Neonatology Flashcards
What are the ways to get DNA from a baby?
- chorionic villus biopsy to get placenta
- amniocentesis to get skin/urine cells
What does non-invasive prenatal testing include?
- sex determination
- trisomy testing
How can trisomy 21 be detected non-invasively?
there will be an excess of chromosome 21 in the mother’s blood serum
What is trisomy 18?
Edward’s syndrome
What can be seen with invasive genetic testing?
- chromosome abnormality with chromosome microarray
- single gene changes by PCR and next gen. sequencing
What are the + and - of chromosome microarray?
+ high resolution
+ easy
+ rapid
- may be incidental findings leading to ethical decisions about whether to tell parents or not
What are the characteristics of a floppy baby?
- lack of head control
- increased ROM
- breathing difficulties
What are the functions of the placenta?
- Fetal homeostasis
- Gas exchange
- Nutrient transport
- Waste product transport
- Acid base balance
- Hormone production
- Transport of IgG
What are the main differences in the foetal circulation to an adult’s?
- ductus venosus
- foramen ovale
- ductus arteriosus
What is the ductus venosus?
from placenta the ox blood goes through the liver through the ductus venosus into inferior vena cava
What is the foramen ovale?
blood from the right atrium moves through this hole and into the aorta
What is the ductus arteriosus?
- a small amount of blood enters the RV and goes into the lungs
- this is further reduced by the ductus arteriosus which moves blood back into the aorta
How much of a foetus’ blood output goes to its lungs?
only 7% and this deoxygenated blood mixes in with the rest so the blood is very deoxygenated when it reaches the mother
What are the main things that happen in the 3rd trimester to prepare the baby for birth?
- Surfactant production (from type 2 pneumocytes in the alveoli)
- Accumulation of glycogen in the liver, muscle and heart
- Accumulation of brown fat between the scapulae and around the internal organs (insulating fat)
- Accumulation of subcutaneous fat
- Babies inhale and swallow amniotic fluid to help the lungs to grow
What happens biochemically at the onset of labour?
- increased catecholamines/cortisol
- synthesis of lung fluid stops
How long after birth until the cord is clamped?
around 1 minute
What are the changes that occur after the cord is clamped?
- pulmonary vascular resistance drops
- systemic vascular resistance rises
- oxygen tension rises
- circulating prostaglandins drop
- ducts constrict and foramen ovale closes
What happens to the FO, DA and DV?
foramen ovale= shuts
DA= ligamentum arteriosus
DV= ligamentum teres
How can persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn be tested for?
- pre and post ductal sats
- blood before DA will have a higher saturation
- sats monitors on hand and foot
- more than 3% different means a problem
What is the management of PPHN?
ventilation oxygen nitric oxide sedation inotropes ECLS/ECMO
What is the aims of management of PPHN?
vasodilate the pulmonary vasculature to reduce the pressure in the lungs
What type of babies is transient tachypnoea common in?
large healthy babies that are born by section
What is the ideal temperature for a baby?
36.5-37.4 degrees
What is acrocyanosis?
this is longer term blueness of the hands and feet of a newborn which is normal
What biochemical levels may drop in a newborn baby?
- insulin as there is not much milk production in the mother until day 5
- there are ketones for backup
What are the babies that are most at risk of hypoglycaemia?
- increased energy demands due to sickness
- low glycogen stores due to prematurity
- inappropriate insulin to glucagon ratio due to GDM
What drug risks hypoglycaemia of the infant if the mother takes it during pregnancy?
beta blockers
What are the benefits of breastfeeding for the mother?
- reduced risk of breast cancer
- prevention of post-natal depression
What is the affinity of foetal haemoglobin like?
high affinity for oxygen so grabs it well but doesn’t let it go very well hence the need for adult haemoglobin (physiological anaemia in the gap between types)