Fetus and Newborn Flashcards
Define the criteria for ROP screening
- GA of less than or equal to 30+6
- BW less than or equal to 1250g
- physician discretion
What risks factors increase a baby’s risk of developing ROP?
- GA less than or equal to 30+6
- BW less than or equal to 1250g
- severe and unstable respiratory disease
- hypotension requiring inotropes
- prolonged ventilators or oxygen therapy
When should the first screening for ROP be conducted?
At 31 weeks corrected gestational age or at 4 weeks chronological age - whichever comes later.
When can ROP screening stop?
- complete vascularization
- vascularization of Zone III without precious Zone I or II ROP
- CGA of 45 weeks and no prethreshold disease or worse ROP
- regression of ROP
Retinal ablation therapy should be considered for what conditions?
- Zone I - any stage of ROP with plus disease
- Zone I - stage 3 ROP with or without plus disease
- Zone II - stage 2 or 3 ROP with plus disease
- Threshold ROP (five or more contiguous or eight cumulative clock hours of stage 3 ROP in zone 1 or 2 in presence of plus disease)
What are the stages of ROP?
Stage 1: demarcation line between avascular and vascularized retina
Stage 2: ridge arises along demarcation line
Stage 3: extra retinal fibrovascular proliferation/neovascularization
Stage 4: partial retinal detachment
Stage 5: total retinal detachment
Pre-Plus: increase vessel tortuousity
Plus: vascular dilatation and tortuousity of at least 2 quadrants of the eye
List the zones of ROP staging from closest to retina outwards
Zone 1, 2, 3
What adverse events occur in greater frequency when a nonspecialized team transports a critically ill newborn, compared with a specialized team?
- airway problems
- loss of vascular access
- hypotension
- need for CPR
- increased mortality rate
What is the ideal composition of a neonatal transport team?
- one nurse and either: a) a second nurse, b) an RT, c) an EMT
Describe the qualities of a successful neonatal transport team.
- good leadership
- flexible
- independent
- critical thinking
- timely judgement
- problem solving skills
- strong interpersonal and communication skills
- appropriate crisis resource management skills
What are the benefits of transport teams having their own dedicated vehicles?
- more customization of equipment and supplies
- faster response times
How can a neonatal transport team reduce the environmental exposure of the neonate during transport?
- hypothermia: use warming mattress
- ambient noise: use ear muffs
- vibration: use air-foam mattress, gel pillows
What types of team policies and procedures are adhered to in neonatal transport teams?
- safety reporting
- risk management
- morbidity and mortality reviews
- uniform code
- professional codes of conduct
What is the primary goal for improving infant outcomes?
To minimize the response time and the transport time
Describe the types of training transport team members should receive.
- airway management
- procedural skills
- refresher skills courses
What is the best way to coordinate neonatal transports?
A single centralized access point with provincial/territorial coordination and integration of transport modes.
What are the most frequent indications for blood transfusion in the newborn?
- acute treatment of perinatal or surgical hemorrhagic shock
- “top-ups” for the recurrent correction of anemia of prematurity
How long are stored RBCs safe and effective for?
42 days
List the risks of transfusion.
- Transfusion-transmitted infections (viral, bacterial, parasitical, prional)
- Adverse effects of leukocytes (immunomodulation, GVHD, TRALI, alloimmunization)
- Acute volume or electrolyte disturbances
- Blood group incompatibilities
- ** GVHD, hemolytic rxns, alloimmunization, TRALI are rare in neonates, compared with adults***
What is the combined risk of RBC contamination with viruses (Hep A/B/C, HIV, HTLV)/
1 in 1.3 million
What is involved in pre transfusion testing?
- ABO grouping
- Rh typing
- screen for antibodies of maternal origin
List some of the etiologies of hemorrhagic shock in the neonate
- placental hemorrhage
- twin-to-twin transfusion
- fetomaternal hemorrhage
- velamentous insertion of the cord (at risk of vasa previa)
- cord rupture
What is the conventional volume range used for blood transfusion?
10-20cc/kg
What blood type should be used in the case of emergent blood transfusion?
O negative
What is a major risk of rapid and massive transfusion?
Hyperkalemia (due to wash contents, older blood = increased K content and increased risk of hyperkalemia)
What factors contribute to anemia of prematurity?
- physiologic anemia of the newborn
- suppressed postnatal response to erythropoietin
- increased blood sampling
- short RBC span in the newborn
- rapid increase in blood volume with growth
What are the transfusion thresholds recommended by the PINT study for a neonate without respiratory support?
- Week 1: 100
- Week 2: 85
- Week 3 and older: 75
What are the transfusion thresholds recommended by the PINT study for a neonate without respiratory support?
- Week 1: 115
- Week 2: 100
- Week 3 and older: 85
What is the dosage for iron supplementation and when should it be introduced for neonatal anemia?
- 2mg/kg/day
- between 4-6 weeks of age (at onset of reticulocytosis)
When is cross-matching of donor blood required?
Starting at 4 months
What are potential alternatives for transfusion in patients whose parents want to avoid transfusion?
- placental transfusion
- limited blood draws
- erythropoietin
- optimizing hematinics
What group of infants may require higher transfusion thresholds?
- infants with cyanotic heart disease
- infants with hemodynamic disorders
There was no difference in which outcomes when comparing restrictive and liberal transfusion thresholds?
- BPD
- signs of hemorrhagic or ischemic brain injury
- severe retinopathy of prematurity
Define chronic lung disease
The need for oxygen at 36 weeks postmenstrual age, together with respiratory symptoms and compatible changes on chest X-ray.
If dexamethasone is to be used to prevent CLD in at-risk infants, how and to whom should it be prescribed?
- after 7 days of age
- low-dose (0.15-0.2mg/kg/day)
- infants who are ventilator-dependent
- after receiving parental informed consent
List complications related to maternal depression during pregnancy
- risk of miscarriage
- preterm birth
- low birth weight
- respiratory distress
- increased length of hospital stay
What is SSRI neonatal behavioural syndrome?
A syndrome of respiratory, motor, CNS and GI symptoms, including tachypnea, cyanosis, jitteriness/tremors, increased muscle tone, feeding disturbance in infants exposed to SSRIs in utero. Generally mild and self-limiting
What are the risks of SSRI use in pregnancy?
- No risk of congenital malformations
- Inconclusive evidence that Paroxetine MAY be associated with small increased risk of cardiac malformations
- SSRI neonatal behavioural syndrome
- PPHN (especially with SSRI use in second half of pregnancy)