Neonatology Flashcards
What are the normal vital signs for a full term newborn?
BP 70/44
Respiratory rate 30-60
Heart rate 120-160
How do newborns theromoregulate?
In utero, babies receive their thermoregulation from their mother but when they are born they do not have the ability to shiver for thermoregulation and so they require a metabolic production of heat. This is fulfilled by the brown fat, which is well innervated by sympathetic neurons. Cold stress leads to lipolysis- resulting in heat production
How can newborn breathing be assessed non-invasively?
Blood gases
Trans-cutaneous pCO2 and pO2 measurement
How can newborn breathing be assessed invasively?
Capnography
Tidal volume
Minute ventilation
Flow-volume loop
When does physiological jaundice start and end?
Starts on day of life (DOL) 2-3 and persists until DOL 7-10 in term infants and DOL 21 in premature infants
What is the incidence of physiological jaundice?
60% of term babies
80% of preterm babies
When does breastfed jaundice occur and what is the incidence?
DOL 30
10%
How much weight loss is normal in neonates and why?
Weight loss up to 10% is normal in neonates and occurs due to a shift of interstitial fluid to intravascular and diuresis
For what reasons do premature babies struggle to maintain fluid and electrolyte balance?
Less fat in body composition
Increased loss through kidney
Increased insensible water loss via immature skin and breathing
What are the possible causes of prematurity associated anemia?
Blood letting
Reduced erythropoesis
Infection
How is intra-uterine growth restriction defined?
IUGR= baby born <10th centile in weight
Severe IUGR= baby born <0.4th centile.
What are the common causes of IUGR?
Maternal: -Smoking -Pre-eclampsia Fetal: -Chromosomal abnormality -Infection (ie CMV) Placental: -Abruption Other: -Multiple pregnancy (twin-twin transfusion)
What problems are commonly associated with babies who are small for dates?
Perinatal hypoxia Hypoglycaemia Hypothermia Polycythaemia Thrombocytopenia Hypoglycaemia GI problems
What are the long term complications for babies born small for dates?
Hypertension
Reduced growth
Obesity
Ischaemic heart disease
When is a baby considered pre-term?
When born <37 weeks
When is a baby considered extremely pre-term?
When born <28 weeks
What is considered a low birth weight?
<2500g
What is considered a very low birth weight?
<1500g
What is considered a extremely low birth weight?
<1000g
What is the incidence of prematurity and extreme prematurity?
Prematurity- ~5-12% of births in scotland
Extreme prematurity- <0.5% of births
What are the common problems preterm babies experience?
Respiratory distress syndrome Broncho-pulmonary dysplasia Intra-ventricular haemorrhage Peri-ventricular leukomalacia Post-haemorrhagic hydrocephalus Persistent ductus arteriosus Necrotising entero-colitis Nutritional problems
What are the features of respiratory distress syndrome?
Prevention- antenatal steroids
Early treatment- surfactant
Early extubation
Non-invasive support (N-CPAP)
What are the features of broncho-pulmonary dysplasia?
Overstretch due to trauma Atelectasis Infection O2 toxicity Inflammatory changes Tissue repair- scarring Treated with nutrition and steroids
What are the minor respiratory problems associated with prematurity and how are they treated?
Apnoea, irregular breathing, desaturations
Treated with caffeine or N-CPAP
What are the features of intra-ventricular haemorrhage?
Graded I-IV, worsening severity with increasing grade
Prevention with antenatal steroids
Treatment is mainly symptomatic, can do drainage
What are the features of patent ductus arteriosus?
Additional blood supply to pulmonary circulation causes over-perfusion of lungs and systemic ischaemia Consequences: • Worsening respiratory syndromes • Retention of fluid • Gastrointestinal ischaemia
What are the features of necrotising entero-colitis?
Ischaemic and inflammatory changes
Necrosis of bowel
Surgery often required
Conservative management sometimes possible- Abx + parenteral nutrition
How is the outcome of extreme prematurity assessed?
The outcome of extreme prematurity is unpredictable at birth but a brain ultrasound at the end of the first week can show obvious deformity. There can be some surprising decline or improvement in years 2-6
Generally, what is the prognosis for extreme prematurity?
1/3 dies
1/3 have normal life or mild disability
1/3 have moderate or severe disability
What are the common skin manifestations of neonatal problems?
Jaundice
Plethora- red appearance to skin caused by excess of blood. Causes include polycythaemia
Cyanosis- central or peripheral
What is erythema toxicum?
Maculo-papular rash, occurs in 30-70% of term babies but is very uncommon in preterm babies. The cause is unknown and the rash recedes on its own by the end of the first week