Jennifer R. Bowen

Medical and developmental outcome at 1 year for children conceived by intracytoplasmic sperm injection

BACKGROUND Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was introduced as a new form of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) in 1993 and is now accepted as the treatment of choice for severe male infertility in many centres around the world. However, there is little information about the long-term outcome of children conceived by ICSI. We aimed to find out the medical and developmental outcome of children conceived by ICSI at age 1 year. METHODS In this prospective study, we compared the medical and developmental outcome at 1 year of 89 children conceived by ICSI with 84 children conceived by routine IVF, and with 80 children conceived naturally. Formal developmental assessment was done with Bayley Scales of Infant Development (2nd edition) from which a mental development index (MDI) was derived. FINDINGS There was no significant difference in the incidence of major congenital malformations or major health problems in the first year of life. However, the mean Bayley MDI was significantly lower for the children conceived by ICSI than for the children conceived by routine IVF or naturally (95.9 [SD 10.7], 101.8 [8.5], and 102.5 [7.6], respectively, p < 0.0001). 15 (17%) of 89 children conceived by ICSI experienced mildly or significantly delayed development (MDI < 85) at 1 year compared with two (2%) of the 84 children conceived by IVF and one (1%) of the 80 children conceived by natural conception (p < 0.0001). INTERPRETATION Although most children conceived by ICSI are healthy and develop normally, there is an increased risk of mild delays in development at 1 year when compared with children conceived by routine IVF or conceived naturally. These findings support the need for ongoing developmental follow-up of children conceived by ICSI to see whether they are at increased risk of intellectual impairment or learning difficulties at school age.

Low superior vena cava flow and effect of inotropes on neurodevelopment to 3 years in preterm infants

OBJECTIVE. The goal was to report the 1- and 3-year outcomes of preterm infants with low systemic blood flow in the first day and the effect of dobutamine versus dopamine for treatment of low systemic blood flow. METHODS. A cohort of 128 infants born at <30 weeks of gestation underwent echocardiographic measurement of superior vena cava flow at 3, 10, and 24 hours of age. Forty-two infants with low superior vena cava flow (<41 mL/kg per minute) were assigned randomly to dobutamine or dopamine. Surviving infants underwent blinded neurodevelopmental assessments at corrected ages of 1 and 3 years. RESULTS. Seventy-six of 87 surviving infants were seen at 1 year and 67 at 3 years. Forty-four infants had low superior vena cava flow. At 3 years, with adjustment for perinatal risk factors, death was predicted by low superior vena cava flow, lower gestational age, and low 5-minute Apgar score. Substantial reductions in the Griffiths General Quotient were associated with low superior vena cava flow and birth weight of <10th percentile. Infants with low flow had significant reductions in personal-social, hearing and speech, and performance subscales. Death or disability at 3 years was predicted by low superior vena cava flow and lower gestational age. For infants treated with inotropes, no significant differences were found in clinical outcomes, except for reduced rates of late severe periventricular/intraventricular hemorrhage in the dobutamine group. At 3 years, infants in the dopamine group had significantly more disability and a lower Griffiths General Quotient. At the latest time measured, however, combined rates of death or disability were similar. CONCLUSIONS. Early low superior vena cava flow was associated with substantial rates of death, morbidity, and developmental impairments. No difference was found in combined rates of death and disability for infants assigned randomly to dopamine or dobutamine.

Educational outcome at 8 years for children who were born extremely prematurely: A controlled study

Objective:  To assess the educational outcome and utilization of special education resources at age 8 years in children who were born extremely prematurely, and to compare this outcome with a matched cohort of children born full‐term.

Decreased aEEG Continuity and Baseline Variability in the First 48 Hours of Life Associated With Poor Short-Term Outcome in Neonates Born Before 29 Weeks Gestation

Amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) provides us with a method of assessing brain activity in critically ill neonates. In extremely premature neonates, the aEEG trace is predominantly discontinuous, making it difficult to distinguish between a “normal” and “abnormal” trace. We measured aEEG activity in the first 48 h of life in neonates born before 29-wk gestation and used both visual and quantitative analysis of the aEEG data to assess differences in neonates with poor short-term outcome [death or peri/intraventricular hemorrhage (P/IVH)] compared with those who survived without P/IVH to identify features of an abnormal aEEG. On quantitative analysis, EEG continuity <80% at 10-μV level was a sensitive and specific marker of poor short-term outcome. By using this marker, we identified 83% of neonates who died or developed grade 3 or 4 IVH and 60% of neonates who developed grades 1 or 2 IVH, with a positive predictive value for death or any IVH of 73% and a negative predictive value of 86%. Absence of sleep-wake cycling with baseline variability <2 μV was the strongest predictor of outcome using visual analysis alone.

