NICU Flashcards
NICU
-Specialty area of OT practice
Competencies of NICU OT
Good understanding of pediatric practice
- Must be knowledgeable about medical conditions associated with prematurity and the vulnerabilities associated with neonates
- Good understanding of family needs and stressors due to NICU environment and prematurity circumstances
- Understanding of pre-term infant neuromotor and neurobehavioral development
- Must be a collaborative, competent member of NICU team
OT role in NICU
Individualized developmentally supportive care
- Promote physiologic stability, decreased stress above all
- Environmental modifications and education based on sensory processing
- Family education and collaboration training caregivers and families about calming strategies
- Neurodevelopmental intervention
- Positioning
- Splinting
- Feeding evaluation and training.
Radiant warmer
open bed with open heat source
Incubator
Clear, plastic heated box that encloses the mattress and infant
Open crib
Bassinet style bed, no external heat source provided; infant is dressed in clothes and swaddled in blankets.
oxygen
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 mask.
Mechanical ventilation (OXYGEN)
machine controls or assists breathing by mechanically inflating the lungs, increasing alveolar ventilation, and improving gas exchange.
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)
Sophisticated life support system uses modified heart lung bypass to provide nearly total lung rest and minimize barotraumas (lung damage from prolonged 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- 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 temperature
Extrauterine Environment
- 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 diurnal rhythm
- THERMAL- environmental temperature variations, high risk of neonatal heat loss from thin skin and lack of subcutaneous fat
Light exposure in the NICU
Fluorescent light exposure can lead to:
- Chromosomal damage
- Disruption of dinural rhythms
- Over stimulation leading to physiological distress.
Pre-30 wk infants unable to close eyelids tightly or filter light properly.
Constant lighting affects development of natural circadian rhythms