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Articles and journal scans about 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
Article
December 2009
Pediatric considerations in critical value assignment
Critical values are those associated with imminent danger unless acted upon promptly. Critical value menus often include results that do not fit this definition, leading to highly variable practice in adult and pediatric laboratories.
Existing menus may be subdivided into more uniform tiers of severity: the highly...
Neonatology
Bilirubin
Blood gases/acid-base
Electrolytes
Glucose
Creatinine/urea
Journal Scan
October 2009
Neonatal jaundice - detection and treatment thresholds
Neonatal jaundice is the subject of two recent studies and an accompanying editorial, all published in the October issue of Archives of Disease in Childhood (Neonatal Edition). The aim of the first study was to determine if visual assessment of jaundice on day 2-3 of life is accurate in estimating serum bilirubin and...
Neonatology
Bilirubin
Journal Scan
April 2009
pO2 versus SpO2 in premature neonates
Premature neonates frequently have inadequate respiratory function and require oxygen therapy during the weeks after birth. Since they are also exquisitely vulnerable to oxygen toxicity, careful monitoring of oxygen status is an essential component of neonatal intensive care.
Measuring % oxygen saturation by pulse...
Blood gases/acid-base
Neonatology
Journal Scan
January 2009
A comprehensive review of neonatal jaundice
All newborn babies have, by comparison with adults, a raised serum concentration of unconjugated (and therefore total) bilirubin, due principally to the transient increase in red cell destruction associated with the move from intrauterine support to physiological independence.
In close to half of all newborns the...
Bilirubin
Neonatology
Journal Scan
January 2009
Correcting metabolic acidosis - is it beneficial? Is it safe?
Metabolic acidosis is the most common disturbance of acid-base balance among the critically ill of all ages, usually due to increased lactate production consequent on inadequate tissue perfusion and/or hypoxemia. The condition is characterized by primary reduction in bicarbonate and pH revealed during arterial blood...
Lactate
Neonatology
Journal Scan
October 2008
Permissive hypercapnia for neonates given a clean bill of health - almost
Premature, very-low-birth-weight babies have immature lungs and
frequently require mechanical ventilation to ensure the gas
(O2, CO2) exchange necessary for survival.
Ventilation sufficiently aggressive to maintain partial pressure of
carbon dioxide in blood (pCO2) within normal
limits can cause mechanical damage to...
Blood gases/acid-base
Neonatology
Journal Scan
July 2008
Umbilical cord blood gases - a sampling effect
Umbilical cord blood gas analysis provides objective evidence of neonatal condition at birth; a particular utility of the test is to identify those babies who have suffered significant oxygen deficit prior to delivery. Traditional obstetric practice is to clamp the umbilical cord within seconds of delivery but some...
Lactate
Blood gases/acid-base
Neonatology
Preanalytical phase