Objective:To study the risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs).Methods:From October 2020 to December 2021, VLBWIs with gestational age(GA) ≤32 weeks admitted to the neonatal department of our hospital were retrospectively studied. According to the occurrence of ROP, they were assigned into ROP group and non-ROP group. The clinical data of the two groups were compared and the risk factors of ROP in VLBWI were analyzed.Results:A total of 251 VLBWIs were enrolled, including 60 cases (23.9%) in ROP group and 191 (76.1%) in non-ROP group. The GA and birth weight (BW) of ROP group were significantly lower than non-ROP group [28(26,30) w vs. 29(28,31) w, 1 035(840,1 285) g vs. 1 260(1 110,1 380) g, respectively, all P<0.001]. The ROP group had longer duration of oxygen therapy [42.0(26.0, 53.5) d vs. 24.0(18.0, 34.0) d], higher incidences of blood transfusion [2.5(1.0, 3.0) times vs. 2.0 (1.0, 2.0) times] and hyperglycemia (80.0% vs. 16.8%), higher average [(5.6±0.5) mmol/L vs. (5.1±0.5) mmol/L] and peak [10.4(7.8,13.2) mmol/L vs. 6.5(6.1,6.8) mmol/L] blood glucose levels in the first week than the non-ROP group (all P<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that longer duration of oxygen therapy ( OR=1.047, 95% CI 1.008-1.087, P=0.018) and higher peak blood glucose level in the first week ( OR=1.268, 95% CI 1.092-1.474, P=0.002) were the independent risk factors for ROP. Conclusions:Longer duration of oxygen therapy and higher peak of blood glucose level in the first week are risk factors for ROP in VLBWIs.

Objective:To study the risk factors of secondary hydrocephalus after severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in preterm infants for prevention and early identification of post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH).Methods:From June 2013 to June 2021, preterm infants with severe IVH admitted to our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. They were assigned into PHH group and non-PHH group. Rank sum test or chi-square test was used for comparison between the two groups and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors of PHH in preterm infants.Results:A total of 246 preterm infants with severe IVH were enrolled, including 68 cases (27.6%) in the PHH group and 178 cases (72.4%) in the non-PHH group. Multivariate logistic stepwise regression analysis showed that male gender ( OR=2.014, 95% CI 1.063-3.817), gestational age ≤30 week ( OR=2.240, 95% CI 1.210-4.146), 5-min Apgar score ≤5 ( OR=3.980, 95% CI 1.483-10.685), placental abruption ( OR=2.940, 95% CI 1.324-6.531) were independent risk factors for PHH in preterm infants and thrombocytopenia was the protective factor for PHH in preterm infants ( OR=0.305, 95% CI 0.147-0.632). The incidence of moderate thrombocytopenia in non-PHH group was significantly higher than PHH group ( P<0.05). No significant differences existed in the incidences of mild and severe thrombocytopenia between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Male gender, gestational age ≤30 week, 5-min Apgar score ≤5, placental abruption are risk factors for PHH in premature infants with severe IVH and moderate thrombocytopenia has protective effects.

Objective:To analyze the incidence and the related factors of umbilical vein catheter (UVC) tip migration within 7 d after umbilical vein catheterization.Methods:This prospective study involved neonates who were successfully indwelled with UVCs in the Department of Neonatology of Gansu Provincial Women and Child-care Hospital from June 2020 to December 2021. The position of the UVC tip, length of umbilical stump, body weight, and abdominal circumference were recorded after the UVCs were inserted successfully, and the changes in these four data at 2, 24, 48, 72 h, and 7 d after catheterization were analyzed and compared. All the subjects were divided into the non-migrate group, inward migration group, and outward migration group. Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test, or Kruskal Wallis H test were used for statistical analysis. Results:A total of 157 newborns were enrolled, with 51 cases in the inward migration group, 62 cases in the outward migration group, and 44 cases in the non-migrate group. There were no significant differences among the three groups regarding gestational age, birth weight, gender, born through cesarean section, age at the time of catheterization, use of sedation, and feeding modes (all P>0.05). The migration rates of UVCs tip at 2, 24, 48, 72 h, and 7 d after catheterization were 0, 27.4% (43/157), 27.2% (31/114), 25.3% (21/83), and 29.0% (18/62), respectively. The cumulative migration rates at 24, 48, 72 h, and 7 d were 27.4% (43/157), 47.1% (74/157), 60.1% (95/157), and 72.0% (113/157), respectively. Compared with the non-migrate group, the inward migration group had a shorter umbilical cord stump at 24 and 48 h [0.5 cm (0.4-0.5 cm) vs 0.6 cm (0.5-0.8 cm); 0.4 cm (0.3-0.5 cm) vs 0.5 cm (0.5-0.6 cm), Z=－5.55 and －3.69, both P<0.05], less abdominal circumference increment at 48 and 72 h [0.6 cm (0.5-1.0 cm) vs 0.9 cm (0.7-1.2 cm); 0.6 cm (0.3-0.9 cm) vs 0.9 cm (0.7- 1.3 cm), Z=－2.03 and －2.09, both P<0.05)], and more weight loss percentage [－4.7% (－6.0%-－3.6%) vs －3.1% (－3.7%-－2.2%); －6.0% (－7.5%-－5.0%) vs －3.9% (－5.1%-－2.4%), Z=－3.75 and －2.96, both P<0.05]. The abdominal circumference increased more in the outward migration group at 24, 48, 72 h, and 7 d than those in the non-migrate group [1.6 cm (0.9-1.9 cm) vs 0.7 cm (0.5-0.9 cm); 1.5 cm (1.2-1.8 cm) vs 0.9 cm (0.7-1.2 cm); 1.7 cm (1.3-1.9 cm) vs 0.9 cm (0.7-1.3 cm); 1.6 cm (1.1-1.9 cm) vs 0.9 cm (0.6-1.3 cm), Z=－4.82, －4.79, －3.74, and －3.09, all P<0.05]. Conclusion:The incidence of UVC tip migration is high, which could be affected by dryness and retraction of the umbilical cord stump and the change in neonatal abdominal circumference and body weight.

