Neonatology Flashcards
What is neonatology?
Speciality of new-born medical care
When does the CVS develop?
- Begins to develop toward the end of the third week.
- Heart starts to beat at the beginning of the fourth week.
- The critical period of heart development is from day 20 to day 50 after fertilization.
Describe the circulation of the foetus.
- Sats 60-70%
- Oxygenated blood via umbilical vein through ductus venosus
- Blood shunted through foramen ovale
- Blood flow through ductus arteriors
What is the function of the ductus arteriosus?
- Protects lungs against circulatory overload
- Allows the right ventricle to strengthen
- Carries low oxygen saturated blood
What is the function of the ductus venosus?
- Foetal blood vessel connecting the umbilical vein to the IVC
- Blood flow regulated via sphincter
- Carries mostly oxygenated blood
What are the normal blood pressure or a new-born?
1 hour old
- Systolic 70
- Diastolic 44
1 day old
- Systolic 70+/-9
- Diastolic 42+/-12
3 days old
- Systolic 77+/-12
- Diastolic 49+-10
What is the usual respiratory rate of a new-born?
- 30-60 per minute
- Periodical breathing pattern
What is considered normal HR in a new-born?
120-160bpm
What is considered tachycardia in a new-born?
> 160bpm
What is considered bradycardia in a new-born?
<100bpm
What does cold stress in new-borns lead to?
Lipolysis and heat production
What is brown fat innervated by?
Well innervated by sympathetic neurones
Why do new-borns need a metabolic production of heat?
They lack shivering thermogenesis
How do babies lose heat?
Radiation:
-Heat dissipated to colder objects.
Convection:
-Heat loss by moving air.
Evaporation:
-We are born in the water.
Conduction:
-Heat loss to surface on which baby lies
How can new-born breathing be assessed non-invasively?
Blood gas determination
- PaCO2 5-6 kPa,
- PaO2 8-12 kPa
Trans-cutaneous pCO2/O2 measurement
How can new-born breathing be assessed invasively?
- Capnography
- Tidal volume 4-6 ml/kg
- Minute ventilation: (Tidal Volume ml/kg x respiratory rate)
- Flow-volume loop.
When does physiological jaundice occur?
- Appears on Day of life (DOL) 2-3.
- Disappears within 7-10 DOL in term infants and up to 21 DOL in premature infants.
What is the incidence of physiological jaundice?
Up to 60% of term babies and 80% of premature babies
What affect does blue light have on bilirubin/
Converts it to water soluble form and increases oxidation of bilitubin
How does kernicterus occur?
- Unconjugated bilirubin is lipid soluble and can cross the BBB
- At high concentrations it can cause irreversible brain changes
Why is 10% weight loss of a term baby normal?
Loss is due to natural
- Shift in interstitial fluid to intravascular
- Diuresis
When is it normal not to pass urine?
Term baby for the first 24 hours
Why is it difficult for a premature infant to maintain fluid balance?
- Less fat in body composition
- Increased loss through kidney
- Increased insensible water loss
Why do premature infants lose more water through their kidneys?
- Slower GFR
- Reduced Na reabsorption
- Decreased ability to concentrate or dilute urine
What insensible water loss do premature babies have?
- Via immature skin and breathing
- Physiological IWL is 20-40 ml/kg/day but could be up to 82 ml/kg/day in 750-1000 g
What are the causes of anaemia of prematurity?
- Reduced erythropoesis.
- Infection
- Blood letting – most important cause!
What physiological anaemia occurs in new-borns?
- RBC production is 10% of in uterus DOL 7
- Born with - Hb 15-20 g/l
- Week 10 - Hb 11.4 g/l
- Increase production of Erythropoetin
- Week 20 - Hb 12.0 g/l