Neonatal seizures are the most common clinical manifestations of critically ill neonates and often suggest serious diseases and complicated etiologies. The precise diagnosis of this disease can optimize the use of anti-seizure medication, reduce hospital costs, and improve the long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes. Currently, a few artificial intelligence-assisted diagnosis and treatment systems have been developed for neonatal seizures, but there is still a lack of high-level evidence for the diagnosis and treatment value in the real world. Based on an artificial intelligence-assisted diagnosis and treatment systems that has been developed for neonatal seizures, this study plans to recruit 370 neonates at a high risk of seizures from 6 neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in China, in order to evaluate the effect of the system on the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of neonatal seizures in neonates with different gestational ages in the NICU. In this study, a diagnostic study protocol is used to evaluate the diagnostic value of the system, and a randomized parallel-controlled trial is designed to evaluate the effect of the system on the treatment and prognosis of neonates at a high risk of seizures. This multicenter prospective study will provide high-level evidence for the clinical application of artificial intelligence-assisted diagnosis and treatment systems for neonatal seizures in the real world.
Artificial Intelligence ; Electroencephalography/methods* ; Epilepsy/diagnosis* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Newborn, Diseases/diagnosis* ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Multicenter Studies as Topic ; Prospective Studies ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Seizures/drug therapy*

BACKGROUND: The fetal growth charts in widest use in China were published by Hadlock >35 years ago and were established on data from several hundred of American pregnant women. After that, >100 fetal growth charts were published around the world. We attempted to assess the impact of applying the long-standing Hadlock charts and other charts in a Chinese population and to compare their ability to predict newborn small for gestational age (SGA). METHODS: For this retrospective observational study, we reviewed all pregnant women ( n  = 106,455) who booked prenatal care with ultrasound measurements for fetal biometry at the Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital between 2012 and 2019. A fractional polynomial regression model was applied to generate Shenzhen fetal growth chart ranges for head circumference (HC), biparietal diameter (BPD), abdominal circumference (AC), and femur length (FL). The differences between Shenzhen charts and published charts were quantified by calculating the Z -score. The impact of applying these published charts was quantified by calculating the proportions of fetuses with biometric measurements below the 3rd centile of these charts. The sensitivity and area under the receiver operating characteristic curves of published charts to predict neonatal SGA (birthweight <10th centile) were assessed. RESULTS: Following selection, 169,980 scans of fetal biometry contributed by 41,032 pregnancies with reliable gestational age were analyzed. When using Hadlock references (<3rd centile), the proportions of small heads and short femurs were as high as 8.9% and 6.6% in late gestation, respectively. The INTERGROWTH-21st standards matched those of our observed curves better than other charts, in particular for fat-free biometry (HC and FL). When using AC<10th centile, all of these references were poor at predicting neonatal SGA. CONCLUSIONS Applying long-standing Hadlock references could misclassify a large proportion of fetuses as SGA. INTERGROWTH-21st standard appears to be a safe option in China. For fat-based biometry, AC, a reference based on the Chinese population is needed. In addition, when applying published charts, particular care should be taken due to the discrepancy of measurement methods.
Infant, Newborn ; Child ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Humans ; Growth Charts ; Prenatal Care ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal/methods* ; Fetal Development ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Gestational Age ; Fetus ; China ; Infant, Newborn, Diseases ; Observational Studies as Topic

Infantile colic is a common self-limiting condition that causes significant distress to parents and caregivers. There is no clear cause, gold standard remedy or preventative action. The role of the family physician is to rule out sinister causes while providing counselling and reassurance for parents. The mainstay of management is parental support and reassurance while looking out for red flags in the baby such as fever, lethargy, distended abdomen and failure to thrive. This article provides a framework to approaching infantile colic and practical pointers to share with parents.
Caregivers ; Colic ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Crying ; Evidence-Based Medicine ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Formula ; Infant, Newborn ; Muscle Hypertonia ; diagnosis ; Parenting ; Parents ; Pediatrics ; methods ; Physicians, Family ; Primary Health Care ; methods ; Professional-Patient Relations

PURPOSE: Blood culture is an essential diagnostic tool and requires clear indications, proper techniques, and quality control. We aimed to investigate whether blood cultures in children are appropriate for indications, are performed correctly, and receive proper quality control. METHODS: We conducted an online survey targeting pediatric infectious diseases (ID) specialists working in general hospitals and neonatologists (Neo) working at hospitals operating a neonatal intensive care unit in Korea. RESULTS: Approximately 81.1% (30/37) of pediatric ID specialists and 72.2% (52/72) of Neo responded to the survey. Some of the respondents (33.3% of ID and 59.6% of Neo) performed blood culture as a regular test irrespective of the indication. Approximately 40% of ID and 65.4% of Neo ordered only one set of blood culture in patients suspected with bacteremia. The most commonly used disinfectant for skin preparation was povidone-iodine, while the skin preparation method varied by institution. Approximately two-thirds of the institutions were monitoring the blood culture contamination rate, whereas relatively few provided staff with feedback on that rate. In addition, less than half of the institutions were providing regular staff training on blood culture (40% of ID and 28.8% of Neo). CONCLUSIONS: The indication and methods of blood culture for children varied according to institution, and few hospitals exert effort in improving the quality of blood culture. Institutions have to strive constantly toward improvement of blood culture quality and evidence-based recommendations for pediatric blood cultures should be standardized.
Bacteremia ; Child ; Communicable Diseases ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Korea ; Methods ; Povidone-Iodine ; Quality Control ; Skin ; Specialization ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: To investigate factors that may affect the method of feeding among preterm infants at 4 weeks after discharge. METHODS: This study included 222 mother-infant dyads born before a gestational age of 37 weeks. The feeding method and general medical characteristics of the participants were assessed at 4 weeks after discharge using a structured questionnaire. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to examine which factors were associated with breastfeeding at home. RESULTS: Of the 222 infants who qualified for the study, 71 (32.9%) continued to receive breastmilk at 4 weeks post-discharge. Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that breastfeeding at 4 weeks post-discharge was associated with higher breastfeeding self-efficacy, vaginal delivery (experience), direct breastfeeding in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), gestational age between 30 and 34 weeks, and breastmilk consumption in the NICU. The following factors were associated with mixed feeding at 4 weeks post-discharge: being employed, having higher breastfeeding self-efficacy, and direct breastfeeding in the NICU. CONCLUSION: NICU nurses should provide opportunities for direct breastfeeding during hospitalization and support breastfeeding to enhance breastfeeding self-efficacy. These factors may help to ensure the continuation of breastfeeding after discharge. Moreover, factors that affect breastfeeding should be considered when providing interventions.
Breast Feeding ; Feeding Methods ; Gestational Age ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Formula ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Logistic Models ; Methods* ; Patient Discharge ; Premature Birth

INTRODUCTIONThis study aimed to determine the usefulness and validity of the triaging scale used in our emergency department (ED) by analysing its association with surrogate clinical outcome measures of severity consisting of hospitalisation rate, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, length of ED stay, predictive value for admission and length of hospitalisation.

METHODSA retrospective observational study was conducted of the performance markers of the Singapore Paediatric Triage Scale (SPTS) to identify children who needed immediate and greater care. All children triaged and attended to at the paediatric ED at KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2014 were included. Data was retrieved from the Online Paediatric Emergency Care system, which is used for patients' care from initial triaging to final disposition.

RESULTSAmong 172,933 ED attendances, acuity levels 1, 2 plus, 2 and 3 were seen in 2.3%, 26.4%, 13.5% and 57.8% of patients, respectively. For admissions, triage acuity level 1 had a strong positive predictive value (79.5%), while triage acuity level 3 had a strong negative predictive value (93.7%). Fewer patients with triage acuity level 3 (6.3%) were admitted as compared to those with triage acuity level 1 (79.5%) (p < 0.001). There was a correlation between triage level and length of ED stay.

CONCLUSIONThe SPTS is a valid tool for use in the paediatric emergency setting. This was supported by strong performance in important patient outcomes, such as admission to hospital, ICU admissions and length of ED stay.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Critical Care ; statistics & numerical data ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Hospitalization ; Hospitals, Pediatric ; Humans ; Infant ; Intensive Care Units ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Patient Admission ; Pediatrics ; methods ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Retrospective Studies ; Singapore ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; Triage ; methods