Objective:To explore the effect of umbilical vein catheterization (UVC) on portal vein blood flow velocity (PBFVe) and its relationship with gastrointestinal (GI) complications in neonates.Methods:A prospective study was conducted on neonates with indications for UVC and achieving one-time successful catheterization at Gansu Provincial Women and Child-care Hospital from March 2019 to March 2021. Successful UVC was defined as the umbilical catheter reaching the entrance of the inferior vena cava and right atrium through the ductus venosus. PBFVe was measured by bedside ultrasound before and after UVC. All subjects were divided into two groups as those with GI complications anytime from insertion to withdrawal (complication group), and those with no GI complications (no complication group) to compare the PBFVe value before UVC and the percentage of decrease in PBFVe after UVC. Multivariate logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used to analyze the risk factors of GI complications and the predictive value of the percentage of decrease in PBFVe after UVC.Results:Of 91 subjects included, 59.3% (54/91) had no GI complications, and 40.7% (37/91) had. After UVC, PBFVe was decreased than before in neonates both with and without GI complications [(11.3±1.8) vs (14.7±2.4) cm/s; (12.4±1.7) vs (14.2±1.8) cm/s, t=－16.92 and－17.62, respectively, both P<0.05]. PBFVe before UVC were similar between the two groups. However, the complications group had a lower PBFVe after UVC ( t=－2.98, P=0.004) and a higher percentage of decrease in PBFVe [(22.5±6.0)% vs (12.6±4.9)%, t=8.65, P<0.001] when compared with the no complications group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the body weight was the protector of GI complications ( OR=0.294, 95% CI:0.089-0.974, P=0.045), and the percentage of decrease in PBFVe was the risk factor ( OR=1.478, 95% CI:1.249-1.749, P<0.001). The area under the curve of the percentage of decrease in PBFVe for predicting GI complications was 0.919 (95% CI:0.843-0.966, P<0.001). The cut-off value was 16.9% with a sensitivity of 89.2% and a specificity of 85.2%. Conclusions:UVC can reduce the PBFVe of neonates. The more the PBFVe decreases, the greater the possibility of GI complications.

Objective:To explore the effect of the angle between sagittal part of left portal vein and ductus venous(AsLPVDV), and the diameter of ductus venous(DDV) on the success rate of umbilical venous catheterization (UVC) in neonates.Methods:This was a retrospective study including 80 neonates requireing UVC in Gansu Provincial Women and Child-care Hospital from April 2020 to January 2021. According to the results of UVC, they were grouped into the success group(successful insertion of catheter, n=76) and failure group(failed to insert, n=4), or one-time success group (successful after first insertion attempt, n=43) and non-one-time success group(successful after several attempts or failed to insert, n=37). The AsLPVDV and the DDV were measured before UVC by bedside ultrasound. For those with obstruction of catheterization were guided by pressing the abdomen in right side recumbent position under real-time ultrasound monitoring. The success rate of UVC and the differences of AsLPVDV and DDV among different groups were compared. Chi-square test, t test, or U test were adopted for the comparison among groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the AsLPVDV and the DDV in predicting the one-time success of UVC. Results:The total success rate of UVC was 95%(76/80) and the one-time success rate was 53.8%(43/80). A larger AsLPVDV and DDV were observed in the success group compared with the failure group [(142.2±8.3)° vs (133.6±3.2)°, (3.0±0.4) vs(1.8±0.4) mm, t=6.284 and 2.064, both P<0.05] as well as in one-time success group compared with the non-one-time success group [(147.5±6.2)° vs (135.2±4.7)°, (3.1±0.3) vs (2.8±0.6) mm, t=9.956 and 2.939, both P<0.05]. Area under the curve of AsLPVDV and DDV in predicting one-time success of UVC were 0.944(95% CI:0.869-0.983) and 0.811 (95% CI:0.708-0.890), respectively. The cut-off value was 140.4° for AsLPVDV and 2.9 mm for DDV, with the sensitivity of 93.0% and 90.7%, and specificity of 91.9% and 64.9%, respectively. Conclusions:The success rate of UVC is related to AsLPVDV and DDV. AsLPVDV is of high value in predicting the one-time success of UVC.