We observed clinical features of 18 bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) patients who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit in the Severance Hospital of Yonsel University College of Medicine from January 1. 1987 to June 30. 1991. Eight patients in whom ventilator settings were unchanged for more than 5 days because of lack of improvement in pulmonary function. The effects of dexamethasone in ventilator-dependent were included in the short-term dexamethasone therapy. 1) Eighteen BPD patients consisted of 15 premature infants (83%), 1 full-term infant, and 2 post-term infants, The mean gestational age of the patients were 30 weeks and the mean birth weight was 1,420gm. And there were 13 male and 5 female infants. 2) The underlying conditions which necessitated ventilatory support support were hyaline membrane disease in 13 patients (72%), apnea in 2 (11%), and meconium aspiration syndrome in 3. There patients with meconium aspiration syndrome were either full-term or post-term infants, of whom 2 had neonatal persistent pulmonary hypertension. 3) The mean age at the start of ventilator care was 8 hours and the mean PIP was 32 cm H2O. The mean duration of ventilator care of oxygen therapy and of high O2 requirement (FiO2>0.8) were 39 days, 75 days and 20 days, respectively. 4) Patent ductus arteriosus developed in 8 patients during mechanical ventilation, but they were all closed with the use of mefenamic acid, There were also 4 cases of pneumothorax, 2 cases of pulmonary parenchymal emphysema, and 1 case each of pneumomediastinum and pneumoperitoneum. 5) The mean gestational age of the dexamethasone-treated group was 30 weeks and the mean birth weight was 1,320gm, The mean age at which dexamethasone therapy was started was 39 days after birth, and in only 3.3 days 6 patients were successfully weaned from ventilator, In 5 cases the first trial of dexamethasone therapy was enough but the rest needed the 2nd trial for ventilator weaning. 6) In 6 BPD patient who were weaned from the ventilator after dexamethasone therapy, there were significant decreases in MAP (11.1 vs 8.0 cmH2O), and FiO2 (0.73 vs 0.61), but a significant increase in the urine output (2.56 vs 3.7ml/kg/hr) for the pretreatment (5 days prior to therapy) versus posttreatment period (first day of therapy). 7) The complications of dexamethasone treatment were transient hypertension and hyperglycemia in 3 patients, and systemic candidiasis and gastrointestinal bleeding in 2 patients who failed to be weaned after dexamethasone therapy. Our results suggest that the short-term dexamethasone therapy in bronchopulmonary dysplasia patients who are dependent on mechanical ventilation enables weaning in a short period of time. The inspiratory oxygen concentration and the mean airway pressure may be decreased and the urine output may be increased from the first day of medication, improves pulmonary function and decreases pulmonary interstitial edema.
Apnea ; Birth Weight ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia* ; Candidiasis ; Dexamethasone* ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Edema ; Emphysema ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hyaline Membrane Disease ; Hyperglycemia ; Hypertension ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Male ; Meconium Aspiration Syndrome ; Mediastinal Emphysema ; Mefenamic Acid ; Oxygen ; Parturition ; Pneumoperitoneum ; Pneumothorax ; Respiration, Artificial ; Ventilator Weaning ; Ventilators, Mechanical ; Weaning

The incidence of cervical pregnancy and the number of combined intrauterine pregnancy and ectopic pregnancy seems to be increasing. So the possibility of heterotopic pregnancy should always be considered by every gynecologist, especially those who treat infertility problem. We experience a case of a heterotopic pregnancy coexisting of an intrauterine pregnancy and a cervical pregnancy after in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer, and was successfully managed by transcervical evacuation and resulted in a normal intrauterine pregnancy. Here we present the case with review of literatures.
Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization ; Fertilization in Vitro* ; Incidence ; Infertility ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; Pregnancy, Heterotopic*

PURPOSE: Antenatal steroid(ANS) therapy in premature infants is an effective therapeutic strategy in reducing the incidence of respiratory distress syndrome, intraventricular hemorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis, and patent ductus arteriosus. For premature infants to gain improved survival, adequate weight loss during early postnatal days and maintenance of electrolyte balance is important, however, it is uncertain that ANS affect them. We hypothesized that ANS augment fluid and electrolyte balance and dinical outcome of very low birth weight(VLBW) who had received restricted fluid regimen. METHODS: Mechanically ventilated VLBW infants who survived over 30 days were selected. We reviewed medical records to compare weight loss, urine output, electrolyte concentration, blood pressure during five days of life and clinical outcome between premature infants who received ANS(n=15) and who were not(n=58). RESULTS: Gestational age, birth weight were similar between two groups. Volume of administered fluid, urine output, and initial weight loss during first five days of life were similar, however, weight loss on postnatal day five were lower in study group than control group(p=.039). Blood pressure, serum sodium concentration, serum potassium concentration, and urine specific gravity were similar between two groups. Incidence of respiratory distress syndrome was lower in study group(20%) than control group(48%)(p=.041), however, incidence of sepsis were greater in study group(33%) than control group(7%)(p=.029). CONDUSION: ANS did not affect fluid and electrolyte balance of very low birth weight(VLBW) infants who had received restricted fluid regimen. ANS decreased the incidence of respiratory distress syndrome in this population, however, increased the incidence of sepsis.
Birth Weight ; Blood Pressure ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing ; Gestational Age ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant* ; Infant, Low Birth Weight* ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Medical Records ; Parturition ; Potassium ; Sepsis ; Sodium ; Specific Gravity ; Water-Electrolyte Balance* ; Weight Loss

PURPOSE: In the treatrnent of respiratory distress syndrome, Infants are often exposed to hyperoxia. It can generate oxygen free radical, damage to lung and bronchi, and inactivate pulmonary surfactant(PS). Antioxidant therapy in animal and human models has been tried to overcome this detrimental effects. We hypothesized that the addition of oxygen free radical such as hydrogen peroxide(H) could compromise surface active properties(SAP) of PS and that further addition of antioxidant such as catalaseR(CAT, Sigma chemical, St. Louis) could recover SAP. METHODS: We prepared combinations of mixtures with SurfactenR(S-TA, Tokyo Tanabe, Japan), H202 and CAT. 1)0.625mgPL(phospholipids)/ml or 1.25mgPL/ml S - TA and H202 were mixed to the final concentrations of 0.1 and 1mM H respectively, and incubated at 37C for one hour. 2) 0.625mgPL/rnl S - TA, H202 and CAT 10U were mixed to the final concentrations of lmM H202, and incubated at 37 degree C for one hour. We used Pulsating Bubble Surfactometer (Electronetics, NY) measure in vitro minimum and maximum surface tensions(ST) and area-surface tension relationship. RESULTS: 1) For 0.625mgPL/ml S-TA and 1mM H mixture minimum. ST after 5 min of pulsation increased significantly(P=0.007) and the area-surface tension curve was deformed. But they were comparable to control levels for 1.25mgPL/ml S-TA. 2) When CAT was added to 0.625mgPL/ml S-TA and 1mM H mixture, the resultant minimum ST after 5 min of pulsation dropped to the control levels with recovery of hysteresis curve(P=0.0001). CONCLUSION: PS could be inactivated by addition of high concentrations of H but SAP can be recovered either by increasing PS concentration or by further addition of antioxidant CAT. Therefore, we suggest that in case of suspected surfactant inactivation an increase in surfactant concentration or administration of antioxidant must be considered.
Animals ; Bronchi ; Catalase* ; Cats ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide* ; Hydrogen* ; Hyperoxia ; Infant ; Lung ; Oxygen

No abstract available.
Echocardiography* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn*

No abstract available.
Dexamethasone* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Meningitis, Bacterial*

PURPOSE: Hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) may increase the mortality of premature infants who received ventilator care by aggravating hypoxia, acidosis, pulmonary edema and hypotension. The risk factors for PDA in premature infants are low gestational age, infusion of excessive fluid, and severity of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome. We studied the risk factors of PDA in very low birth weight infants (VLBW) to establish a guideline for the treatment. METHODS: VLBW infants who were born at Severance Hospital, Yonsei Medical Center from January, 1989 through December, 1995 and survived for at least 5 days with ventilator care were recruited for this study. Patent ductus arteriosus was diagnosed according to the clinical diagnostic criteria of Yeh (Yeh et al, 1981b). Thirty six infants had diagnosed as PDA (PDA group), and thirty seven infants who had not PDA were selected as control. Both groups of infants received restrictive fluid therapy. RESULTS: 1) Gestational age, sex, Apgar score, administration of surfactant, mode of delivery, toxemia and use of antenatal dexamethasone were similar between PDA and control infants. 2) In PDA group, ventilatory index and duration of vetilator care were significantly greater (P<0.05), and a/ApO2 was significantly lower than control group (P<0.05). There was no difference in peak inspiratory pressure at initial setting, the highest peak inspiratory pressure and mean airway pressure during ventilator care. 3) During the first 3 days of life, the urine output was similar between groups. On the 4th and 5th days of life, PDA group had significantly reduced urine ouput compared with control (on day 4; 2.6+/-1.1 ml/kg/h vs. 3.2+/-1.2ml/kg/h, P<0.05; on day 5, 2.9+/-1.4ml/kg/h vs. 3.6+/-1.6ml/kg/h, P<0.05) . 4) The percent weight loss compared to birth weight was siginificantly lower in PDA group (12.5% vs. 15.1%, P<0.05). 5) The PDA group had higher incidences of bronchpulmonary dysplasia and intraventricular hemorrhage (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Among Vlnfants who received restrictive fluid therapy during the first 5 days of life, infants with PDA had reduced urine output and percent weight loss than control group.
Acidosis ; Anoxia ; Apgar Score ; Birth Weight ; Dexamethasone ; Ductus Arteriosus* ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Fluid Therapy ; Gestational Age ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Incidence ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight* ; Mortality ; Pulmonary Edema ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn ; Risk Factors* ; Toxemia ; Ventilators, Mechanical ; Weight Loss

