OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical features and prognosis of extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWI).

METHODData of totally 165 hospitalized ELBWI between August 1st, 2008 and November 30th, 2013 in Hunan Children's Hospital were analyzed. The information of general data and births, prenatal care, delivery room stabilization, transfer information, complications, treatment, outcome and follow up were summarized.

RESULT(1) One hundred and sixty-five ELBWI were involved, their mean gestational age was (28.4±2.4) weeks, mean birth weight(910.9±93.1) g. (2) Rate of delivery in tertiary hospital was 46.7% (77/165) and prenatal steroids exposure was found in 52.1% (86/165). None of the cases were treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in delivery room. (3) Rate of infants who were transfered to the class III b neonatal ward within 12 hours after birth was 58.8% (97/165). (4) The main complications of them included neonatal respiratory distress syndrome(NRDS, 77.0%, 127/165), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD, 70.1%, 75/107), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA, 50.0%, 40/80), preterm retinopathy (ROP, 43.0%, 46/107), sepsis 39.4% (65/165), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH, 34.8%, 49/141), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC, 8.0%, 7/88). (5) TREATMENT: 97.6% (161/165) received oxygen therapy and 66.1% (109/165) received mechanical ventilation, 55.2% (91/165) used CPAP. 89.8% (114/127) of the NRDS used PS; 44.0% (33/75) of the BPD used low dose dexamethasone, 32.0% (24/75) used low dose nitric oxide; 60.0% (24/40) of the PDA used medication. 32.6% (15/46) of the ROP received laser photocoagulation. The average time of beginning enteral feeding was 2.0 d, the mean time to achieve full gastrointestinal feeding was 43.4 d. (6) OUTCOME: rate of survival in 165 cases with ELBWI was 51.5% (85/165), treatment was abandoned in 37.6% (62/165), total mortality was 48.5% (80/165). There were significant difference in survival rate between different birth weight group, gestational age group and admission age group (χ2=11.498, 8.789, 13.157, all P<0.05); There was significant difference in rate of giving up treatment between different birth weight and admission age groups (χ2=10.448, 8.259, all P<0.05). The primary cause of death was economic factor and worrying about prognosis. (7) Follow up: rate of neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) in part of follow up cases was 27.9% (12/43).

CONCLUSIONELBWI have many severe complications and sequelae, which need complex treatment and long hospital stay with a low survival rate. In order to improve the level of treatment, we need to improve the rate of prenatal steroids, carry out intrauterine and postnatal, transport of ELBWI to III b neonatal ward as early and rationally as possible, give professional, sophisticated and integrated treatment technologies as far as possible.

Birth Weight ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; diagnosis ; therapy ; China ; epidemiology ; Dexamethasone ; therapeutic use ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Premature, Diseases ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Prognosis ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Retinopathy of Prematurity ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Sepsis ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome

Objective: To investigate the incidence and trend of short-term outcomes among preterm infants born <34 weeks' gestation. Methods: A secondary analysis of data from the standardized database established by a multicenter cluster-randomized controlled study "reduction of infection in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) using the evidence-based practice for improving quality (REIN-EPIQ) study". This study was conducted in 25 tertiary NICU. A total of 27 192 infants with gestational age <34 weeks at birth and admitted to NICU within the first 7 days of life from May 2015 to April 2018 were enrolled. Infants with severe congenital malformation were excluded. Descriptive analyses were used to describe the mortality and major morbidities of preterm infants by gestational age groups and different admission year groups. Cochran-Armitage test and Jonckheere-Terpstra test were used to analyze the trend of incidences of mortality and morbidities in 3 study-years. Multiple Logistic regression model was constructed to analyze the differences of outcomes in 3 study-years adjusting for confounders. Results: A total of 27 192 preterm infants were enrolled with gestational age of (31.3±2.0) weeks at birth and weight of (1 617±415) g at birth. Overall, 9.5% (2 594/27 192) of infants were discharged against medical advice, and the overall mortality rate was 10.7% (2 907/27 192). Mortality for infants who received complete care was 4.7% (1 147/24 598), and mortality or any major morbidity was 26.2% (6 452/24 598). The incidences of moderate to severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia, sepsis, severe intraventricular hemorrhage or periventricular leukomalacia, proven necrotizing enterocolitis, and severe retinopathy of prematurity were 16.0% (4 342/27 192), 11.9% (3 225/27 192), 6.8% (1 641/24 206), 3.6% (939/25 762) and 1.5% (214/13 868), respectively. There was a decreasing of the overall mortality (P<0.001) during the 3 years. Also, the incidences for sepsis and severe retinopathy of prematurity both decreased (both P<0.001). However, there were no significant differences in the major morbidity in preterm infants who received complete care during the 3-year study period (P=0.230). After adjusting for confounders, infants admitted during the third study year showed significantly lower risk of overall mortality (adjust OR=0.62, 95%CI 0.55-0.69, P<0.001), mortality or major morbidity, moderate to severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia, sepsis and severe retinopathy of prematurity, compared to those admitted in the first study year (all P<0.05). Conclusions: From 2015 to 2018, the mortality and major morbidities among preterm infants in Chinese NICU decreased, but there is still space for further efforts. Further targeted quality improvement is needed to improve the overall outcome of preterm infants.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia/epidemiology* ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Mortality/trends* ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Premature, Diseases/epidemiology* ; Patient Discharge ; Retinopathy of Prematurity/epidemiology* ; Sepsis/epidemiology*

PURPOSE: The optimal timing and the consequences of dexamethasone therapy in chronic lung disease remain unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine whether early dexamethasone therapy would reduce the incidence of chronic lung disease and to determine the adverse effects and complications of prematurity associated with such therapy. METHODS: Twenty neonates with hyaline membrane disease(dexamethasone n=10, placebo n=10) of less than 32 weeks of gestation at Ewha Womens University Mokdong Hospital were enrolled. Infants were randomized to receive either early dexamethasone or placebo within 12 hours after birth for three days at 10 day intervals until postconceptional age was 36 weeks. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the incidence of chronic lung disease, duration of the ventilator therapy, O2 therapy and the duration of admission in the NICU. Retinopathy of prematurity and periventricular leukomalacia were more common in the dexamethasone-treated group(P< 0.05). There were no different in other complications between two groups. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that dexamethasone treatment in extreme low birth weight premature infants may be discouraged. And the duration of treatment and total dosage of dexamethasone should be reevaluated.
Dexamethasone* ; Female ; Humans ; Hyalin ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Leukomalacia, Periventricular ; Lung Diseases* ; Lung* ; Membranes ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Retinopathy of Prematurity ; Ventilators, Mechanical

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical effects of modified porcine (Curosurf(R)) and bovine (Newfactan(R)) surfactants in the treatment of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome. METHODS: Between April 2004 and December 2006, 65 neonates (birth weight < or =2,500 g and gestational age < or =35 weeks) with neonatal respiratory distress syndrome were treated in our neonatal intensive care unit with surfactant. Thirty-one neonates received Curosurf(R) and 34 neonates received Newfactan(R). The neonates were not enrolled if they had major congenital anomalies or meconium aspiration syndrome. We compared the changes in respiratory parameters after surfactant instillation, the incidences of acute and chronic complications, and the mortality between the two treatment groups. RESULTS: Neonatal and maternal demographic characteristics were not different between the groups. The patterns of change in the respiratory parameters after surfactant instillation were not statistically different between the groups. The incidences of surfactant reinstillation and acute complications, such as pneumothorax, patent ductus arteriosus, pulmonary hemorrhage, and grade 3-4 intraventricular hemorrhage, were not different between the neonates who received Curosurf(R) and the neonates who received Newfactan(R). There were no statistically significant differences in the duration of mechanical ventilation, oxygen therapy, hospitalization, prevalence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, periventricular leukomalacia, retinopathy of prematurity, necrotizing enterocolitis, and mortality between the groups. CONCLUSION: In the present comparative study, no significant differences in the clinical effects of Curosurf(R) and Newfactan(R) were observed.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing ; Gestational Age ; Hemorrhage ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Leukomalacia, Periventricular ; Meconium Aspiration Syndrome ; Oxygen ; Pneumothorax ; Prevalence ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn ; Retinopathy of Prematurity ; Surface-Active Agents

