Lorayne Barton

Two-year outcome of infants weighing 600 grams or less at birth and born 1994 through 1998

OBJECTIVE: To assess the neurologic and developmental outcome at 2 years of age in preterm infants with birth weights 600 g or lower. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review from January 1994 through December 1998 for placental histopathology, maternal factors, neonatal intensive care unit course, growth, neurologic/special sense status, and development at 2 years of age corrected for prematurity. RESULTS: Of the 104 neonates weighing 600 g or less, 24 survived to nursery discharge (23%). Two infants died of chronic lung disease after discharge, and 21 of the remaining 22 infants (95%) returned for follow‐up. Placental pathology was available for 21 (95%); acute inflammation was present in 67%, and other abnormalities occurred in 76%. Mean birth weight was 537 (430‐600) g, and mean gestational age was 24 (22‐27) weeks. At birth, 55% were below the tenth percentile for birth weight. At nursery discharge and 2 years of age, 94% were below the tenth percentile for weight, length, and head circumference. Nineteen of 21 (90%) infants were abnormal on neurodevelopmental follow‐up. Major problems were cerebral palsy, blindness, gastrostomies, and ventriculoperitoneal shunts. CONCLUSION: Abnormal placental histology was present in all but one infant, suggesting fetal injury before birth. Only eight of 20 infants with chorioamnionitis were diagnosed clinically, and all infants had a complicated course. We found a high incidence of intrauterine growth restriction and an almost universal pattern of impaired postnatal growth with extremely poor neurodevelopmental outcome at 2 years of age. (Obstet Gynecol 2003;101:18‐23.

Clinical significance of prenatal ultrasonographic intestinal dilatation in fetuses with gastroschisis

OBJECTIVE Our purpose was to evaluate the clinical significance of intestinal dilatation detected by prenatal ultrasonographic examination in fetuses with gastroschisis. STUDY DESIGN A retrospective chart review was performed of all patients cared for at Los Angeles County/University of Southern California Womens and Childrens Hospital with the prenatal diagnosis of gastroschisis over a 7-year period (1988 through 1995). Patients were divided into two groups on the basis of the presence or absence of ultrasonographically measured fetal bowel diameter of > or = 17 mm. Neonatal outcomes of the two groups were compared. RESULTS Twenty-one patients met the entry criteria during the study period. Fetuses with maximal bowel diameter of > or = 17 mm did not have a longer time to full oral feeding, a longer initial hospital stay, or a greater need for bowel resection when compared with fetuses with a bowel diameter < 17 mm. Two newborns underwent bowel resection because of intestinal atresia. Prenatal ultrasonographic examination failed to show significant bowel dilatation in either infant. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that prenatal evidence of intestinal dilatation in fetuses with gastroschisis does not predict immediate neonatal outcome. Thus this finding is not an appropriate indication for preterm delivery in the absence of other evidence of fetal compromise.

Severe Brachial Plexus Palsy in Women Without Shoulder Dystocia

OBJECTIVE: Neonatal brachial plexus palsy frequently is described in conjunction with shoulder dystocia complicating a vaginal delivery. In this study, we present a series of cases of severe brachial plexus palsy that occurred without shoulder dystocia. METHODS: Cases were identified from deliveries at the Los Angeles County and University of Southern California Medical Center. Various maternal and neonatal characteristics were analyzed. RESULTS: Eight cases without shoulder dystocia but with severe brachial plexus palsy requiring neonatal intensive care unit admission were identified. None of the patients had maternal diabetes, previous shoulder dystocia, previous macrosomia, or labor induction. The mean second stage of labor was normal (2.15±1.93), as was the mean birth weight (3,514±1,043). One case required cesarean delivery. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that severe brachial plexus palsy occurs in women without shoulder dystocia and without identifiable risk factors. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III

Decrease in incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia with erythropoietin administration in preterm infants: a retrospective study.

