Ch 10 - Neonatal medicine Flashcards
What is Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE)
Perinatal asphyxia due to either placental or pulmonary dysfuction/comprimise resulting in brain damage
Causes of HIE (7)
Most cases happen during labour/delivery!
The following are due to reduced gas exchange from placenta: excessive/prolonged uterine contractions
placental abruption
uterine rupture
Interuption of umbilical flow: cord compression, shoulder dystocia, cord prolapse
Inadequate maternal placental perfusion: materal hypo/hypertension - usually causes IUGR as well
Failure of cardiopulmonary adaptation at birth i.e. failure to breathe
Clinical features of HIE can be mild/moderate or severe, give clinical features of mild HIE (3)
irritable, excessive response to stim
hyperventilation
staring of eyes + poor feeding
Clinical features of HIE can be mild/moderate or severe, give clinical features of moderate HIE (2)
marked ABNORMALITIES of TONE & MOVEMENT
no feeding
may have seizures
Clinical features of HIE can be mild/moderate or severe, give clinical features of severe HIE (4)
no response to pain or spontaneous movements
PROLONGED seizures - refractory to treatment
MULTI ORGAN failure
tone - fluctuate between hypo&hypertonia
Management of HIE (4)
Resp support + treatment of seizures
Fluid restrict (because of transiet renal impairment)
Treat hypotension with inotropes
Mild hypothermia within 6hrs of birth reduces brai damage (34 C for 3 days)
Prognosis of mild, moderate & severe HIE
Mild - complete
moderate - excellent for those who have recovered neurologicallyby 14 days (i.e. normal neuro exam) + feeding normally
severe - 30-40% mortality, > 80% of survivors will have neuro impairment - cerbral palsy
Give 3 examples of soft tissue birth injuries
Caput succedaeum
Cephalhaematoma
Chignon
Describe Caput succedaneum (2)
bruisig + oedema of presenting part, extending beyond margins of skull bones
resolves in few days
Describe cephalhaematoma (3)
haematoma from bleeding below periosteum
confined within margins of skull sutures
usually involves PARIETAL bone
centre of haematoma feels soft - resolves i few weeks
Describe a Chignon (2)
Oedema + bruising;
following ventouse delivery
Erb’s palsy definition(1) & causes(2)
upper brachial plexus injury (C5-6);
due to shoulder dystocia or breech delivery
Erb’s palsy features(3) & management
‘waiter’s tip’ i.e. hand internally rotated + pronated + flexed wrist
deltoid, biceps + brachialis paralysis + atrophy
loss of sensation in arm
manage - if doesnt selve resolve in 2 months refer
Facial nerve palsy: Cause, features (2), management
compression of facial nerve against mother’s ischail spine
features - facial weakness on crying + eye stays open
management - it usually is transient; may require methylcellulose drops for eye (lubricant)
Common fractures of neonates (2)
Clavicle - due to shoulder dystocia
Humerus/ femur - breech/ shoulder dystocia
both heal rapidly with mobilization
Respiratory distress syndrome: defintion
AKA hyaline membrane disease (because of the proteinaceous exudate seen in the airways on histology)
Definition - respiratory distress due to lack of surfactant (which functions to lower surface tension - prevent small alveoli collapse)
Respiratory distress syndrome: causes of surfactant def (4)
Pre-term - usually if before 28 weeks Sepsis Diabetic mother elective cs 2nd twin/ male
Respiratory distress syndrome: features (4)
Tachpnoea > 60 bpm
chest wall recession
nasal flaring
ground glass lung appearance (on CxR) + indistinct heart border
Respiratory distress syndrome: prevention/management (2)
corticosteroids antenatally - stimulates surfactant production
surfactant therapy
Pneumothorax - pathophysiology in pre-term infants with RDS
Overdistended alveoli (due to positive pressure O2 therapy) > some air enters intersitium = PIE (pulmonary interstitial emphysema) > air leaks in to pleural cavity
Pneumothorax - features (2) & Ix (1)
Features - Silent Chest with reduced movements on affected side
Ix - transillumination with bright fibre optic light source applied to CW
Pneumothorax - prevention & treatment
Prevent via low pressure ventilation
Treat if tension pneumothorax with chest drain
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia: defintion, causes (3), features (2), treatment (2)
D - infants who still have O2 requirement after 36 weeks
C - the lung damage comes from ventilation trauma, O2 toxicity & infection
F - Wide spread areas of opacification +/- cystic changes
T - CPAP, steroids
Apnoea and bradycardia and desaturation: causes (4), treatment (2)
Cause - mostly because of immaturity of central resp control. However must exclude hypoxia, anemia, infection, hypoglycaemia etc.
Treatment - caffeine, CPAP
Pre-term brain injuries: cause (1 & give common location)
Haemorrhages (occur in v. low BW infants) easily recognized on US. (usually occur in germinal matrix above the caudate nucleus - contains a fragile network of blood vessels) - within 72 hrs of life
Complications of pre-term brain injuries (2)
Hydrocephalus (if large intraventricular haemorrhage impairs drainage of CSF). In this case may require ventriculoperitoneal shunt (after symptomatic relief e.g. LP/ventricular tap) Periventricular leukomalacia (loss of white matter) - will see BILATERAL CYSTS on US
Necrotising enterocolitis - what is it? who is at risk?
Affects pre-term infants in 1st few weeks of life.
Associated with bacterial invasion of ischaemic bowel
Risk - preterm infants fed cow’s milk formula
Necrotising enterocolitis: features (3) x-ray characteristics
Infant stops tolerating feeds, get milk aspiration; billous vomiting; distended abdomen; can get bloody stool;
x-ray: air under diaphragm if perf, distended bowel loops, air in portal tract