Early High-Dose Caffeine Improves Respiratory Outcomes in Preterm Infants

The objective of the study is to determine if early high-dose caffeine (HD) therapy is associated with shorter duration of mechanical ventilation, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), or decreased need for mechanical ventilation. We conducted a single center, retrospective cohort study of 273 infants less than 32 weeks gestational age (GA). Infants receiving early HD (10 mg/kg/day maintenance) caffeine citrate started within 24 h of life were compared with those receiving LD (6 mg/kg/day) with variable timing of initiation using linear and logistic regression models. The infants in the early HD group had 91.4 (95% confidence interval (CI): −166.6, −16.1; p = 0.018) less hours of mechanical ventilation up to 36 weeks PMA or discharge as compared with the LD group. Moreover, infants in the HD group had 0.37 (95% CI: 0.14, 0.97; p = 0.042) times lower odds of developing moderate/severe BPD compared with the LD group. Infants receiving early HD caffeine had improved respiratory outcomes with no increase in measured comorbidities. Large prospective studies are needed to determine the long-term outcomes of using high-dose caffeine prophylaxis for preterm infants.</jats:p

Early High-Dose Caffeine Improves Respiratory Outcomes in Preterm Infants

The objective of the study is to determine if early high-dose caffeine (HD) therapy is associated with shorter duration of mechanical ventilation, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), or decreased need for mechanical ventilation. We conducted a single center, retrospective cohort study of 273 infants less than 32 weeks gestational age (GA). Infants receiving early HD (10 mg/kg/day maintenance) caffeine citrate started within 24 h of life were compared with those receiving LD (6 mg/kg/day) with variable timing of initiation using linear and logistic regression models. The infants in the early HD group had 91.4 (95% confidence interval (CI): −166.6, −16.1; p = 0.018) less hours of mechanical ventilation up to 36 weeks PMA or discharge as compared with the LD group. Moreover, infants in the HD group had 0.37 (95% CI: 0.14, 0.97; p = 0.042) times lower odds of developing moderate/severe BPD compared with the LD group. Infants receiving early HD caffeine had improved respiratory outcomes with no increase in measured comorbidities. Large prospective studies are needed to determine the long-term outcomes of using high-dose caffeine prophylaxis for preterm infants

At what age should infants and young children wear a face mask to protect against COVID-19?

Face masks are strongly recommended as a tool in the fight against COVID-19 and in adults there is very strong evidence that wearing a face mask is protective to the individual and also aids in decreasing the spread of the virus. There is less evidence for the protective effect of wearing face masks in children and the age at which children are recommended to wear masks differs widely between organisations and countries. This review summarises the current evidence of the benefits and disadvantages of children wearing a face mask, the physiological evidence of face covering in young children and the differences in recommendations between organisations and where there might be consensus.</jats:p

Surfactant Administration Through Laryngeal or Supraglottic Airways

Noninvasive ventilation is frequently used in the treatment of infants with respiratory distress syndrome. This practice is often effective in higher gestational age neonates, but can be difficult in those with lower gestational ages as surfactant deficiency can be severe. While noninvasive ventilation avoids the negative effects of intubation and ventilator-induced lung injury, failure of this mode of support does occur with relative frequency and is primarily caused by the poorly compliant, surfactant-deficient lung. Because of the potential problems associated with laryngoscopy and intubation, neonatologists have developed various methods to deliver surfactant in minimally invasive ways with the aim of improving the success of noninvasive ventilation. Methods of minimally invasive surfactant administration include various thin catheter techniques, aerosolization/nebulization, and the use of a laryngeal mask airway/supraglottic airway device. The clinician should recognize that currently the only US Food and Drug Administration–approved device to deliver surfactant is an endotracheal tube and all methods reviewed here are considered off-label use. This review will focus primarily on surfactant administration through laryngeal or supraglottic airways, providing a review of the history of this technique, animal and human trials, and comparison with other minimally invasive techniques. In addition, this review provides a step-by-step instruction guide on how to perform this procedure, including a multimedia tutorial to facilitate learning.</jats:p

Response to Aerosolized Calfactant in Infants with Respiratory Distress Syndrome; A Post-hoc Analysis of AERO-02 trial

Abstract Background The largest randomized control trial of aerosolized surfactant (AERO-02 trial) demonstrated a reduction in intubation by 50%. Objective To determine the response after aerosolized calfactant treatment. Methods We conducted a post-hoc analysis of moderate to late preterm neonates in the AERO-02 trial. Trends in hourly fraction of oxygen (FiO2), mean airway pressure (MAP) and respiratory severity score (RSS) were compared between the aerosolized surfactant (AS) and usual care (UC) groups. Results Forty-eight percent of subjects in the UC group required intubation compared to 24% in the AS group. FiO2, MAP and RSS were lower in the UC group. FiO2 decrease was seen after the first aerosolized calfactant dose. Conclusion FiO2, MAP and RSS were lower in the UC group. This is likely due to early and higher rate of liquid surfactant administration in the UC group. Decrease in FiO2 was noted in the AS group after the first aerosolization.</jats:p

Venous Thromboembolism in Premature Neonates

AbstractWhile the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is lower among children than adults, the newborn period is one of two bimodal peaks (along with adolescence) in VTE incidence in the pediatric population. Most VTE cases in neonates occur among critically ill neonates being managed in the neonatal intensive care unit, and most of these children are born premature. For this reason, the presentation, diagnosis, management, and outcomes of VTE among children born premature deserve special emphasis by pediatric hematologists, neonatologists, pharmacists, and other pediatric health care providers, as well as by the scientific community, and are described in this review.</jats:p

Surfactant Administration Through Laryngeal or Supraglottic Airways (SALSA): A Viable Method for Low-Income and Middle-Income Countries

Administration of liquid surfactant through an endotracheal tube for the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome has been the standard of care for decades. A skilled health care provider is needed to perform this procedure. In lower-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), healthcare resources are often limited, leading to increased mortality of premature infants, many of whom would benefit from surfactant administration. Therefore, having a simplified procedure for delivery of surfactant without the need for advanced skills could be life-saving, potentially diminish gaps in care, and help ensure more equitable global neonatal survival rates. Modifications to the standard approach of surfactant administration have been put into practice and these include: INtubation-SURfactant-Extubation (INSURE), thin catheter surfactant administration (TCA), aerosolized surfactant, and surfactant administration through laryngeal or supraglottic airways (SALSA). Although there is a need for larger studies to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of these newer methods, these methods are being embraced by the global community and being implemented in various settings throughout the world. Because the SALSA technique does not require laryngoscopy, a provider skilled in laryngoscopy is not required for the procedure. Therefore, because of the ease of use and safety profile, the SALSA technique should be strongly considered as a viable method of delivering surfactant in LMICs.</jats:p

Dermatological clues to the diagnosis of atypical complete DiGeorge syndrome

Atypical complete DiGeorge syndrome (DGS) is an extremely rare congenital disease characterized by an eczematous dermatitis, lymphadenopathy, and an oligoclonal T-cell proliferation. Because its initial presentation may be confused with other types of eczematous dermatitis, diagnosis and treatment are usually delayed. We describe herein a case of an infant with atypical complete DGS to draw attention to the clinical and histopathological findings that lead us to the diagnosis