Printed from acutecaretesting.org
Articles and journal scans about Neonatology
Journal Scan
July 2014
Acidosis at birth – significance for very premature, low-birthweight infants
Umbilical-cord blood gas analysis provides objective evidence of the metabolic status of neonates at the time of delivery. Perinatal metabolic acidosis is indicative of hypoxia (sometimes the result of asphyxia during birth) and associated risk of permanent brain damage.
A recently published study sought to assess...
Blood gases/acid-base
Neonatology
Journal Scan
January 2014
Neonatal hypoglycemia
Reduced blood glucose concentration (hypoglycemia) is one of the most common metabolic problems during the neonatal period. It may cause acute non-specific symptoms that include altered level of consciousness, feeding difficulties, seizures and even coma.
Irrespective of the presence or absence of acute symptoms,...
Neonatology
Glucose
Journal Scan
April 2013
In favor of point-of-care sodium measurement
When monitoring the plasma/serum sodium concentration of sick newborn babies in neonatal intensive care units, it may be preferable to use direct ion-specific electrode (ISE) methodology incorporated in point-of-care analyzers (including blood gas analyzers), rather than the indirect ISE methodology commonly employed...
Neonatology
Point-of-care testing
Quality assurance
Electrolytes
Article
January 2013
Blood gas interpretation in the neonate - what do you need to know now?
Many authors contend that drawing of umbilical ABGs is a simple method to evaluate the condition of the neonate and ideally would be routinely done for all newborns [13].
Other authors disagree. Appropriate general principles guide clinicians when drawing and interpreting ABGs for all patients. The special needs of...
Neonatology
Point-of-care testing
Blood gases/acid-base
Preanalytical phase
Lactate
Journal Scan
January 2012
Breast milk jaundice - a review
Serum bilirubin estimation, which has for some years now been available on point-of-care analyzers, including blood gas analyzers, is probably the most frequently requested blood test in neonatal medicine.
This is because increased serum/plasma bilirubin concentration (hyperbilirubinemia) and consequent jaundice is...
Bilirubin
Neonatology
Journal Scan
October 2011
Prognostic value of lactate measurement in very-low-birth-weight infants
For a number of years point-of-care blood lactate measurement has been used to predict outcome for patients suffering a range of critical illnesses. Now a recently published study suggests that this predictive value of lactate measurement can also be usefully applied to very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) neonates born...
Neonatology
Lactate
Journal Scan
July 2011
No resurgence of kernicterus
Increased serum bilirubin, clinically manifest as jaundice, is very common during the first week of life, affecting around 60 % of full-term babies and 85 % of babies born prematurely. For the vast majority this neonatal jaundice is a mild transitory phenomenon with no long-term consequences. The greatest fear...
Bilirubin
Neonatology
Journal Scan
October 2010
Oxygen monitoring in premature neonates
Most babies born prematurely have respiratory problems and require assisted ventilation and oxygen therapy to ensure adequate tissue oxygenation. Supplemental oxygen is a double-edged sword for these babies because although of life-preserving benefit, oxygen in excess is toxic.
The principal (but not the only)...
Blood gases/acid-base
Neonatology
Journal Scan
July 2010
Umbilical cord blood gas analysis
The prognostic value of measuring umbilical cord blood pH at birth is examined in a recent meta-analysis study. Cord blood acidosis (usually defined as cord blood pH <7.0) is considered evidence that the newborn baby was deprived of oxygen during labor, and in some maternity units cord blood pH is used in the...
Blood gases/acid-base
Neonatology
Article
July 2010
The significance of base excess (BEB) and base excess in the extra cellular fluid compartment (BEEcf)
BACKGROUND: Besides actual pH, base excess (ctH+B (mmol/L)) is of major importance since it is meant to reflect lactate acidosis due to fetal hypoxia; in vivo BEB is not independent from pCO2.
Independence is achieved by using the extended extracellular fluid (Ecf) for dilution of hemoglobin (cHbB), reducing cHbB to ...
Blood gases/acid-base
Neonatology
Point-of-care testing
Lactate
Hemoglobins