Background: Despite advances in clinical care, the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains high in premature infants. Erythropoietin (EPO) is used for the treatment of anemia of prematurity (AOP) to decrease blood transfusion needs. EPO has been shown to mobilize circulating endothelial progenitor cells and to enhance lung repair in animal models. Objective: To determine whether EPO treatment for AOP was associated with a reduced incidence of BPD in premature infants. Methods: This retrospective study was performed on all live-born neonates with birth weights from 500 to 1,500 g and gestational age (GA) from 22 to 32 weeks admitted from 1994 to 2002. Infants who received EPO and those who did not receive EPO were compared for incidence of BPD and other morbidities. Results: Of 478 patients, 297 received EPO before 36 weeks’ postmenstrual age (group 1) and 181 did not receive EPO (group 2). Group 1 was of similar birth weight but lower GA than group 2. The incidence of BPD was lower in group 1 than group 2 (26 vs. 36%, p = 0.03); after adjusting for significant risk factors, the adjusted odds ratio for BPD was 0.50 (95% CI 0.32, 0.79), p = 0.0028. The BPD rate was much lower when EPO was initiated before 4 weeks of age (16%) as compared to later initiation (44%). Conclusions: This study shows an association between EPO treatment and reduced incidence of BPD in preterm infants, particularly when EPO treatment was initiated within the first 4 weeks of life.

Infection as a cause of death in the extremely-low-birth-weight infant

Objective: To determine the causes of neonatal death for extremely-low-birth-weight (ELBW) infants. Methods: All liveborn infants below 1000 g birth weight born from 1994 to 1998 who died and were autopsied were included. Maternal and infant characteristics, placental histology, autopsy material and culture results were obtained. Results: A total of 263 ELBW infants were born alive, 104 (40%) died and 44 (42%) were autopsied. Placentas were available for 41 (93%). Infection was the leading cause of death in the autopsied babies (25/44; 57%). Sixteen (64%) of these deaths occurred within the first 48 h and were classified as being due to congenital infections. Twenty-two of 41 (54%) placentas showed evidence of infection. Infection as a cause of death peaked at 22 weeks. Other causes of death were lethal anomalies (20%), respiratory distress and its complications (9%) and immaturity, intraventricular hemorrhage and other conditions (14%). Conclusion: Congenital infection is the leading cause of death in ELBW infants.

Urinary Tract Infections in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

OBJECTIVE Our aim was to describe laboratory findings and imaging results for neonatal patients diagnosed with urinary tract infection (UTI). STUDY DESIGN Medical records were reviewed for infants diagnosed with UTI in a single neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) over a 13-year period. RESULTS Of the 8,241 patients admitted to the NICU during the study period, 137 infants were diagnosed with UTI. Imaging was reviewed for 101 patients. Renal pelvis dilation was found in 34% of patients and vesicoureteral reflux was found in 21%. Renal pelvis dilation was not associated with reflux (OR: 0.53 [95% CI: 0.18-1.5]). The sensitivity of urinalysis to detect a positive culture was 76%, and the specificity was 41%. Tests of cure for bacterial infections were uniformly negative. CONCLUSION Renal pelvis dilation was common but not associated with reflux among NICU patients diagnosed with UTI. Diagnostic criteria in this population are not well defined, and guidelines are needed for diagnosis and management of UTIs in NICU patients.

The C in TORCH: A Cost-Effective Alternative to Screening Small-for-Gestational-Age Infants

Background: Infants born with birth weights under the 10th percentile for their gestational age are classified as small for gestational age (SGA). TORCH infections are reported to be associated with SGA infants. With the low incidence of infections, screening is likely to be expensive and of low utility. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the utility and cost-effectiveness of screening SGA infants with TORCH serology titers, urine cytomegalovirus (CMV) cultures and cranial ultrasounds. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on all infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Los Angeles County and University of Southern California (LAC+USC) Medical Center from January 2003 to December 2011 with a diagnosis of SGA or intrauterine growth restriction. Birth characteristics such as birth weight, length, head circumference and gestational age were recorded. TORCH titer results, urine CMV results and cranial ultrasound findings were collected. Results: Between 2003 and 2011, 232 SGA infants were admitted to the NICU at LAC+USC Medical Center. Of these, 117 infants (50%) had TORCH titer testing performed; there was only 1 positive CMV IgM and 1 positive HSV IgM result. Repeat urine CMV testing was performed on 109 infants (47%), with a total of 296 urine CMV samples collected from these infants; 6 infants had positive results, of whom 3 had repeat positive urine CMV samples. Overall, 149 of the infants had a cranial ultrasound done, none of which were positive for calcifications. Conclusions: TORCH titer testing, urine CMV screening and cranial ultrasound screening are of low yield in screening clinically asymptomatic SGA infants for TORCH infections. Given the low number of positive results, a cost-effective alternative of selective TORCH testing may be limited to infants with additional clinical findings. This study serves as a reminder to periodically examine testing practices and patient population to maximize cost-effectiveness.

Causes of Nursery Death beyond the Neonatal Period

OBJECTIVE: To investigate causes of death in infants who died after 28 days, beyond the neonatal period but before discharge from the nursery, to establish their clinical courses and causes of death and to attempt to find criteria for earlier identification of these infants.METHODS: We identified 30 such infants (12% of nursery deaths) from 1993 through 1998 and conducted a retrospective review of their records including placental pathology and autopsy reports when available. In all, 14 infants who weighed ≤860 g at birth were matched with survivors.RESULTS: The 30 infants divided almost equally into two groups. Of them 15 infants weighing ≥880 g died of diverse congenital anomalies, including five with nonhemolytic hydrops and four with pulmonary hypoplasia. One infant without congenital anomaly weighed 3290 g. Support for this severely asphyxiated infant was withdrawn after 103 days because of progressive cortical atrophy. The remaining 14, the largest of which weighed 860 g, died of complications of prematurity, which we termed postponed neonatal deaths (PND). They followed a typical course of progressive multiple organ failure. All received assisted ventilation and postnatal steroids, developed chronic lung disease, and were on ventilation at the time of death. Renal insufficiency occurred late in the course. Acute infections and renal failure were the major proximal causes of death. When compared with surviving controls the PND were less likely to have received antenatal steroids and received more inotropic agents for cardiovascular support and more amphotericin for fungal infection; surgery for perforated bowel was confined to the PND.CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of postneonatal nursery deaths has not changed in more than 20 years remaining at 11 to 12% of nursery deaths. Congenital anomaly was a prominent cause of death (50%). When infants without congenital anomalies (PND) were compared to surviving controls, no differences were found, which could reliably identify PND early in their course. The only potentially preventable factor was lack of antenatal steroid exposure in the PND.

Neonatal Outcomes by Mode of Delivery in Preterm Birth.

OBJECTIVE We set out to test the hypothesis that infants born vaginally at ≤ 30 weeks gestation have less respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) than those born by cesarean delivery. STUDY DESIGN We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 652 infants born between 24 and 30 (6/7) weeks gestation from March 31, 1996 to May 31, 2014. Comparisons of neonatal outcomes by intended and actual mode of delivery were made using chi-square and t-tests (α = 0.05). Multiple logistic regression was performed to control for confounding variables. RESULTS Neonates born by cesarean delivery were more likely to have RDS (odds ratio [OR], 1.79; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10-2.90), require intubation (OR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.12-2.88), and have longer neonatal intensive care unit stay (70.0 ± 37.1 vs. 57.3 ± 40.1 days, p = 0.02). CONCLUSION Compared with cesarean delivery, vaginal delivery is associated with a significant reduction in RDS among infants born at ≤ 30 weeks gestation.

Initial hematocrit values after birth and peri/intraventricular hemorrhage in extremely low birth weight infants

ObjectiveIschemia followed by reperfusion plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of peri/intraventricular hemorrhage (P/IVH). Delayed cord clamping promotes placental transfusion to newborn and is associated with decreased P/IVH. We hypothesized that extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants with higher initial hematocrit (Hct) after birth are less likely to develop P/IVH.Study designPre- and postnatal data on inborn ELBW infants over 7 years were reviewed. We examined the relationship between P/IVH in the first week and initial Hct using logistic regression modeling.ResultsWe studied 225 infants with a median gestational age (GA) 25.7 (22.4–31.7). Forty-one percent had grade I–IV P/IVH. In univariate analysis, cesarean section (CS) and higher GA, birth weight, 5-minute Apgar, and initial Hct were associated with decreased likelihood of P/IVH while higher maximum PCO2 in first 3 days and use of inotropes/vasopressors, postnatal steroid for hypotension, hypernatremia, transfusion, and use of insulin for hyperglycemia during the first week of life were associated with increased likelihood of P/IVH. In multiple regression analysis, only GA, CS, and initial Hct remained significantly associated with P/IVH. Adjusting for GA and CS, the odds of P/IVH was higher with Hct < 40% (OR 2.04, 95% CI [1.11, 3.76]) and Hct < 45% (2.38 [1.19, 4.76]).ConclusionHigher initial Hct is associated with decreased P/IVH. Initial Hct < 45% was associated with a 2-fold increase in P/IVH. We speculate that lower initial Hct represents a lower intravascular volume status and promotes cerebral hypoperfusion preceding P/IVH.