PURPOSE: The present study aimed to evaluate progression and prognosis according to the palliation method used in neonates and early infants aged 3 months or younger who were diagnosed with pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (PA VSD) or tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) with severe pulmonary stenosis (PS) in a single tertiary hospital over a period of 12 years. METHODS: Twenty with PA VSD and 9 with TOF and severe PS needed initial palliation. Reintervention after initial palliation, complete repair, and progress were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Among 29 patients, 14 patients underwent right ventricle to pulmonary artery (RV-PA) connection, 11 palliative BT shunt, 2 central shunt, and 2 ductal stent insertion. Median age at the initial palliation was 13 days (1–98 days). Additional procedure for pulmonary blood flow was required in 5 patients; 4 additional BT shunt operations and 1 RV-PA connection. There were 2 early deaths among patients with RV-PA connection, one from RV failure and the other from severe infection. Finally, 25 patients (86%) had a complete repair. Median age of total correction was 12 months (range, 2–31 months). At last follow-up, 2 patients had required reintervention after total correction; 1 conduit replacement and 1 right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) patch enlargements. CONCLUSION: For initial palliation of patients with PA VSD or TOF with severe PS, not only shunt operation but also RV-PA connection approach can provide an acceptable outcome. To select the most proper surgical strategy, we recommend thorough evaluation of cardiac anomalies such as RVOT and PA morphologies and consideration of the patient's condition.
Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular* ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Methods ; Palliative Care ; Prognosis ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Atresia* ; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Tetralogy of Fallot*

PURPOSE: Minimally invasive surfactant therapy (MIST) is currently used as a method of surfactant replacement therapy (SRT) for the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in preterm infants with a gestational age of less than 30 weeks. However, few studies have been conducted on MIST in neonates with a gestational age of 30 weeks or more. In this study, we compared MIST with endotracheal intubation as a rescue SRT for spontaneously breathing neonates with a gestational age of 30 weeks or more who were diagnosed with RDS. METHODS: We investigated the clinical characteristics of spontaneously breathing neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of the Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2016. These neonates were born at a gestational age of 30 weeks or more and were diagnosed with RDS. The neonates who were administered surfactant by MIST were categorized into the MIST group (n=16) and those who underwent endotracheal intubation were categorized into the control group (n=45). Thereafter, the clinical characteristics between the groups were compared. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, the MIST group was less likely to require mechanical ventilation within 72 hours (P < 0.001). The frequency of bradycardia during SRT was also low in the MIST group (P=0.033). CONCLUSION: MIST is considered relatively feasible and safe for treating RDS for reducing the need for mechanical ventilation and decreasing the occurrence of bradycardia during surfactant administration in neonates with a gestational age of 30 weeks or more.
Bradycardia ; Catheterization* ; Catheters* ; Gestational Age* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Infant, Premature ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Methods ; Noninvasive Ventilation ; Respiration ; Respiration, Artificial

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the meaning and essence of a mother's experience of hospitalization of her newborn in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). METHODS: This study employed a qualitative research design. An interview was conducted with a mother whose newborn was hospitalized in the NICU, and the data were analyzed using Giorgi's phenomenological method. RESULTS: Five main themes and 19 formulated meanings were indentified. The 5 themes were ‘drowning in pain’, ‘just look outside the glass door’, ‘being a pillar’, ‘a deepening attachment’, and ‘prepare for nurturing with hope’. CONCLUSION: The results of this study provided an in-depth understanding of the experience of a mother with a newborn in the NICU. These results can be used in the development of a nursing intervention program that provides psychological and emotional support to the mother and family.
Glass ; Hospitalization* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Intensive Care, Neonatal* ; Methods ; Mothers ; Nursing ; Qualitative Research

OBJECTIVE: Respiratory viral infection of the neonatal period is highly contagious. Rapid and accurate diagnosis is important for proper treatment and prevention. However, the existing diagnostic method, respiratory virus cell culture, takes a long time to diagnose. Recent development of rapid diagnostic methods such as multiplex reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) enable early detection and effective treatment of respiratory viral infections. We compared the efficiency of multiplex RT-PCR and R-mix virus culture for rapid detection of respiratory viruses. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical features and results of R-mix virus culture and multiplex RT-PCR with nasopharyngeal aspiration specimens in 117 newborns admitted to neonatal intensive care unit suspected of infectious diseases. RESULTS: R-mix virus culture was positive in 29 cases (24.8%) and RT-PCR in 86 cases (73.5%). R-mix virus culture and multiplex RTPCR were identical in 54 cases (positive 26 cases, negative 28 cases). Among 75 cases that showed different results, 60 showed negative result in R-mix virus culture and positive result in multiplex RT-PCR, and three showed positive result in R-mix virus culture and negative result in multiplex RT-PCR. Different viruses were detected in the remaining 12 cases by both methods. CONCLUSION: Multiplex RT-PCR is faster than R-mix virus culture and has the advantage of identifying new respiratory viruses. On the other hand, Multiplex RT-PCR is more susceptible to false positives and mixed infections than R-mix virus culture, so more attention is required when interpreting test results.
Cell Culture Techniques ; Coinfection ; Communicable Diseases ; Diagnosis ; Hand ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase*