SYSTEMIC MANIFESTATIONS IN RESPONSE TO MYDRIASIS AND PHYSICAL EXAMINATION DURING SCREENING FOR RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY

Masked trial of topical anesthesia for retinopathy of prematurity eye examinations

PURPOSE

To observe the effect of a topical anesthetic on pain and corneal clarity in premature infants undergoing eye examinations for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

METHODS

ROP examinations were performed on premature infants who were randomized to receive either proparacaine 0.5% or an artificial tear solution in the right eye. All infants received an artificial tear solution in the left eye. Assessment of discomfort was performed by use of the Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) during examination of the right eye, with a painful event defined as a PIPP score≥11. The left eye was then examined and a comparison of corneal clarity was made between the 2 eyes.

RESULTS

A total of 39 examinations were performed on 34 infants: artificial tear solution was administered 17 times and topical proparacaine anesthetic 22 times. The mean PIPP score for those receiving artificial tears was 10.4 compared with 8.8 for the anesthetic group (p=0.17). Of the examinations without anesthetic, 65% were painful, compared with 27% with anesthetic (p=0.04). No effect on corneal clarity was observed in any examination.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of a topical anesthetic appears to marginally decrease pain and has no adverse effect on subjectively assessed corneal clarity during examination of premature infants for ROP.

Efficacy of wide-field digital retinal imaging for retinopathy of prematurity screening

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the efficacy of wide-field digital retinal imaging for retinopathy of prematurity screening.

DESIGN

Retrospective study in a quaternary public neonatal intensive care unit.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 108 premature infants screened for retinopathy of prematurity.

METHODS

Retrospective chart and photo review were performed on participants screened by both serial wide-field digital retinal imaging and concurrent binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy. Review of captured digital photos was performed independently by a masked reader. Using the binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy findings as the gold standard, the efficacy of wide-field digital retinal imaging in detecting treatment-requiring retinopathy of prematurity, defined as type 1 prethreshold disease, was determined.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Sensitivity and specificity of wide-field digital retinal imaging in detecting treatment-requiring retinopathy of prematurity.

RESULTS

Treatment-requiring retinopathy of prematurity was detected in 11 infants by both binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy examination and telemedicine images taken at the same visit. Wide-field digital retinal imaging has a sensitivity of 100% (95% CI: 76.2-100%) and a specificity of 97.9% (95% CI: 93.4-99.7%) in detecting infants with treatment-requiring retinopathy of prematurity. Positive and negative predictive values of wide-field digital retinal imaging were 84.6% (95% CI: 57.8-97.3%) and 100% (95% CI: 96.9-100%), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Wide-field digital retinal imaging is accurate, reliable and efficient in detecting treatment-requiring retinopathy of prematurity. Incorporating wide-field digital retinal imaging with telemedicine in standard retinopathy of prematurity management can potentially improve delivery, accessibility, quality and cost of retinopathy of prematurity care.

Relationship between feeding schedules and gastric distress during retinopathy of prematurity screening eye examinations

PURPOSE

To determine whether a relationship exists between the timing of feeding before retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) eye examinations and gastric side effects or distress associated with this examination.

METHODS

A prospective, randomized, single-masked study was conducted involving infants in the neonatal intensive care unit who required an ROP eye examination and who received normal or full enteral feeding over a 1 year period. Infants were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 study arms: feeding 1 hour before examination (arm 1) or feeding schedule adjusted to ensure no feeding within 2 hours before examination (arm 2). Physiological data, including blood pressure and pulse rate, before, during and after examination, crying time during the examination, presence of vomiting and gastric aspirates, and gastric aspirates volume 24 hours after the examination, were recorded.

RESULTS

A total of 34 infants were enrolled, with 57 separate eye examinations conducted. There was 19% less crying (p = 0.016) in arm 1 versus arm 2. Vomiting was 3-fold less in arm 1 versus arm 2 (4.2% vs 12.5%, p = 0.38). Gastric aspirates was less in arm 1 versus arm 2 (p = 0.18). Diastolic blood pressure was lower and respiratory rate greater during the examination in arm 1 (p < 0.05), whereas pulse rate was greater at the start of the examination in arm 1 (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Feeding neonatal intensive care unit infants 1 hour before compared with withholding feeding 2 or more hours before ROP examinations may reduce stress during the examination, as measured by percentage crying during the examination, with no increased incidence of vomiting or gastric aspirates.

The retinopathy of prematurity screening examination: ensuring a safe and efficient examination while minimizing infant discomfort

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) examinations in the NICU are necessary to protect vision in premature infants, but the examinations are associated with risk and discomfort. ROP examination risks include adverse effects from mydriatic agents, systemic responses to the stress of examination, and nosocomial infection. Infant discomfort may be lessened by limiting examination length and possibly by measures such as topical anesthetic, oral sucrose, and certain nonpharmacologic techniques. A well-organized ROP service facilitates appropriate scheduling of examinations and education of the infant's parents. This article addresses causes of risk and infant discomfort, providing a framework for developing a safe and efficient ROP service while minimizing infant discomfort.

Pain management during eye examinations for retinopathy of prematurity in preterm infants: a systematic review

AIM

To assess whether non-pharmacological and/or pharmacological measures lead to decreased pain during an eye examination in preterm infants.

METHODS

.

DESIGN

Systematic review.

SUBJECTS

Premature infants meeting the criteria for screening eye examination for retinopathy.

INTERVENTION

Databases were searched through the Ovid interface. Randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials were included. Data were assessed independently by three reviewers.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Pain assessed by Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) or physiological changes.

RESULTS

Eight studies were included and grouped according to intervention: oral sucrose (group 1), anaesthetic eye drops (group 2) and non-pharmacological measures (group 3). For group 1, the mean PIPP score with sucrose was 1.38 (WMD) (95% CI: 0.41-2.35) lower than that of placebo (p = 0.005). For group 2, one study showed a reduction of two points on the PIPP score with topical proparacaine, whereas another showed no benefit. For group 3, developmental care improved developmental scores and salivary cortisol in one study.

CONCLUSION

Sucrose reduced pain during the eye examination, whereas the efficacy of proparacaine was not consistent in the studies included. However, PIPP scores remained relatively high in all the studies; thus further research is required to delineate better pain reduction strategies.

Risk analysis and an alternative protocol for reduction of screening for retinopathy of prematurity

PURPOSE

To determine whether a multivariate risk model can select infants with low-risk eyes for an alternative protocol that reduces retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening without loss of effectiveness.

METHODS

This was a retrospective, nonrandomized, comparative study. We assigned 712 eyes of 357 premature infants of 401-1,250 g birth weights as high or low risk for prethreshold or threshold ROP using a risk model with variables of birth weight, gestational age, multiple birth, race, and gender. Using simulations, infants with high-risk eyes (p > or = 0.15) were screened conventionally, while those with low-risk eyes were screened with the 35q3 protocol (initial examination at 35 weeks postmenstrual age followed by screening every 3 weeks, with increased or decreased intervals based on ROP severity). The resultant reduction in ROP screening and the delay to detection of severe ROP were calculated.

RESULTS

The 35q3 protocol reduced the mean number of eye examinations per infant in the overall population by 13.4% (p = 0.0051). No eyes had a delay to the detection of threshold or type 1 zone 1 ROP. Of a total of 57 type 1 ROP eyes, 2 eyes with type 1 zone 2 ROP were delayed to detection by 1 week. As our study was done prior to the Early Treatment of ROP study, the 2 eyes were observed and regressed without progression to threshold ROP.

CONCLUSIONS

A risk-based alternative screening protocol increased the efficiency of ROP screening for infants of 401-1,250 g birth weight without an apparent loss of effectiveness. This investigational approach requires further validation by multicenter studies.

Telemedicine for retinopathy of prematurity diagnosis: evaluation and challenges

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a vasoproliferative disorder affecting low birth weight infants. Although timely diagnosis and treatment can significantly reduce the risk of severe complications, ROP remains a leading cause of childhood blindness worldwide. Limitations of current disease management strategies include extensive travel and logistical coordination requirements for ophthalmologists and neonatologists, decreasing availability of adequately trained ophthalmologists at the point of care, variability in how retinal findings are diagnosed and documented, and a growing need for ROP care worldwide. Store-and-forward telemedicine is an emerging technology by which medical data are captured for subsequent interpretation by a remote expert. This has potential to improve accessibility, quality, and cost of ROP management. In this article, we summarize the current evaluation data on applications of telemedicine for ROP, particularly involving the diagnostic accuracy and reliability of remote image interpretation by experts. We also address challenges such as the cost-effectiveness of telemedicine, and highlight potential barriers to implementation of these systems. Understanding these principles is essential to determine future directions in research and development of telemedicine systems for ROP, as well as for other ophthalmic diseases.

