonates. METHODS: A total of 1,044 neonates delivered by either caesarian section (C/S) or normal vaginal delivery (NVD) were included in the study. They were classified into 5 groups as follows: group 1: born by C/S using general anesthesia, group 2: C/S using spinal anaesthesia, group 3: C/S using general anesthesia after failed spinal block, group 4: by NVD without anesthesia, and group 5: oxytocin-induced vaginal delivery without anesthesia. Transcutaneous total bilirubin levels (TBLs) were measured during the first 24 hours and on the fifth and eighth days of life and the levels in different groups were compared. RESULTS: The TBLs were significantly higher in neonates delivered by C/S using general anesthesia rather than spinal anesthesia (P < 0.001), and both groups had higher levels than those born by NVD without anesthesia (P≤0.001). However, the group receiving general anesthesia after failed spinal block was found to have the highest bilirubin level. Moreover, TBLs were significantly higher with the use of oxytocin (P≤0.001). CONCLUSIONS: C/S and general anesthesia adversely affect the bilirubin levels in neonates, and the use of oxytocin during vaginal delivery also increases TBLs in neonates.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Bilirubin* ; Humans ; Hyperbilirubinemia ; Infant, Newborn* ; Jaundice ; Mothers* ; Oxytocin

Although the prevalence of interracial marriages in Korea is increasing, little is known regarding the pregnancy outcomes of interracial couples. The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in pregnancy outcomes between Korean and interracial Korean-foreign couples. Data for infants born in 2011 and 2012 were obtained from the national birth registry of the Korean Statistical Office. The couples were subdivided into Korean father-Korean mother, Korean father-foreign mother, and foreign father-Korean mother groups. Pregnancy outcomes included neonates with low birth weight (< 2,500 g) and those with high birth weight (> 4,000 g). In 2010 and 2011, 888,447 Korean father-Korean mother, 36,024 Korean father-foreign mother, and 4,955 foreign father-Korean mother neonates were delivered in Korea. After adjustment for parental age, educational level, parity, gestational age at delivery, and neonatal sex, the birth weights were found to be different between groups, with the highest number of foreign father-Korean mother and lowest number of Korean father-foreign mother pregnancies. Based on multivariate logistic regression analysis, the risk of low and large birth weights was higher in the Korean father-foreign mother and foreign father-Korean mother groups, respectively, compared with that in the Korean father-Korean mother group. There are significant differences in pregnancy outcomes including birth weights between Korean and interracial Korean-foreign couples.
Birth Weight ; Family Characteristics* ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea* ; Logistic Models ; Marriage ; Mothers ; Parents ; Parity ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome* ; Pregnancy* ; Prevalence