Purpose: We aimed to survey current status of preparedness for neonatal resuscitation in delivery rooms in Korea. Methods: We analyzed data regarding preparedness for the resuscitation in terms of personnel, equipment, and education using a questionnaire, which was developed by the Korean Association of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. From August 2020 through January 2021, the questionnaires were sent to hospitals affiliated with the Korean Association of Maternity Hospitals or the Korean Neonatal Network (KNN) operated by the Korean Society of Neonatology. As per the affiliated society, the hospitals were grouped as the maternity hospitals or the KNN hospitals. The questionnaires were delivered in 3 steps: mailout, electronic mail, and phone calls. Results: Response rate was 21.3% (115 of 541) and 65.3% (49 of 75) in the maternity and KNN hospitals, respectively. The maternity hospitals showed a higher mean number of delivery and fewer pediatricians. In the KNN hospitals, pediatricians played a leading role during the resuscitation, but in the maternity hospitals, their role as a leader was less conspicuous. The KNN hospitals were better equipped with masks of variable sizes, oxygen blender, T-piece resuscitator, and electrocardiographic monitor (all Ps < 0.001). In the maternity hospitals, the preparedness of oxygen blender or T-piece resuscitator was positively associated with the number of pediatricians (P = 0.005). Although bag-mask ventilation was mostly feasible in both groups, endotracheal intubation was less feasible in the maternity hospitals (P = 0.007). The annual participation in resuscitation training for providers was higher in the KNN hospitals (P < 0.001). In the maternity hospitals, the annual participation was positively associated with the numbers of deliveries, obstetricians, and pediatricians. Conclusion This preliminary survey indicates the need for further improvement in preparing in personnel, equipment, and education, particularly in maternity hospitals.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the survival and morbidities of infants in the Korean Neonatal Network (KNN) with birth weight (BW) < 500 g. Methods: The demographic and clinical data of 208 live-born infants with a BW < 500 g at a gestational age of ≥ 22 weeks who were treated in the neonatal intensive care units of the KNN between 2013 and 2017 were reviewed. Results: The survival rate of the infants was 28%, with a median gestational age and BW of 24 3/7 weeks (range, 22 0/7 –33 6/7 ) and 440 g (range, 220–499), respectively. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis demonstrated that survival to discharge was associated with longer gestation, higher BW, female sex, singleton gestation, use of any antenatal corticosteroids, and higher Apgar scores at 5 minutes. The overall survival rates were significantly different between the BW categories of < 400 g and 400–499 g. However, there was no significant difference in the incidence of any morbidity between the BW groups.Half of the deaths of infants with BW < 500 g occurred within a week of life, mainly due to cardiopulmonary and neurologic causes. The major causes of death in infants after 1 week of age were infection and gastrointestinal disease. Among the surviving infants, 79% had moderate to severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia, 21% underwent surgical ligation of patent ductus arteriosus, 12% had severe intraventricular hemorrhage (grade III–IV), 38% had sepsis, 9% had necrotizing enterocolitis (stage ≥ 2), and 47% underwent laser treatment for retinopathy of prematurity. The median length of hospital stay was 132 days (range, 69–291), and 53% required assistive devices at discharge. Conclusion Despite recent advances in neonatal intensive care, the survival and morbidity rates of infants with BW < 500 g need further improvement.

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to provide morbidity and mortality information on very low birth weight (VLBW) infants with congenital heart disease (CHD-VLBWs). Methods: The study used a 10-year cohort of VLBW infants from a single institution. CHD was classified according to International Classification of Diseases, Version 9, Clinical Modification. Mortality and neonatal outcomes were assessed by comparing the CHD-VLBWs with gestational age- and birth weight-matched controls. Results: The prevalence of CHD-VLBWs was 7.5% (79/1,050), mean gestational age was 31.1±3.2 weeks, and mean birth weight was 1,126.2±268.3 g; 50.6% of the infants were small for the gestational age. The CHD-VLBWs more commonly had bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and the longer they were exposed to oxygen, the more frequently they developed BPD. Those with cyanotic heart disease developed severe BPD more frequently. Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) occurred frequently in the CHD-VLBWs and was not associated with their feeding patterns. CHD-VLBWs had a higher mortality rate; prematurity-related diseases were the leading cause of death before surgery, while heart-related problems were the leading cause of death after surgery. We found no significant difference in mortality from prematurity-related disease between the CHD-VLBWs and controls. In the subgroup analysis of CHD, the cyanotic CHD group had a higher incidence of BPD and higher mortality rate than the acyanotic CHD group. Conclusions CHD-VLBWs showed higher BPD, NEC, and mortality rates than those without CHD. There was also a higher incidence of BPD and mortality in VLBW infants with cyanotic CHD than in those with acyanotic CHD.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the survival and morbidities of infants in the Korean Neonatal Network (KNN) with birth weight (BW) < 500 g. Methods: The demographic and clinical data of 208 live-born infants with a BW < 500 g at a gestational age of ≥ 22 weeks who were treated in the neonatal intensive care units of the KNN between 2013 and 2017 were reviewed. Results: The survival rate of the infants was 28%, with a median gestational age and BW of 24 3/7 weeks (range, 22 0/7 –33 6/7 ) and 440 g (range, 220–499), respectively. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis demonstrated that survival to discharge was associated with longer gestation, higher BW, female sex, singleton gestation, use of any antenatal corticosteroids, and higher Apgar scores at 5 minutes. The overall survival rates were significantly different between the BW categories of < 400 g and 400–499 g. However, there was no significant difference in the incidence of any morbidity between the BW groups.Half of the deaths of infants with BW < 500 g occurred within a week of life, mainly due to cardiopulmonary and neurologic causes. The major causes of death in infants after 1 week of age were infection and gastrointestinal disease. Among the surviving infants, 79% had moderate to severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia, 21% underwent surgical ligation of patent ductus arteriosus, 12% had severe intraventricular hemorrhage (grade III–IV), 38% had sepsis, 9% had necrotizing enterocolitis (stage ≥ 2), and 47% underwent laser treatment for retinopathy of prematurity. The median length of hospital stay was 132 days (range, 69–291), and 53% required assistive devices at discharge. Conclusion Despite recent advances in neonatal intensive care, the survival and morbidity rates of infants with BW < 500 g need further improvement.

PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate the effects of two different macrolide prophylaxis protocols (prenatal and postnatal) for Ureaplasma on the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of 121 preterm infants whose birth weights were <1,250 g or gestational ages were <30 postmenstrual weeks. The demographic and clinical characteristics, including the presence of BPD, were compared between a prophylactic group, who received macrolide as prophylaxis prenatally and postnatally according to risk level, and a confirmed treatment group, who received macrolide prenatally and postnatally after detection of Ureaplasma infection. RESULTS: Seventy-four (61.2%) of 121 preterm infants were included in the prenatal prophylaxis group. No significant differences in demographic characteristics were observed between the prenatal prophylaxis and prenatal confirmed treatment group. The detection rate of Ureaplasma and the frequency of postnatal therapeutic treatment with macrolide were lower in the prenatal prophylaxis group than in the prenatal confirmed treatment group (16.2% vs. 40.4%, P=0.003; 8.1% vs. 48.9%, P< 0.001, respectively). Although no significant differences in the incidence of moderate to severe BPD, the rate of severe BPD was lower in the prenatal prophylaxis group than in prenatal confirmed treatment group (18.9% vs. 40.4%, P=0.010). No significant differences in the incidences of BPD of any level of severity were observed between the postnatal prophylaxis and confirmed treatment groups. CONCLUSION: Administration of prenatal prophylaxis with macrolide decreased the detection rate of Ureaplasma after birth and was associated with the decrease in the incidence of severe BPD in preterm infants.
Birth Weight ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia* ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Macrolides ; Parturition ; Retrospective Studies ; Ureaplasma Infections ; Ureaplasma*

Conflicting results on the influences of histologic chorioamnionitis (HC) on neonatal morbidities might be partly originated from using different definition of HC. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between HC and neonatal morbidities using definition of HC that reflects the site and extent of inflammation. This was a retrospective cohort study of 261 very low birth weight (VLBW) infants admitted at a tertiary academic center. Based on the site of inflammation, HC was categorized: any HC; amnionitis; funisitis; amnionitis+funisitis. The extent of inflammation in each site was reflected by sub-defining high grade (HG). The incidences of morbidities in infants with and without HC were compared. The bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) rate was significantly higher in infants with amnionitis and the severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) rate was significantly higher in infants with any HC and funisitis. After adjustment for both gestational age and birth weight, the respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) rate was significantly lower in infants with all categories of HC except for HG amnionitis and HG funisitis, which are not associated with lower RDS rate. HG amnionitis was significantly associated with increased BPD rate but the association of HC with severe ROP disappeared. In conclusion, HC is significantly associated with decreased RDS and HG amnionitis with increased BPD while lacking association with other neonatal morbidities in VLBW infants. The association with HC and neonatal morbidities differs by the site and extent of chorioamnionitis.
Adult ; Birth Weight ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia/complications/*epidemiology ; Chorioamnionitis/classification/*epidemiology/pathology ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; *Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Neutrophil Infiltration/immunology ; Placenta/pathology ; Pre-Eclampsia/*epidemiology/pathology ; Pregnancy ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn/complications/*epidemiology ; Retinopathy of Prematurity/complications/*epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Tertiary Care Centers

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a major gastrointestinal disorder in premature infants associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. When NEC is clinically suspected, radiological and laboratory studies should be performed to confirm the diagnosis and to aid in the management of patients. As the clinical manifestations of NEC are usually nonspecific, diagnoses are often made using abdominal radiographic findings, such as pneumatosis intestinalis. Clinicians typically consider the presence of pneumatosis intestinalis on radiographs as the definite evidence of stage II NEC. Here, we report 3 cases of preterm infants who had radiographic findings of pneumatosis intestinalis but did not have any other associated laboratory and clinical evidence of NEC, except bloody stools. The infants' systemic manifestations were mild or absent, and all of them completely recovered within 2-3 days, as demonstrated by the resolution of pneumatosis intestinalis on abdominal radiographs. The combination of hematochezia and intestinal pneumatosis in preterm infants strongly suggests the diagnosis of NEC. In our cases, there was no laboratory evidence of inflammation or platelet consumption, and the clinical course was benign without any sings of surgical abdomen. Additionally, our patients had barium-induced colitis or milk protein allergy, which are other possible causes of pneumatosis intestinalis. Because pneumatosis intestinalis can result from causes other than NEC, it is important to consider clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings to confirm the diagnosis of NEC.
Abdomen ; Blood Platelets ; Colitis ; Diagnosis ; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing* ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Inflammation ; Milk Proteins ; Mortality

Collagen type IV alpha 1 (COL4A1) plays an important role in construction of the basement membranes of all human tissues, especially vessels. Mutations in COL4A1 lead to various multisystemic dysfunctions, including hereditary porencephaly, hemorrhagic stroke, hemiplegia, cerebral small vessel disease, and nephropathy. In this study, we describe a neonatal case featuring a novel de novo COL4A1 mutation, manifesting as fetal intraventricular hemorrhage and porencephaly. This patient is one of the youngest to have been diagnosed with the most severe phenotype. Our experience may assist clinicians in the diagnosis and management of this extremely rare genetic condition.

PURPOSE: The pathophysiologic mechanism of nephrotic syndrome is not yet known clearly. At least in some cases, certain 'circulating factors' are thought to increase the glomerular protein permeability. Considering the systemic effect of the circulating factor on peritoneal membrane, we evaluated the loss of protein through peritoneal membrane in patients on peritoneal dialysis due to the end stage renal disease (ESRD) caused by steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 26 pediatric patients on peritoneal dialysis ensued during the period from 2001 to 2007 at our clinic. Twelve patients had SRNS, while 14 patients had ESRD caused by the congenital anomalies of urinary system. RESULTS: While the other parameters including nPNA indicating the adequacy of protein intake were similar between the two groups, serum albumin was lower in SRNS patients than the non- SRNS patients (3.7+/-0.3 g/dL vs. 4.0+/-0.4 g/dL, P=0.021). Peritoneal protein loss was higher in SRNS patients than in non-SRNS patients (3,044.4+/-837.6 mg/m2/day vs. 1,791.6+/-1,244.0 mg/m2/ day, P=0.007). The protein permeability of the peritoneal membrane measured by the ratio of total protein concentration in dialysate to plasma was twice as high in SRNS patients as the non-SRNS (1.06+/-0.46% vs. 0.58+/-0.43%, P=0.010). After 1 year, peritoneal protein loss increased in both patient groups, but to a significantly greater degree in non-SRNS patient (P=0.023). CONCLUSION: The results of our study support the notion that in nephrotic syndrome there are some 'circulating factors' with the systemic effect. Since the greater protein loss through peritoneal membrane in SRNS was confirmed in this study, more meticulous nutritional support and close monitoring on the nutrition are required in these patients.
Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Medical Records ; Membranes ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Nutritional Support ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Permeability ; Plasma ; Retrospective Studies ; Serum Albumin

PURPOSE: Fetoscopic laser surgery (FLS) is considered an optimal therapeutic strategy for twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). We aimed to determine the clinical outcomes of TTTS patients since the introduction of FLS. METHODS: A retrospective study of TTTS patients born between January 2005 and December 2015 was conducted. Mortality and morbidity were compared in the FLS and non-FLS groups. The FLS group was divided into selective FLS and Solomon technique group, and subgroup analysis was performed. RESULTS: Of 70 pregnancies diagnosed with TTTS during the study period, FLS was performed for 35 (50%). Survival of at least one infant at discharge was achieved in 100% (35/35) of pregnancies in the FLS group and 91.4% (32/35) in the non-FLS group (P=0.028). Subgroup analysis revealed that the Solomon technique group had a higher dual survival rate than the selective FLS group (81.3% vs. 57.9%, P=0.036). Neonatal mortality was significantly lower in the FLS group than in the non-FLS group (1.7% vs. 16.4%, P=0.005). Severe intraventricular hemorrhage more than grade 3 was less frequent in the FLS group than in the non-FLS group (0% vs. 18.2%, P= 0.001). The FLS group showed smaller inter-twin differences in birth weight (24.4% vs. 33.7%, P= 0.032) and lower incidence of twin anemia-polycythemia sequence (0% vs. 43.8%, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Since the introduction of FLS, the survival rate of TTTS patients has improved. The Solomon technique resulted in better dual survival rates than selective FLS.
Birth Weight ; Female ; Fetofetal Transfusion* ; Fetoscopy ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant Mortality ; Infant, Newborn ; Laser Therapy* ; Mortality ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Twins