Dramatic advances in neonatal medicine over recent decades have resulted in decreased mortality and morbidity rates for extremely low birth weight infants. However, the survival of these infants is associated with short- and long-term morbidity, including severe intraventricular hemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia, nosocomial infection and necrotizing enterocolitis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, retinopathy of prematurity and adverse long-term neurodevelopmental sequelae. This article reviewed the latest advances in the medical care for extremely low birth weight infants including survival rate, ethical issues and short- and long-term morbidity, domestically and abroad.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; therapy ; Humans ; Infant Mortality ; Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature, Diseases ; therapy ; Leukomalacia, Periventricular ; therapy ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo study clinical characteristics and evaluate cardiac hemodynamic changes in premature infants with patent ductus ateriosus (PDA).

METHODOne hundred and five infants born at ≤ 34 weeks' gestational age (GA) and ≤2 000 g birth weight (BW) were prospectively enrolled, including 63 males and 42 females, and the mean GA was (31. 1 ± 1.9) weeks and BW (1 401 ± 314) g. Echocardiography was done to detect hemodynamically significant PDA (hsPDA) and to evaluate left ventricular function at 2, 3, 5 and 7 d respectively after birth. On the basis of clinical symptoms and echocardiographic outcome, all the cases were divided into 3 groups: hsPDA group (n = 34), non-hsPDA (nhsPDA) group (n = 44) and non-PDA (nPDA) group (n = 27) to survey and compare general conditions, DA diameter, shunt direction, left ventricular function and complications.

RESULTThe hsPDA group had smaller GA ((30. 5 ± 2. 1) vs. (31. 6 ± 1. 6) weeks, P = 0. 01) and greater proportion of pulmonary surfactant use and mechanical ventilation (2, 3, 5 d of birth) than the nhsPDA and the nPDA group (χ2 = 11. 62, 14. 95, 12. 73, 1:1. 59, P = 0. 00; 0. 00, 0. 01, 0. 01). Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis indicated that the average length of stay (ALOS) was correlated with hsPDA (F =3. 52 and P =0. 03, OR 1. 03 and P =0. 02). The ALOS was longer in the hsPDA group than in the nhsPDA and the nPDA group ((39 ±23)vs. (30 ± 16)and(29 ±13) d, P =0.02, 0.03). There was no significant.difference in rates of mortality/giving-up of treatment among the three groups (5. 9% (2/34)vs. 0 (0/44) and 3. 7% (1/27), χ2 = 5. 26, P = 0. 06). Diastolic blood pressure and mean blood pressure were significantly lower in the hsPDA group than in the other two groups (P all <0. 05) at 2, 3 and 5 days after birth and the pulse pressure was found significantly higher in the hsPDA group than in the nPDA group at 2 d after birth. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that hsPDA was correlated significantly with neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) (χ2 =7. 34 and 7. 39, P = 0. 02 and 0. 02; OR = 3. 46 and 4. 01, P = 0. 04 and 0. 02). Premature infants with hsPDA had normal left ventricular fractional shortening (FS) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), although the cardiac output (CO) of left ventricle increased significantly(F = 6. 93, P <0. 01) within seven days of birth. There was no significant difference in cardiac hemodynamic parameters among closed group of hsPDA group, nhsPDA group and nPDA group simutaneously reexamined at 7th day after birth. The CO was extremely significantly different among premature infants who had different GAs and BWs. The lower the GAs and the BWs, the lower the value of CO(F =5. 16 and 14. 87, P all <0. 01). The DA diameter was reduced much more dramatically after ibuprofen treatment than before in hsPDA group(t = 5. 58, P <0. 01).

