Random Questions Flashcards
Phenytoin (Dilantin) is often used to control neonatal seizures that are not controlled by Phenobarbital alone. What is the loading dose for Phenytoin in these cases?
10-20 mg/kg IV over 30 minutes
What is the recommended loading dose for Phenobarbital when treating neonatal seizures?
20 mg/kg IV push over 10-15 minutes
What is the typical maintenance dose of Phenobarbital in neonates?
3-4 mg/kg/day divided into two doses
What is an encephalocele and what genitourinary tract abnormality does it suggest?
A neural tube defect characterized by a sac-like protrusion of the brain and the membranes that cover it through an opening in the skull
- Polycystic kidneys, Meckel-Gruber and Walker-Warburg syndromes are commonly associated
What are the 5 components of a complete blood count (CBC)?
Red Blood Cells (RBCs): needed to carry oxygen
White Blood Cells (WBCs): fight infection
Hemoglobin: iron-containing protein
Hematocrit: % of red blood cells in total blood
Platelets: help with clotting
What does the “differential” of a CBC measure and what is it made up of?
The differential measures all WBC types (granulocytes - neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils; agranulocytes - lymphocytes, monocytes, macrophages)
How do you calculate the Immature/Total (I/T) Neutrophil Ratio? What is considered normal?
Add up all of the immature WBCs (bands + metas + myelos) and divide by total neutrophils
Normal: < 0.2
- Values between 0.2 and 0.25 suggest infection
- Values > 0.8 carry high risk of death
How do you calculate absolute neutrophil count (ANC)?
Multiply total WBC by all neutrophil percentages by 10
WBC x (segs + bands + metas) x 10 = ANC
What is a normal ANC?
> 1000
What is the normal neonatal platelet value?
150,000-450,000
What is C-Reactive Protein (CRP)?
CRP is an acute phase reactant that rises in response to sepsis
What is Rh Incompatibility?
The mother is Rh- and the fetus is Rh+
- Fetal blood enters maternal circulation
- Maternal immune system treats fetal Rh+ cells as foreign and makes antibodies against them
- Anti-Rh antibodies may cross the placenta and destroy the fetus’ circulating RBCs
- Leads to anemia, bilirubin release, and jaundice
What is the normal sodium level, what is its purpose, and what happens when values are off?
135-145 mEq/L
- Sodium helps conduct neuromuscular impulses, regulate acid-base balance, and maintain intravascular osmolality
- Abnormal values can cause seizures, CNS hemorrhage, venous vein thrombosis
What is the normal potassium level, what is its purpose, and what happens when values are off?
- 5-5 mEq/L
- Potassium is responsible for cardiac and skeletal muscle contraction and is needed for all cell functions to occur
- Abnormalities can cause weakness, arrhythmias, and death
What is the normal chloride level and what is its purpose?
95-110 mmoL/L
- Chloride works with sodium to maintain acid-base balance, transmit nerve signals, and regulate fluid in and out of cells
What is the normal phosphorus level, what is its purpose, and what happens when values are off?
5-7.8 mg/dL
- Phosphorus is needed for bone mineralization, erythrocyte function, cell metabolism, and the generation and storage of energy
What is the normal magnesium level, what is its purpose, and what happens when values are off?
- 6-2.8 mg/dL
- Magnesium is needed for energy production, cell membrane function, and protein synthesis
When are the symptoms of early onset GBS in neonates generally seen?
In the first 24 hours after birth
When are the symptoms of late onset GBS in neonates generally seen?
Late-onset GBS is seen between days 7-89 of life
What two vessels are connected by a PDA?
Aorta and pulmonary artery
Describe the direction of blood shunting across the PDA
Blood shunts from the aorta (left side of the heart) to the pulmonary artery (right side of the heart). This L–>R shunting increases pulmonary blood flow and volume to the left side of the body (and subsequently less blood flowing to the rest of the body)
What are 3 clinical signs of a PDA?
Murmur (only present in 50%)
Active precordium
Widened pulse pressure (difference between systolic and diastolic - diastolic is unreliable due to blood runoff through the PDA) and bounding peripheral pulses
What effect does blood shunting across a PDA have on the respiratory system?
Increased pulmonary blood flow Pulmonary edema Reduced lung compliance (stiff lungs) Increased WOB Higher vent settings
What are 3 non-medical treatments for PDA?
Fluid restriction
Maintenance of PEEP for alveolar distension
Time
What is the type of medication administered to close a PDA?
Prostaglandin Inhibitor (Indomethacin, Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen)
- Promote ductal closure
- May inhibit platelet function and reduce blood flow to the kidneys and bowel
What is Post-Ligation Syndrome and list some risks associated with PDA Ligation
The baby will be sicker in the first few days following the procedure (lower cardiac output, retracted and compressed lungs during surgery to access PDA)
Risks include atelectasis, pneumothorax, hemodynamic instability, phrenic injury, or vocal cord paralysis
What is synaptogenesis?
The formation of a synapse between neurons, which allows for electrical and chemical signaling between neurons
What is the site of neuronal cell proliferation?
Germinal Matrix
What is the Germinal Matrix?
A transient structure in the brain that disappears around 36-37 weeks gestation
- Made up of highly vascularized, thin-walled, fragile capillary beds
- With poor regulation of cerebral blood flow, risk of vascular injury and IVH increases (95% of IVH’s originate in the GM)
- IVH risk is inversely correlated with gestation
Describe Autoregulation in the preterm baby
The ability to maintain blood flow (and thus oxygen) to the brain
- In preterm infants, vasoactivity (ability to regulate - constrict and dilate - vessels) is immature and dependent on blood pressure, leading to a passive sort of blood flow
- Hypoxia and poor cerebral blood flow are risks for brain injury
What are the two most common types of brain injury?
Germinal Matrix Bleed/IVH and White Matter Injury
Describe the process of Organization when it comes to brain development and how does the NICU change this in preterm babies?
Organization refers to the process of neurons forming systems that communicate with each other and sort of fine-tune and organize input
- Occurs between 24-28 weeks
- Patterns of organization are altered when the baby is born early and this is happening outside of the womb
When are all major sensory structures formed and in place?
23-25 weeks
What is Sensory Processing Disorder?
Difficulties interpreting and using sensory information from the environment for behavioral regulation and motor performance
- Affects 39-52% of preterm infants
What is Sensory Modulating Disorder?
Difficulties regulating responses to sensory stimuli
- Affects daily functioning, ability to purposefully interact, and influences arousal and alertness
- Some people have a low threshold for sensory stimuli, others have a high threshold and are under-responsive to sensory stimuli, while others frequently seek out more stimulation
When does the stratum corneum begin to develop?
23-24 weeks
When does the germinal matrix disappear and why is it the most common site for IVH?
36 weeks - highly vascularized, thin-walled vapillaries
List 3 clinical sequelae of inadequate surfactant production
- Decreased lung compliance
- Decreased functional residual capacity (FRC)
- Reduced gas exchange
What is the target sPO2 immediately at birth and how do you calculate the goal with each subsequent minute of life?
60%
Add 5% per minute of life
- At 1 minute: 65%
- At 3 minutes: 75%
- At 5 minutes: 80-85%
- At 10 minutes: 85-95%
Should you suction the nose or mouth first?
Mouth
During resuscitation, when is PPV indicated?
Gasping or inadequate respirations, apnea, HR < 100 even if breathing, low sPO2 despite 100% fiO2 delivery via CPAP
During resuscitation, when is CPAP indicated?
Spontaneous breathing but insufficient respirations, HR > 100, labored respirations, inadequate oxygenation
During resuscitation, when are chest compressions indicated?
If the HR remains below 60 after 30 seconds of effective PPV
What do ABGs measure?
Acid-base balance; used to determine the extent of compensation by the buffer system
What is pH and what is the normal ABG level?
The concentration of Hydrogen ions; determines acidity or alkalinity of body fluids; 7.35-7.45
What is PaCO2 and what is the normal ABG level?
The partial pressure of carbon dioxide; shows adequacy of gas exchange; hypoventilation leads to CO2 buildup and acidosis results; 35-45
What is PaO2 and what is the normal ABG level?
Partial pressure of oxygen; indicates amount of oxygen able to bind with hemoglobin; low pH means less oxygen in hemoglobin; 75-100
What is HCO3 and what is the normal ABG level?
Bicarbonate; an alkaline substances; a deficit indicates metabolic acidosis; 22-26
What is the respiratory determinant in ABG analysis?
PaCO2; if low, suggests infant is hypoventilating and retaining CO2, leading to acidosis
What does a low or high base excess indicate?
A value of less than -2 is acidosis and a value of greater than +2 is alkalosis
Is the baby acidotic, normal, or alkalotic with a PaCO2 value of 17?
Alkalotic
How do the lungs control pH?
Vary the amount of CO2 that is excreted by hyper- or hypo-ventilating
How do the kidneys control pH?
By varying the rate of HCO3 excretion
What are two maternal screening tests available to help predict the probability of preterm birth?
- Cervical length: cervix shortens as gestation increases (if it is short early on, may predict PTL)
- Fetal fibronectin (FFN): an extracellular protein that holds the fetus inside the uterus and is absent or present in low levels after 22 weeks - elevated levels are associated with increased risk of PTL
How does maternal tobacco smoking affect the fetus in utero and what might we expect clinically in these neonates?
Carbon monoxide crosses the placenta and displaces oxygen from hemoglobin, leading to decreased oxygen delivery to the fetus
- Infants exposed to tobacco may be SGA, have congenital defects, and are more likely to be born early
What percentage of preterm births are due to multiple gestation?
10%
What is given to babies at birth to help prevent infection?
Erythromycin ointment
What is gestational hypertension?
Elevated blood pressure without proteinuria and normal lab tests after 20 weeks
What is preeclampsia and what are some risk factors and signs/symptoms?
Elevated blood pressure with proteinuria and/or end organ compromise after 20 weeks
- Pre-gestational diabetes, chronic hypertension, chronic renal disease
- Oliguria, pulmonary edema, epigastric pain
What is HELLP Syndrome?
