the preterm infant Flashcards
definition of term?
a birth between 37 weeks and 42 weeks of gestation
definition of post term
a birth that occurs after 42 completed weeks of gestation
extremely preterm
<28 weeks
factors that cause babies to be born preterm
interval of <6 months between pregnancies
conceiving through in vitro fertilisation
smoking, drinking alcohol, illicit drugs
poor nutrition, chronic conditions, multiple miscarriages or abortions
pregnancy assoc hypertension
antepartum haemorrhage
cervical incometence/uterine malformation
management of preterm babies
delayed cord clamping keeping warm gentle lung inflation initial O2 conc using a sats monitor
common problems in preterm infants
temp control feeding/nutrition sepsis system immaturity/dysfunction: - RDS (respiratory distress syndrome), PDA (patent ductus arteriosus), IVH (intraventricular haemorrhage), NEC (nectrotising enterocolitis) other metabolic ROP
why is thermal regulation ineffective in preterm babies?
low basal metabolic rate
minimal muscular activity
subcutaneous fat insulation is negligible
high ratio of surface area to body mass
ways to keep babies warm
wrap or bags
skin to skin
transwarmer mattress
prewarmed incubation
organisms causing neonatal sepsis
early onset - gp B strep - gram negative late onset - coagulase negative staphylococci -gram neg - staph aureus
respiratory complications of prematurity
RDS
apnoea of prematurity
bronchopulmonary dysplasia
RDS causes
alveolar damage (formation of exudate from leaky capillaries, inflammation, repair) primary pathology (surfactant/structural deficiency)
clinical features of RDS
respiratory distress
tachypnoea (grunting, intercostal recessions, cyanosis, nasal flaring)
management of RDS
maternal steroid
surfactant
ventilation - invasive or non invasive