BACKGROUND: To investigate the role of alpha-adrenergic receptors in the development of delayed afterdepolarization, the effect of alpha-adrenoceptor stimulation and blockade on ouabain induced delayed afterdepolarization(DDAD) was examined in rabbit heart Purkinje fibers. METHODS: Purkinje fibers, taken from adult rabbit(1.8 - 2.0kg) heart anesthetized with penobarbital, were mounted in a Luicite chamber and superfused with Tyrode's solution. The transmembrane potentials were measured by the conventional microelectrode technique while the fibers were being stimulated with rectangular pulses of 50% above threshold voltage. The delayed afterdepolarizations were induced by overdrive excitation in the presence of ouabain. RESULTS: Delayed afterdepolarizations were not observed during superfusion of the control Tyrode's solution containing propranolol(5x10(-7)M). However, the addition of ouabain in the presence of propranolol elicited DADs which were dose-, time- and drive cycle length- dependent. Phenylephrine(PE ; 10(-7)M), and alpha-adrenoceptor agonist, potentiated the ouabain-induced DAD during the initial superfusion(for 10 or 20 min) of the test Tyrode's solution. However, it was followed by attenuating-effects after a superfusion time of 50 to 60 min. Both effects showed ouabain dose-dependence. Ouabain(2x10(-7)M), in the presence of propranolol, depolarized the maximum diastolic potential and shortened the action potential duration, and the addition of PE(10(-7)M) did not affect the characteristics of action potential except a decrease in velocity of phase 0 depolarization. Prazosin, an alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonist, inhibited the PE's enhancing effects of ouabaininduced DDAD at 20 min superfusion, but did not affect the attenuating-effects of PE at 60 min superfusion. On the other hand, yohimbine, an alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonist, did not affect the PE's DAD potentiating-effects at 20 min superfusion, but inhibited the attenunating-effects of PE at 60 min superfusion. CONCLUSION: It is inferred that alpha-adrenergic stimulation induce delayed afterdepolarization and triggered activity in the rabbits, being responsible for the arrhythmia development, and the effects are mainly due to the action of alpha1-subtpe adrenoceptor stimulation.
Action Potentials ; Adult ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Hand ; Heart ; Humans ; Membrane Potentials ; Microelectrodes ; Ouabain ; Prazosin ; Propranolol ; Purkinje Fibers ; Rabbits ; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha* ; Yohimbine

In addition to many of the widely accepted risk factors of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), such as prematurity, oxygen toxicity, barotrauma, and infection, the amount of fluid intake during the early phase of life has recently been reported to be an important factor, especially the amount of colloid. Forty-one premature infants who were admitted to the NICU of Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine between Jan. 1990 and Jun. 1992 and treated for respiratory difficulty with mechanical ventilation and restrictive fluid therapy were included in the study. fourteen were diagnosed as BPD and the rest were grouped as Non-BPD. We confirmed prematurity, low birth weight, high oxygen concentration, high ventilator pressures and rates, perinatal asphyxia, acidosis, and low blood pressures as risk factors. However, with restrictive fluid therapy that we have used, there was no difference in the amount of total fluid, of crystalloid, or of colloid between BPD and Non-BPD groups, as were the urine output, serum electrolyte concentrations, and percent body weight change. The amount of colloid when used for the maintenance of adequate blood pressures and for the prevention and treatment of hypovolemia, oliguria, anemia of sepsis under the scheme of restrictive fluid therapy would not influence adversely in the development of BPD. Instead, the amount of colloid used may imply the severity of illness of the patient; that is, the more severe the condition of the patient the more the amount of colloid used.
Acidosis ; Anemia ; Asphyxia ; Barotrauma ; Body Weight Changes ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia* ; Colloids ; Fluid Therapy* ; Humans ; Hypovolemia ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Oliguria ; Oxygen ; Respiration, Artificial* ; Risk Factors* ; Sepsis ; Ventilators, Mechanical

No abstract available.
Humans* ; Rotavirus*