NICU Flashcards
Medical equipment in NICU
Radiant warmer = open bed with overhead open heat source
Incubator = clear, plastic heated box that encloses the mattress and infant
Open crib = bassinet style bed
Oxygen Assisted Ventilation
Bag and mask ventilation = bag attached to face mask is rhythmically squeezed to deliver positive pressure and oxygen
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (Cpap) = steady stream of pressurized air given through endotracheal tube, nasopharyngeal tube, nasal prongs or small nasal
Mechanical Ventilation = machine controls or assists breathing by mechanically inflating the lungs, increasing alveolar ventilation, and improving gas exchange
(ECMO) Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation = life support system that uses modified heart-lung bypass to minimize lung damage
Oxygen therapy without assisted ventilation
Vapotherm = respiratory therapy device attached to a nasal cannula that allows very high nasal flows of warmed and moist air
Oxygen hood = plastic hood that provides a flow of warm, humidified oxygen placed over infant’s head
Nasal Cannula = humidified oxygen delivered by flexible NC with small prongs that fit into the nares
Intrauterine environment:
Tactile Vestibular Auditory Visual Thermal
Tactile = constant proprioceptive input, smooth, wet, comfortable, boundaries
Vestibular = maternal movements, dinural cycle, amniotic fluid creates gentle oscillating environment, flexed posture
Auditory = biological sounds, muffed environmental sounds
Visual = dark, occasional red dim spectrum light
Thermal = constant warmth, consistent temp
Extrauterine environment:
Tactile Vestibular Auditory Visual Thermal
Tactile = painful and invasive; dry cool air, medical touching, some social touching
Vestibular = flat postures, rapid position changes; influence of gravity; restraints due to equipment
Auditory = loud, non-contingent, mechanical frequent harsh intermittent impulse noise
Visual = bright lights, eyes unprotected; often no dinural rhythm
Thermal = environmental temp variations, high risk of neonatal heart loss from thin skin and lack of subcutaneous fat
Light exposure in NICU
Fluorescent light exposure can lead to:
chromosomal damage
disruption of dinural rhythms
over stem leading to physiological stress
Pre-30 wk infants unable to close eyelids tightly or filter light properly
Environmental Modification: dimmed especially during night only use moderate lighting shield infant eyes with bedside draping or phototherapy eye mask or isolette cover focused lighting for procedures
Sound exposure in NICU
constant environmental noise usually 50-90 dB
(same as street traffic with light machinery)
auditory processing development is most active in 3rd trimester
may lead to auditory sensitivity and processing problems
Environmental Modifications: sound proof materials pods or individual rooms strict noise level policies (pagers vibrate, phones flash not ring sound blocking isolette covers for cribs
Tactile exposure in NICU
frequent medical touching
pain receptors are more sensitive, increased pain response
sleep deprivation
decreased opportunities for infant/parent tactile interaction
uncomfortable bedding
Environmental Modifications:
let infant determine schedule
avoid unnecessary touching-bathing every other day
check vitals from monitors
suction PRN, not on a schedule
speak softly to infant prior to physical handling
swaddling during painful procedures and baths
Calming strategies for infant
Containment = the use of materials or humans to provide physical boundaries for the infant (Z-flo fluidized positions)
Kangaroo Care = involves skin to skin contact with parent (better for non-ventilated infants); yields increased feeding time, reduction of physiological stress and improved attachment
Swaddling = a type of containment that provides the infant deep pressure and simulation of womb positioning through the wrapping of a blanket around the baby
Infant massage = a technique in which parent provides gentle tactile stimulation or prolonged placement of the hands with the infant (best for children 32 wks PCA
Family Education
Vygotsky’s scaffolding method to train family
zone of proximal development
give cues but don’t do it for them
Neuromotor and Neurobehavioral evaluation and intervention in NICU
neuromotor = NICU positioning without positioning, infant presents with: W-posturing of arms frog like posturing of legs asymmetrical head position
neurobehavioral = Synactive Theory of Development: Neurobehavioral Subsystems, Signs of Stress and Stability
Autonomic = physiologic (respiratory, color, visceral, motor)
Motor = tone (flaccid, hypertonic, hyperflexions)
State = sleep/wake (diffused or disorganized)
Attention-Interaction = (autonomic or motor)
Self Regulation
NICU positioning
attempts to simulate:
flexed, contained, midline posture
side lying position supported with snuggle wraps and blanket rolls
watch for extensor tone in neck due to trach and vent tubing (work on neck flexion as these are removed)
Nesting = place infant in flexed position inside a concave space made by blankets and towel rolls with high, steep boundaries and soft secure gel mattress to relieve pressure
Change position every 2-4 hours or if infant gives cues
Avoid oversized diapers to avoid abnormal hip development
Without proper positioning infants can develop
Iatrogenic conditions affecting head shape
Plagiocephaly = prolonged position of head toward one direction
Brachycephaly = flattening of the back of the head due to prolonged supine position
Scaphocephaly = narrowing of the head along the sides due to prolonged head in one position in prone
Prematurity
Preterm = infant born before 38 wks of gestation or less Low birthweight = 2500 grams Very low birthweight = 1500 grams Postconceptual Age (PCA) survival rate = 23 wks PCA = 5-25% 27 wks PCA = >90%
Stages of Prematurity
Prematurity can be categorized by stages based on post-conceptual age (PCA)
Early preemie = less than 30 wks gestation
Developing preemie = 30-35 wks gestation
Older preemie = 35 wks + gestation
