Francisco Mezzacappa Filho

Fatores maternos e neonatais na incidência de displasia broncopulmonar em recém-nascidos de muito baixo peso

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, to identify maternal and neonatal factors associated with the disease, and to determine the correlation between bronchopulmonary dysplasia and the progress of newborns. METHODS: Data were prospectively collected on 153 infants born in Campinas (state of Sao Paulo, Brazil) from September 2000 to April 2002 weighing less than 1,500 g and treated at the University Hospital. The ratio of incidence rates with 95% CI, Breslow-Cox regression, Students t test, linear regression and the Fishers exact test were utilized. RESULTS: Among the 124 babies who survived until 28 days of age, 33 (26.6%) developed bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Birthweight < 1,000 g (5.6; 95% CI 3.0, 10.4) and gestational age < 30 weeks (4.0; 95% CI 2.1, 7.2) were correlated with increased incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Breslow-Cox regression showed that other factors including gender, Apgar score, hyaline membrane disease, antenatal steroid therapy, pregnancy-induced hypertension, delivery route and maternal age were not associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Mean duration of hospitalization and ventilator therapy in newborns with and without bronchopulmonary dysplasia was 78.8 days (SD = 26.67) vs. 43.0 days (SD = 14.49) (p < 0.01) and 27.2 days (SD = 21.26) vs. 3.7 days (SD = 3.02) (p < 0.01), respectively. Mean weight gain per day was lower in newborns with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (p < 0.01). Mortality in newborns with bronchopulmonary dysplasia was 21% (p < 0.00005). CONCLUSION: Gestational age and birthweight were inversely proportional to incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. After the onset of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, newborns with the disorder required longer periods of ventilator therapy and hospitalization, and presented inadequate weight gain and higher mortality rates than newborns without bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Follow-up of neonatal jaundice in term and late premature newborns

OBJECTIVES To report on the results of a project following term and near term newborn infants who were jaundiced during the neonatal period. METHODS Neonates were referred to the follow-up clinic with weight >/= 2,000 g and/or gestational age >/= 35 weeks, and jaundice at discharge was initially assessed with an Ingram icterometer or Bilicheck and, if indicated, with a Unistat bilirubinometer (Leica). These newborn infants had bilirubinemia at or above the 40th percentile on the nomogram developed by Bhutani. All infants treated with phototherapy while in hospital were reassessed by laboratory methods 24 hours after withdrawal of treatment. Patients were rehospitalized for intensive phototherapy if their level was greater than or equal to 20 mg/dL. RESULTS From a total sample of 11,259 neonates, 2,452 (21.8%) were referred to the follow-up clinic, 87.2% (2,140) of whom did return. Eighty returned neonates were readmitted. Return appointments were set for 2,452 patients, 180 (7.3%) of whom had bilirubinemia >/= 15 mg/dL at discharge. Of these 180, 151 returned for follow-up. Twenty (13.2%) were readmitted for treatment. Of the total number of readmitted patients, two newborn infants had levels >/= 25 mg/dL and none >/= 30 mg/dL. All responded rapidly to intensive phototherapy, and there was no need for exchange transfusions. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that the regime adopted is effective for detecting and preventing hyperbilirubinemia at risk of causing bilirubin-induced encephalopathy in term and near term newborn infants.

Peak pressure and tidal volume are affected by how the neonatal self-inflating bag is handled

OBJECTIVE To evaluate how different ways of handling the neonatal self-inflating bag influences peak pressure and tidal volume. METHODS This is an experimental study involving 141 different professionals (physicians, resident physicians, physiotherapists, nurses and nursing technicians), who ventilated an artificial lung, adjusted to simulate the lung of a term neonate, using a self-inflating bag. Each professional handled the ventilator in five different ways: a) using both hands (10 fingers); and, with only one hand, b) five fingers, c) four fingers, d) three fingers and e) two fingers. Peak pressure and tidal volume data were recorded by the artificial lung equipment. RESULTS Both variables showed high variability, from 2.5 to 106.3 cmH2O (mean = 39.73 cmH2O; 95%CI 37.32-42.13) for peak pressure, and from to 4 to 88 mL (mean = 39.56 mL; 95%CI 36.86-42.25) for tidal volume. There was no significant influence of the profession on any of the variables (p > 0.05). However, bag handling significantly influenced both peak pressure and tidal volume (p < 0.0001), which were higher when the operator used both hands. CONCLUSION The results indicate that most professionals delivered excessively high peak pressures and tidal volumes, which could increase the risk of barotrauma and volutrauma, especially when both hands were used to ventilate. On the other hand, a small number of professionals delivered insufficient pressure and volume for adequate lung expansion and ventilation. The delivery of inadequate ventilation was not dependent on profession.

Influência do manuseio do balão autoinflável neonatal sobre o pico de pressão e o volume corrente

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate how different ways of handling the neonatal self-inflating bag influence peak pressure and tidal volume. METHODS: This is an experimental study involving 141 different professionals (physicians, resident physicians, physiotherapists, nurses, and nursing technicians), who ventilated an artificial lung, adjusted to simulate the lung of a term neonate, using a self-inflating bag. Each professional handled the ventilator in five different ways: a) using both hands (10 fingers); and, with only one hand, b) five fingers, c) four fingers, d) three fingers, and e) two fingers. Peak pressure and tidal volume data were recorded by the artificial lung equipment. RESULTS: Both variables showed high variability, from 2.5 to 106.3 cmH2O (mean = 39.73 cmH2O; 95%CI 37.32-42.13) for peak pressure, and from to 4 to 88 mL (mean = 39.56 mL; 95%CI 36.86-42.25) for tidal volume. There was no significant influence of the profession on any of the variables (p > 0.05). However, bag handling significantly influenced both peak pressure and tidal volume (p < 0.0001), which were higher when the operator used both hands. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that most professionals delivered excessively high peak pressures and tidal volumes, which could increase the risk of barotrauma and volutrauma, especially when both hands were used to ventilate. On the other hand, a small number of professionals delivered insufficient pressure and volume for adequate lung expansion and ventilation. The delivery of inadequate ventilation was not dependent on profession.

Acompanhamento da icterícia neonatal em recém-nascidos de termo e prematuros tardios

OBJECTIVE: To report on the results of a project following term and near term newborn infants who were jaundiced during the neonatal period. METHODS: Neonates were referred to the follow-up clinic with weight > 2,000 g and/or gestational age > 35 weeks, and jaundice at discharge was initially assessed with an Ingram icterometer or Bilicheck and, if indicated, with a Unistat bilirubinometer (Leica). These newborn infants had bilirubinemia at or above the 40th percentile on the nomogram developed by Bhutani. All infants treated with phototherapy while in hospital were reassessed by laboratory methods 24 hours after withdrawal of treatment. Patients were rehospitalized for intensive phototherapy if their level was greater than or equal to 20 mg/dL. RESULTS: From a total sample of 11,259 neonates, 2,452 (21.8%) were referred to the follow-up clinic, 87.2% (2,140) of whom did return. Eighty returned neonates were readmitted. Return appointments were set for 2,452 patients, 180 (7.3%) of whom had bilirubinemia > 15 mg/dL at discharge. Of these 180, 151 returned for follow-up. Twenty (13.2%) were readmitted for treatment. Of the total number of readmitted patients, two newborn infants had levels > 25 mg/dL and none > 30 mg/dL. All responded rapidly to intensive phototherapy, and there was no need for exchange transfusions. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the regime adopted is effective for detecting and preventing hyperbilirubinemia at risk of causing bilirubin-induced encephalopathy in term and near term newborn infants.