CONCLUSIONThe GA, PS use and mechanical ventilation were probably associated with hsPDA. The mean blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were decreased and pulse pressure was increased in preterm infants with hsPDA that correlated significantly with ALOS, NRDS and BPD. In addition, increased CO values were found in hsPDA group. Oral ibuprofen administered to preterm infants for hsPDA at > 24 h of life promoted ductal closure.

Birth Weight ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; Cardiac Output ; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; physiopathology ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Ibuprofen ; therapeutic use ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Premature, Diseases ; Male ; Pulmonary Surfactants ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn ; Ventricular Function, Left

OBJECTIVETo study the incidence of early complications and treatment outcomes in premature infants conceived via test tube.

METHODSA retrospective analysis and comparison was conducted on the clinical data of 122 test-tube premature infants and 183 naturally conceived premature infants (control group), including maternal complications, birth conditions and early complications.

RESULTSThere was no statistically significant difference in maternal complications between the two groups (P > 0.05). The incidence of respiratory distress syndrome (25.4% vs 12.0%; P < 0.05) and malformations (3.3% vs 0%; P < 0.05) in the test-tube group was statistically higher than in the control group. The mortality rate in the test-tube group was statistically higher than in the control group (9.0% vs 2.2%; P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTest-tube premature infants are more likely to suffer from respiratory distress syndrome and have higher incidences of congenital malformations and mortality. Asisted reproductive technique should therefore be chosen cautiously, and enhanced assessment and monitoring is needed during pregnancy.

Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Premature, Diseases ; mortality ; therapy ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn ; mortality ; Retrospective Studies

Neonatal respiratory failure is a serious clinical illness commonly seen in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Although clinicians want to maximize noninvasive respiratory support, some low-birth-weight preterm infants may require invasive respiratory support from the beginning. As an important respiratory management technique for the treatment of respiratory failure, high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) allows gas exchange by rapid delivery at a tidal volume lower than or equal to anatomy death volume. Continuous distending pressure was applied to achieve uniform lung expansion, reduce repeated contraction of lung tissue, and exert a protective effect on lung tissue, and so it is preferred by clinicians and has been widely used in clinical practice. However, no consensus has been reached on the methods for weaning from HFOV. This article reviews the methods for weaning from HFOV, so as to provide help for clinical practice.
High-Frequency Ventilation ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Premature, Diseases ; Intermittent Positive-Pressure Ventilation ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn

Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remain major acute and chronic postnatal lung diseases in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. RDS and BPD are multifactorial diseases influenced by genetic factors. Specific genetic variants contributing to the regulation of pulmonary development, structure and function or inflammatory response, and host defense mechanism can be risk factors for the development of RDS and/or BPD. This review summarizes recent association studies of genetic polymorphisms with RDS and BPD. In addition, we analyze the genetic differences among various study populations to identify potential candidate genes for susceptibility to RDS and BPD in Korean preterm infants.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Lung Diseases ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical features of very preterm small-for-gestational-age infants born by cesarean section due to severe preeclampsia. METHODS: Forty-two small-for-gestational-age infants who were admitted from August 2017 to July 2018 and were born due to severe preeclampsia were enrolled as the observation group. Forty very preterm infants who were born to healthy mothers since uterine contractions could not be suppressed were enrolled as the control group. Perinatal features, clinical manifestations of infection, complications, and clinical outcomes were analyzed for the two groups. RESULTS: Within 6 hours and 2-3 days after birth, the observation group had significantly lower white blood cell count (WBC), absolute neutrophil count (ANC), and platelet count (PLT) than the control group ( CONCLUSIONS Very preterm small-for-gestational-age infants born due to severe preeclampsia have a high incidence rate of infection and severe conditions. Early manifestations include reductions in the infection indicators WBC, ANC, and PLT, and CRP does not increase significantly in the early stage and gradually increases at 2-3 days after birth. Most of these infants require invasive ventilation after birth, with bronchopulmonary dysplasia as the main complication. Clinical changes should be closely observed and inflammatory indicators should be monitored for early identification of infection, timely diagnosis, and timely adjustment of antibiotic treatment, so as to improve the outcome.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Extremely Premature ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature, Diseases ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy