Systemic arterial hypertension and very low birth weight

In this study Bruna Ossanai Schoenardie, from the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, in Brazil, led a team of researchers studying 198 children all born weighing under 1.5 kg. The researchers measured the children’s blood pressure at two and four. 56% of the children had systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) at four. White matter injury and catch-up growth at two were both predictors of SAH. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia, white-matter injury, catch-up growth at two and birth weight were all predictors of SAH at two and four.

You can read the whole of this article here.

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Nurse Decision Making and Attitudes About Circuit Disconnection During Ventilator Therapy at a Swedish Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

There are many challenges to providing care to infants in need of ventilator therapy. Yet, few studies describe the practical handling of the ventilator circuit during nursing care.

This study aims to describe neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses’ decision making regarding whether or not to disconnect the ventilator circuit when changing the infant’s position and to investigate the grounds for their decisions.

The results found that the  nurses’ decisions on whether to disconnect or keep the ventilator circuit closed were based on the infant’s needs for ventilator support. The nurses gave several reasons and motivations both for why they disconnected the circuit and for why they did not. The handling of the circuit and the reasons and motivations given were inconsistent among the nurses.

This study highlights the need for continuous, repetitive education and training for NICU nurses, as well as demonstrating the importance of clear and distinct guidelines and working methods regarding the care of infants on ventilator support.

To view the abstract click here

Effects of Underrunning Water Bathing and Immersion Tub Bathing on Vital Signs of Newborn Infants A Comparative Analysis

Newborn infants are susceptible to hypothermia during bathing due to environmental conditions.

This study examined the effects of 2 common newborn bathing methods used in Turkey, underrunning water bathing (URWB) and immersion tub bathing (ITB), on infant heart rate (HR), oxygen saturation, and body temperature.

In this randomized controlled study, 44 newborns were allocated to the ITB group and 36 newborns to the URWB group. Body temperature, HR, and oxygen saturation values of the newborns were compared between groups every hour during 4 hours before the bath to evaluate infants’ vital sign stability. All measurements were compared at 10, 20, 40, and 60 minutes after the bath too.

No statistically significant differences were found in vital signs performed prior to bathing as compared with after bathing; however, changes in oxygen saturation at 20 minutes after the bath were significantly higher in the ITB group (P < .05).

Although both bathing methods decreased overall infant body temperature, ITB positively affected newborn oxygen saturation and HR to a greater degree compared with URWB.

To access the abstract click here

 

Conceptualizing Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome as a Cascade of Care A Qualitative Study With Healthcare Providers in Ohio

The opioid epidemic remains a serious issue in the United States and presents additional challenges for women of childbearing age. An increasingly common complication of opioid use is neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), or infant withdrawal from in utero exposure to opioids.

The objective of this qualitative study was to identify service needs and barriers to care in the NASepidemic in Ohio, which has among the highest rates of opioid use and NAS in the US.

To access the abstract of this article click here

Bliss and Sands are calling for consistent, well-funded bereavement care across the whole of the UK

NHS bereavement care for parents whose baby dies shortly after they are born is worryingly inconsistent and under-resourced, according to a report published today by Bliss and Sands.

The joint Audit of Bereavement Care Provision in UK Neonatal Units (2018) reveals that most services lack sufficient specialist staffing input and appropriate facilities to support grieving families.

The report finds that despite instances of good practice by individual nurses and doctors across the country, many services are not set up to deliver consistent high quality bereavement care and health professionals are not getting the training and support they need to perform this vital role.

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Hunter Syndrome Is It Time to Make It Part of Newborn Screening?

Hunter syndrome, or mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II), is a lysosomal storage disease that affects the breakdown of sugar in the body. Research has made it possible to reveal the cause of the disease, thus helping diagnose and treating this rare disorder. Enzyme replacement therapy will help children live longer and healthier lives.

The purpose of this literature review was to explore the existing knowledge on MPS II and to inform the nursing community about the prevalence of MPS II and examine why it is important to offer screening to parents of a newborn or child. The review found that early detection is key for successful management of MPS II. Early initiation of enzyme replacement therapy will enhance the health of children. Support groups advocate for services for the children and their families.

To read the article abstract click here

Nurses Providing End-of-Life Care for Infants and Their Families in the NICU: A Review of the Literature

Nurses working in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) who care for dying infants and their families say they do not necessarily have the expertise or the specific training to provide quality end-of-life-care (EOLC).

The purpose of this review was to critically appraise the existing qualitative literature regarding nurses’ experiences when caring for infants during end of life in the NICU and to identify barriers and enablers to provide quality EOLC. Five major themes emerged: advocating for the dying infant, building close relationships with the family, providing an appropriate care environment, nurses’ emotional responses to dying or death, and professional inadequacy in EOLC.

To read the article abstract click here