Regional block versus general anaesthesia for caesarean section and neonatal outcomes: a population-based study

BackgroundAnaesthesia guidelines recommend regional anaesthesia for most caesarean sections due to the risk of failed intubation and aspiration with general anaesthesia. However, general anaesthesia is considered to be safe for the foetus, based on limited evidence, and is still used for caesarean sections.MethodsCohorts of caesarean sections by indication (that is, planned repeat caesarean section, failure to progress, foetal distress) were selected from the period 1998 to 2004 (N = 50,806). Deliveries performed under general anaesthesia were compared with those performed under spinal or epidural, for the outcomes of neonatal intubation and 5-minute Apgar (Apgar5) <7.ResultsThe risk of adverse outcomes was increased for caesarean sections under general anaesthesia for all three indications and across all levels of hospital. The relative risks were largest for low-risk planned repeat caesarean deliveries: resuscitation with intubation relative risk was 12.8 (95% confidence interval 7.6, 21.7), and Apgar5 <7 relative risk was 13.4 (95% confidence interval 9.2, 19.4). The largest absolute increase in risk was for unplanned caesareans due to foetal distress: there were five extra intubations per 100 deliveries and six extra Apgar5 <7 per 100 deliveries.ConclusionThe infants most affected by general anaesthesia were those already compromised in utero, as evidenced by foetal distress. The increased rate of adverse neonatal outcomes should be weighed up when general anaesthesia is under consideration.

Using hospital discharge data for determining neonatal morbidity and mortality: a validation study.

BackgroundDespite widespread use of neonatal hospital discharge data, there are few published reports on the accuracy of population health data with neonatal diagnostic or procedure codes. The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of using routinely collected hospital discharge data in identifying neonatal morbidity during the birth admission compared with data from a statewide audit of selected neonatal intensive care (NICU) admissions.MethodsValidation study of population-based linked hospital discharge/birth data against neonatal intensive care audit data from New South Wales, Australia for 2,432 babies admitted to NICUs, 1994–1996. Sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive values (PPV) with exact binomial confidence intervals were calculated for 12 diagnoses and 6 procedures.ResultsSensitivities ranged from 37.0% for drainage of an air leak to 97.7% for very low birthweight, specificities all exceeded 85% and PPVs ranged from 70.9% to 100%. In-hospital mortality, low birthweight (≤1500 g), retinopathy of prematurity, respiratory distress syndrome, meconium aspiration, pneumonia, pulmonary hypertension, selected major anomalies, any mechanical ventilation (including CPAP), major surgery and surgery for patent ductus arteriosus or necrotizing enterocolitis were accurately identified with PPVs over 92%. Transient tachypnea of the newborn and drainage of an air leak had the lowest PPVs, 70.9% and 83.6% respectively.ConclusionAlthough under-ascertained, routinely collected hospital discharge data had high PPVs for most validated items and would be suitable for risk factor analyses of neonatal morbidity. Procedures tended to be more accurately recorded than diagnoses.

Long term follow up of high risk children: who, why and how?

BackgroundMost babies are born healthy and grow and develop normally through childhood. There are, however, clearly identifiable high-risk groups of survivors, such as those born preterm or with ill-health, who are destined to have higher than expected rates of health or developmental problems, and for whom more structured and specialised follow-up programs are warranted.DiscussionThis paper presents the results of a two-day workshop held in Melbourne, Australia, to discuss neonatal populations in need of more structured follow-up and why, in addition to how, such a follow-up programme might be structured. Issues discussed included the ages of follow-up, and the personnel and assessment tools that might be required. Challenges for translating results into both clinical practice and research were identified. Further issues covered included information sharing, best practice for families and research gaps.SummaryA substantial minority of high-risk children has long-term medical, developmental and psychological adverse outcomes and will consume extensive health and education services as they grow older. Early intervention to prevent adverse outcomes and the effective integration of services once problems are identified may reduce the prevalence and severity of certain outcomes, and will contribute to an efficient and effective use of health resources. The shared long-term goal for families and professionals is to work toward ensuring that high risk children maximise their potential and become productive and valued members of society.

Pregnancy exposures and risk of childhood asthma admission in a population birth cohort

To cite this article: Algert CS, Bowen JR, Lain SL, Allen HD, Vivian‐Taylor JM, Roberts CL. Pregnancy exposures and risk of childhood asthma admission in a population birth cohort. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2011: 22: 836–842.

Ocular sequelae in extremely premature infants at 5 years of age.

Objective To report long‐term ophthalmological sequelae in extremely premature infants at 5 years and to determine the relationship between neonatal variables (including retinopathy of prematurity; ROP) and the 5 year ophthalmological outcome of these infants.

Extremely low birthweight infants at 3 years: A developmental profile

This study documents the neurodevelopmental outcome at 3 years of 52 of 55 extremely low birthweight (ELBW) survivors (survival rate 49%) born in a tertiary maternity centre from July 1985 through December 1988, and examines more closely the developmental profile of the neurologically normal survivors. At 3 years, 6 (12%) children had severe neurodevelopmental impairment (severe cerebral palsy, blindness, deafness or a General Quotient (GQ)<70 on the Griffiths Scales), 11 (21 %) had mild to moderate impairment and 35 (67%) had no neurosensory impairment and normal development (GQ≥ 85). Significant risk factors for severe impairment were stage 3 or 4 retinopathy of prematurity (odds ratio [OR] 21.5), treatment with postnatal steroids (OR 21), grade III or IV intraventricular haemorrhage (OR 11) and supplemental oxygen at ‘term’(OR 6.4). The developmental profile of the 35 neurologically normal children revealed a significant weakness in eye and hand coordination skills and a relative strength in hearing and speech skills. Early recognition of this developmental profile may allow implementation of more appropriate preschool programmes for ELBW children.