A variant of preeclampsia that often occurs between 27-37 weeks but may develop 24 hours postpartum
- Hemolysis
- Elevated Liver enzymes
- Low Platelets
Why are infants of mothers with preeclampsia often small in size and what are these infants at risk of developing?
Long standing hypertension leads to utero-placental vascular insufficiency, which impairs the transfer of nutrients and oxygen to the fetus
- Thrombocytopenia
What perinatal medication may be given to provide fetal neuroprotection and what are some side effects of this drug in the neonate?
Magnesium Sulfate
- Hypotension, apnea, bradycardia, hypotonia, motor depression, decreased bowel motility
What are some clinical features of neonatal withdrawal?
Hyperirritability, wakefulness, diarrhea, loose stools, tachypnea, fever
Define placental abruption and what are some risk factors?
Sudden, premature placental separation (partial or complete detachment) from the uterine wall
- Risk factors include PROM, hypertension, cocaine and tobacco use, previous abruption, trauma, uterine anomalies
Define placenta previa and what are some risk factors?
Occurs when the placenta implants in the lower part of the uterus over the cervix
- Risk factors include advanced maternal age, increased parity, previous c/s, tobacco and cocaine use
- Infants tend to have poor growth, anemia, and increased risk of congenital anomalies
What is the most common cause of death in ELBW neonates between days 15-60?
NEC
What is the most common cause of death after day of life 60?
BPD
What two disorders affect motor function later in life for ELBW neonates?
Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)
- Often associated with clumsiness and difficulties with balance, coordination, manual dexterity, and hand-eye coordination
How do NICUs use quality improvement (QI) to reduce morbidities?
QI seeks to standardize processes and structure to reduce variation, achieve predictable results, and improve outcomes for patients
What 3 characteristics are vital to the makeup of a small baby unit?
- Core team (self-selected)
- Consistent strategy (shared mental model based on evidence and unit context)
- Separate location (developmentally appropriate)
What are the 5 stages that make up Swanson’s Theory of Caring?
- Maintaining Belief (philosophical attitudes towards people in general)
- Knowing (informed understanding of the clinical condition)
- Being With (messages are conveyed to the client)
- Doing For (therapeutic actions)
- Enabling (therapeutic actions)
What 4 psychological tasks does a mother experience throughout the process of being pregnant, giving birth, and transitioning to role as mother (maternal role attainment)?
- Ensuring safe passage
- Acceptance by others
- Binding in to child
- Learning to give of oneself
What 3 cognitive processes do women use to achieve the 4 psychological tasks of maternal role attainment?
- Replication and Mimicry
- Fantasy
- De-differentiation
What is “ensuring safe passage” related to maternal role attainment?
A “psychological task” of maternal role attainment related to seeking the means to assure a secure and healthy pregnancy and childbirth
- Hormones play a role in this
What is “acceptance by others” related to maternal role attainment?
A “psychological task” of maternal role attainment related to accepting herself as a mother, potentially identifying role models with respect to parenting
What is “binding-in to child” related to maternal role attainment?
A “psychological task” of maternal role attainment related to attachment and establishing a direct experience between mother and child (may happen when mom feels the baby move - quickening - which is around 20 weeks)
- Helps the baby go from an idea to a human
- Preterm births take away weeks and months of this binding-in and relationship forming between mother and fetus
What is “learning to give of oneself” related to maternal role attainment?
A “psychological task” of maternal role attainment related to psychological, physical, and social changes that are required to make for the benefit of the baby
What is “replication and mimicry” related to maternal role attainment?
A “cognitive process” of maternal role attainment where the mother internalizes signals that affirm or reject maternal behaviors
- Replication: search for maternal behaviors she wants to use herself
- Mimicry: imitating behaviors seen by other mothers
- Role-Play: an interactive method where mother sort of “tests out” behaviors
What is “fantasy” related to maternal role attainment?
A “cognitive process” of maternal role attainment involving an introspective way for a pregnant woman to deal with hopes and fears
- Sort of a safe place to test behaviors and determine what is acceptable and how she wants to mother
What is “de-differentiation” related to maternal role attainment?
A “cognitive process” of maternal role attainment where the mother determines congruence of fantasy and reality (where she is and where she hopes to be)
What are the 5 dysfunctions of a team?
- Absence of trust
- Fear of conflict
- Lack of commitment to a common course of action and end goal
- Avoidance of accountability
- Inattention to results
What are 4 types of information exchange between teams?
- Briefs (planning): like a huddle to ensure roles and responsibilities
- Debriefs (process improvement): space for feedback after something has happened
- Handoff (SBAR)
- Huddle (problem solving): discusses critical issues and emerging events, anticipates outcomes
What are some challenges to continuity of care?
- Blurred boundaries (“my baby”)
- Role clarity/overlap (speech & lactation)
- Emotional burden (compassion fatigue)
- Maintaining professionalism and balance (losing objectivity)
- Hero worship (poor or excellent continuity from certain staff and not others - parents may “worship” certain people)
List 3 respiratory benefits associated with prone and left lateral positioning
- Higher O2 saturations
- Increased tidal volume
- Decreased obstructive apnea