Digital image analysis of plus disease in retinopathy of prematurity

An accurate assessment of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is essential in ensuring correct and timely treatment of this potentially blinding condition. Current modes of assessment are based upon clinical grading by expert examination of retinal changes. However, this may be subjective, unreliable and difficult and there has been significant interest in alternative means of measurement. These have been made possible through technological advancements in image capture and analysis as well as progress in clinical research, highlighting the specific importance of plus disease in ROP. Progress in these two fields has highlighted the potential for digital image analysis of plus disease to be used as an objective, reliable and valid measurement of ROP. The potential for clinical and scientific advancement through this method is argued and demonstrated in this article. Along with the potential benefits, there are significant challenges such as in image capture, segmentation, measurement of vessel width and tortuosity; these are also addressed. After discussing and explaining the challenges involved, the research articles addressing digital image analysis of ROP are critically reviewed. Benefits and limitations of the currently published techniques for digital ROP assessment are discussed with particular reference to the validity and reliability of outcome measures. Finally, the general limitations of current methods of analysis are discussed and more diverse potential areas of development are discussed.

Pain management during retinopathy of prematurity eye examinations: a systematic review

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) remains a concern for many preterm infants. Early detection and timely treatment have been shown to be effective in improving visual outcomes; moreover, it is crucial that a series of indirect ophthalmic examinations be performed until an infant is considered no longer at risk for the disease. The purpose of this systematic review is to summarize and evaluate the published evidence regarding characteristics and effectiveness of pain management interventions during the ROP examination. Implications for practice are discussed and suggestions for further research are made. Despite the general consensus that ROP examination is a painful procedure with considerable amount of discomfort, evidence shows that pain management during the ROP examination is inadequate. Although there are currently clear recommendations and guidelines for performing the ROP examination, there are no standard protocols for pharmacological and nonpharmacological pain management during the ROP examination. This is an area where much work is still needed to address the needs of the infant during this critical examination.

Lower stress responses after Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program care during eye screening examinations for retinopathy of prematurity: a randomized study

OBJECTIVE

Screening examination for retinopathy of prematurity is distressing and painful. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether a Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program intervention during a retinopathy of prematurity examination results in less adverse behavioral, pain, and stress responses as compared with standard care.

METHODS

The first 2 eye examinations in 36 preterm infants were evaluated. The infants were randomly assigned at the first eye examination to receive either Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program care or standard care. At the second examination, crossover of subject assignment was performed. The assessments included behavioral responses; recordings of heart rate, respiration, and oxygenation; pain scores (premature infant pain profile); and salivary cortisol at defined time points up to 4 hours after the eye examination. The nursing support given during the eye examinations (intervention score) were scored using predefined criteria.

RESULTS

Altogether, 68 examinations were evaluated. Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program care was associated with better behavioral scores during the examination but there was no difference in heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygenation, or premature infant pain profile score between the 2 care strategies before or after the eye examination. Salivary cortisol increased from baseline to 30 minutes after the eye examination independent of care strategy and decreased significantly between 30 and 60 minutes when infants were subjected to Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program care but not after standard care. During the study period the intervention score for standard care increased and approached the score for Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program care at the later eye examinations.

CONCLUSION

A Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program-based intervention during eye examination does not decrease pain responses but results in faster recovery, as measured by lower salivary cortisol 60 minutes after the examination. The differences were seen despite the influence from the Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program intervention on the standard care treatment that occurred during the study period.

Sub-Tenon's local anaesthesia for the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity with diode laser

PURPOSE

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of sub-Tenon's local anaesthesia (LA) for laser treatment of threshold retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

METHODS

A cohort of 18 eyes of 10 neonates with threshold ROP was treated with diode laser peripheral retinal ablation over 14 treatment sessions using oral sedation and sub-Tenon's anaesthesia. Treatment was performed in a neonatal unit. The heart and respiratory rate, trans-cutaneous oxygen saturation, and physical activity were continuously monitored for signs of neonatal distress. Cardio-respiratory stability during and after the procedure was scored for each eye treated using a Cardio-respiratory index described previously.

