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Publications (4)14.21 Total impact

  • Article: Oxygen saturation after birth in preterm infants treated with continuous positive airway pressure and air: assessment of gender differences and comparison with a published nomogram.
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    ABSTRACT: AIMS: The goal of the study was to compare preductal SpO(2) in the first 10 min after birth in preterm infants treated with non-invasive continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and air with a published nomogram of preductal SpO(2) in preterm infants who received no medical intervention, and to examine gender differences. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We enrolled infants of ≤32 weeks gestation who were spontaneously breathing with heart rate >100 bpm, and treated with face mask CPAP and air during postnatal stabilisation. SpO(2) limits were targeted at ≥75% at 5 min and ≥85% at 10 min and heart rate at >100 bpm. FIO(2) was titrated against SpO(2). Preductal SpO(2), airway pressure and FIO(2) were recorded with a data acquisition system from birth until stabilisation. Babies receiving supplemental oxygen (>21%), positive pressure ventilation, were intubated and/or received chest compressions or drugs were excluded. RESULTS: Measurements were obtained in 102 babies with median gestational age of 29 (range: 24-31) weeks. Median SpO(2) was significantly higher in the observational group than in the reference range at 3 min (82% (CI 71% to 85%) vs 76% (CI 67% to 83%); p<0.05), at 4 min (87% (CI 81% to 90%) vs 81% (CI 72% to 88%); p<0.05), at 5 min (92% (CI 88% to 95%) vs 86% (CI 80% to 92%); p<0.05), at 6 min (94% (CI 90% to 97%) vs 90% (CI 81% to 95%); p<0.05), at 7 min (95% (CI 92% to 97%) vs 92% (CI 85% to 95%); p<0.05), at 8 min (96% (CI 93% to 98%) vs 92% (CI 87% to 96%); p<0.05) and at 9 min (97% (CI 92% to 99%) vs 93% (CI 87% to 96%); p<0.05). Female babies achieved targeted SpO(2) significantly earlier than male babies. CONCLUSIONS: Preterm babies receiving CPAP and air and especially female subjects achieve reference oxygen saturation more rapidly than spontaneously breathing preterm babies without respiratory aid.
    Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition 11/2012; · 3.05 Impact Factor
  • Article: Ventilator-associated pneumonia in newborn infants diagnosed with an invasive bronchoalveolar lavage technique: A prospective observational study.
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    ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES:: To establish the incidence, etiology, risk factors, and outcomes associated with ventilator-associated pneumonia using an invasive sampling technique to avoid contamination. PATIENTS:: Eligible patients were intubated neonates treated with mechanical ventilation who followed the criteria of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance. Bronchoalveolar lavage samples were collected using a blind-protected catheter to avoid contamination of upper respiratory microorganisms. Isolation of >10 colony-forming unit/mL was required for diagnosis. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:: In 198 neonates intubated for >48 hrs, a total of 18 episodes of ventilator-associated pneumonia in 16 infants representing a prevalence of 8.1 were diagnosed. The pooled mean ventilator-associated pneumonia rate was 10.9/1,000 ventilator days. The mean age at diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia was 29 ± 15 days after a mean of 21 ± 16 days of mechanical ventilation. Gram-negative bacteria were the most commonly isolated pathogens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most frequent causative agent. Hospital length of stay was significantly longer for ventilator-associated pneumonia patients; however, no significant differences in mortality were found. Univariate analysis comparing patients with and without ventilator-associated pneumonia showed that days of mechanical ventilation, days of oxygen, number of reintubations, number of transfusions, bloodstream infection, and enteral feeding were all significantly associated with ventilator-associated pneumonia. However, in multivariate analysis the unique independent risk factor was days of mechanical ventilation (odds ratio 1.12, confidence interval 95% 1.07-1.17). CONCLUSIONS:: Ventilator-associated pneumonia is a frequent nosocomial infection in newborns. Only duration of mechanical ventilation has been identified as an independent risk factor for ventilator-associated pneumonia. The use of a blind invasive sampling technique seems to diminish sample contamination.
    Pediatric Critical Care Medicine 07/2012; · 3.13 Impact Factor
  • Article: Oxygen saturation targets for preterm infants in the delivery room.
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    ABSTRACT: Fetal life evolves in a low oxygen milieu as compared to the extra-uterine. In the fetal to neonatal transition rapid changes in the oxygen content of the newly born infant occur within a brief period of time. Delivery room care givers should be aware of the slow transition regarding oxygenation, and supply oxygen as needed trying to avoid damage caused by hyper-and-hypoxia. In this regard, titrating oxygen inspiratory fraction against oxygen saturation as measured by pulse oximetry following recent nomogram ranges is a valid method.
    The journal of maternal-fetal & neonatal medicine: the official journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians 03/2012; 25 Suppl 1:45-6. · 1.36 Impact Factor
  • Article: Human milk enhances antioxidant defenses against hydroxyl radical aggression in preterm infants.
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    ABSTRACT: Preterm infants endowed with an immature antioxidant defense system are prone to oxidative stress. Hydroxyl radicals are very aggressive reactive oxygen species that lack specific antioxidants. These radicals cannot be measured directly, but oxidation byproducts of DNA or phenylalanine in urine are reliable markers of their activity. Human milk has a higher antioxidant capacity than formula. We hypothesized that oxidative stress associated with prematurity could be diminished by feeding human milk. We recruited a cohort of stable preterm infants who lacked perinatal conditions associated with oxidative stress; were not receiving prooxidant or antioxidant drugs, vitamins, or minerals before recruitment; and were fed exclusively human milk (HM group) or preterm formula (PTF group). Collected urine was analyzed for oxidative bases of DNA [8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG)/2'-deoxyguanosine (2dG) ratio] and oxidative derivatives of phenylalanine [ortho-tyrosine (o-Tyr)/Phe ratio] by HPLC coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Healthy term newborn infants served as control subjects. Both preterm groups eliminated greater amounts of metabolites than did the control group. However, the PTF group eliminated significantly (P < 0.02) higher amounts of 8-oxodG (8-oxodG/2dG ratio: 10.46 +/- 3.26) than did the HM group (8-oxodG/2dG ratio: 9.05 +/- 2.19) and significantly (P < 0.01) higher amounts of o-Tyr (o-Tyr/Phe ratio: 14.90 +/- 3.75) than did the HM group (o-Tyr/Phe ratio: 12.53 +/- 3.49). When data were lumped together independently of the type of feeding received, a significant correlation was established between the 8-oxodG/2dG and o-Tyr/Phe ratios in urine, dependent on gestational age and birth weight. Prematurity is associated with protracted oxidative stress, and human milk is partially protective.
    American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 01/2009; 89(1):210-5. · 6.67 Impact Factor