NICU Flashcards
What does NIPT test for and when can you do it?
Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT)
¤ NOT for ONTDs, only aneuploidies (T21/18/13) and sex chromosome abnormalities
¤ Available after 10 weeks GA
¤ Measures cell-free fetal DNA in maternal blood (“liquid” placental sample)
¤ Considered a screening test only, results must be confirmed by invasive testing
What does chorionic villus sampling test for and when can you do it?
Chorionic villous sampling
¤ Earliest prenatal diagnostic technique (10-13
weeks)
¤ Biopsy of chorionic villi for chromosomal analysis
¤ Cannot assess for ONTDs
¤ Higher rate of fetal loss, risk of infection,
PROM, limb anomalies
What does amniocentesis test for and when can you do it?
Amniocentesis
¤ Typically performed at 15-20 weeks
¤ Aspiration of amniotic fluid forchromosomal analysis +AFP levels + acetylcholinesterase
¤ Canalso be used to assess fetal lung maturity (L:Sratio > 2), measure bilirubin, TORCH infections
What does decreased FHR variability mean on the prenatal tracing?
decreased cerebral oxygenation
What are some common causes of fetal tachycardia?
¤Fever (maternal) ¤ Arrhythmia ¤ Thyrotoxicosis ¤Infection (chorioamnionitis) ¤Medications (e.g. beta-agonists, parasympathetic blockers) ¤ Anemia ¤Hypoxia/Fetal distress
̈ A sinusoidal FHR tracing = anemia until proven otherwise!
List some neonatal effects of a mom who smokes during pregnancy
- Growth restriction
- Preterm labour and delivery
- Premature ROM
- Placental abruption
What are some post natal effects of cigarette smoking?
- SIDS
- No convincing evidence that nicotine exposure associated with neonatal withdrawal syndrome
What is the definition of FASD?
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
¤ Leading known cause of preventable developmental disability
¤ Describes FAS, partial FAS, and “neurobehavioural disorder associated with prenatal alcohol exposure” (ND-PAE)
What are the postnatal complications of alcohol use in pregnancy?
¤ Exposure in 1st trimester associated with facial anomalies and major structural anomalies
¤ Exposure in 2nd trimester increases risk of spontaneous abortion
¤ Exposure in 3rd trimester predominantly affects weight, length, and brain growth
̈ However, neurobehavioral effects may occur with a range of exposures throughout gestation, even in the absence of facial or structural brain anomalies.
List some facial features of FASD?
small palpebral fissure smooth philtrum thin upper lip microcephaly low nasal bridge epicentral folds minor ear abnormalities micrognathia
How long does an infant with a mom who had SSRI use during pregnancy need to be observed?
48 hours
What neonatal and post natal effects are seen if mom uses cocaine?
Cocaine
¤Use during pregnancy linked with spontaneous abortion, fetaldemise, placental abruption, prematurity and IUGR
Neonatal effects
¤Neurobehavioural abnormalities (tremors, high-pitched cry, irritability, hyper-alertness, episodes of apnea/tachypnea)
¤Usually present by 48-72 hours
¤Abnormal auditory brainstem responses and transient abnormal EEG changes
What are some symptoms of NAS?
Opioids
¤ High pitched cry/irritability
¤ Sleep and wake disturbances
¤ Alterations in tone or movement (eg: hyperactive primitive reflexes, hypertonicity, and tremors with resultant skin excoriation)
¤ Feeding difficulties
¤ Gastrointestinal disturbances (eg: vomiting and loose stools)
¤ Autonomic dysfunction (sweating, sneezing, mottling, fever, nasal stuffiness, and yawning)
¤ Failure to thrive
When does NAS present?
̈ Timing of symptoms depends on half life of opioid being used (e.g. delayed onset of NAS due to longer half life of methadone (5 days)
̈ Breast-feeding is generally supported with some exceptions
How do we treat NAS?
̈ Pharmacological therapy (morphine, phenobarbital, clonidine) may be required if high NAS scores
despite comfort care measures
̈ NOTE: Never give naloxone in mother with chronic opioid use
Describe the syndrome seen with fetal dilantin exposure?
Fetal hydantoin syndrome
Facial: cleft lip/palate, short nose, depressed bridge, mild hypertelorism
Extremities: digit and nail hypoplasia
Other: IUGR
Describe some findings if mom was using lithium during pregnancy?
Lithium
Ebstein anomaly
Fetal goitre, hypotonia, arrhythmia,seizures, diabetes insipidus, preterm birth
Describe some symptoms of in utero phenobarbital exposure
Phenobarbital
¤ Cleft lip/palate
¤ Cardiac anomalies
¤ Hemorrhagic disease of the newborn
What are some findings from in utero VPA exposure
Valproic Acid
¤ Neural tube defects
¤ Face narrow bi-frontal diameter, telecanthus, anteverted nostrils ¤ Cardiac defects, Long thin fingers/toes
In utero warfarin exposure causes what in the baby?
Warfarin
¤ Nasal hypoplasia
depressed bridge
Stippled bone epiphyses
Neonatal effects of pregnancy induced hypertension
Neonatal Effects
Increased risk of mortality, IUGR, RDS (mixed evidence), BPD, Thrombocytopenia, Neutropenia, NEC, behavioural problems, adult-onset cardiovascular disease
What is hydrops fetalis?
Abnormal fluid accumulation in ≥2 fetal compartments ¤Skin thickening ¤Fetal ascites ¤Pleural effusion ¤Pericardial effusion
Causes of Hydrops?
Etiologies
¤ Immune: due to Rh(D) incompatibility (uncommon)
¤ Non-immune
- Hematological (Feto-maternal hemorrhage, thalassemia, RBC enzyme deficiencies/membrane defects, TTTS)
- Cardiac (Congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia)
- Vascular malformation (AVM, lymphatic obstruction (congenital chylothorax,cystic hygroma)
- Infection (TORCH, Parvovirus B19, congenital syphilis)
- Genetic (Aneuploidies, Turner syndrome, Noonan syndrome)
- Metabolic (Lysosomal storage disorders, Glycogen storage diseases)
- Pulmonary (CCAM, pulmonary sequestration)
Fetal side effects to maternal diabetes?
Fetal and Neonatal effects
¤ Still birth, polyhydramnios, preterm delivery
¤ LGA, birth trauma (may be SGA if significant vascular disease) ¤Transient hyperinsulinism and hypoglycemia
¤ Respiratory distress syndrome
¤ Congenital heart disease
¤ Polycythemia, hyperbilirubinemia
¤ Early neonatal hypocalcemia
¤ Caudal regression, hydrocephalus, NTDs, situs inversus, small left colon syndrome, renal anomalies