RESULTS

In all cases, the planned dose of laser was delivered. One out of 18 eyes developed stage 4b tractional retinal detachment over a follow-up of at least 6 months for all babies. Systemic complications during treatment included transient bradycardia and apnoea requiring stimulation in two babies and excessive head mobility in three babies. Treatment duration varied between 20 and 80 min. Ocular complications were conjunctival haemorrhage and chemosis. The mean cardio-respiratory index was 1.13, which compared favourably with the standard published.

CONCLUSIONS

Sub-Tenon's LA with oral sedation appears to be a safe and effective alternative to general anaesthesia for laser treatment of ROP, with the potential for lower morbidity.

Variation in anaesthesia for the laser treatment of retinopathy of prematurity—a survey of ophthalmologists in the UK

PURPOSE

Laser treatment for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) may be associated with systemic stress for the infant. No national consensus on the optimum method of anaesthesia for the treatment of ROP currently exists. This study ascertains the anaesthetic practices employed for the treatment of ROP by ophthalmologists in the United Kingdom (UK), and also their attitudes towards these practices.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A postal questionnaire was sent to 46 consultant ophthalmologists identified as performing treatment for ROP in the UK. The consultants were asked to estimate the annual number of babies with ROP that they treated with laser, what methods of anaesthesia they employed, for comments regarding the arrangements for, and types of anaesthesia employed and whether they believed that the neonatal stress response to laser treatment was associated with a significant risk of systemic complications.

RESULTS

In all, 35 (76%) questionnaires were returned. A total of 30 (86%) respondents reported performing laser treatment for ROP. Of these, 15 (50%) used general anaesthesia for all cases and 11 (37%) intravenous sedation combined with topical anaesthesia for all cases. Oral sedation combined with topical anaesthesia, rectal chloral hydrate and paracetamol combined with topical anaesthesia, intravenous ketamine combined with topical anaesthesia, and subtenon's local anesthesia were used by one (3%) respondent each. There were no ophthalmologists using subconjunctival or topical anaesthetic alone or treating without anaesthesia.

CONCLUSION

This survey reveals considerable variation in practice among UK ophthalmologists regarding the anaesthetic methods employed in the treatment of ROP, and their beliefs regarding the systemic stress associated with treatment.

Retinopathy of prematurity in infants with birth weight>or=1250 grams-incidence, severity, and screening guideline cost-analysis

PURPOSE

To determine the incidence and severity of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in infants with birth weight (BW) 1250 to 1800 g, to examine the influence of systemic conditions on the development of ROP in this population, and to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of various screening guidelines.

METHODS

We reviewed records from 259 consecutive infants with BW 1250 to 1800 g who were screened for ROP over a 3-year period. Extracted data included presence and severity of ROP, and the following potential risk factors (RF) for ROP development: sepsis, meningitis, necrotizing enterocolitis, intraventricular hemorrhage greater than stage I, pneumothorax, direct bilirubin>2 mg/dl, central line placement, antibiotic treatment>14 days, greater than seven red blood cell (RBC) transfusions, and mechanical ventilation>96 hours.

RESULTS

The overall incidence of ROP in this population was 4.2%. Two infants had stage 3 ROP, one with plus disease. Infants with stage 3 ROP had significantly lower BW (1299 versus 1484 g, P=0.013) and gestational age (GA) (28 versus 31 weeks, P=0.002) than those with no ROP. No infant with BW>1500 g developed treatable ROP. Conditions that best predicted ROP development in the 1501 to 1800 g BW group were sepsis, ventilation >96 hours, antibiotic use >14 days, RBC transfusions greater than seven units, and central line placement (P=0.001, P=0.001, P=0.012, P=0.014 and P=0.035, respectively). All infants with BW>1500 g who developed ROP had greater than or equal to two of these RF.

CONCLUSIONS

All cases of high-risk ROP would have been identified by current screening guidelines. Modified screening criteria of infants with (1) BW<or=1500 g or (2) BW 1501 to 2000 g and greater than or equal to two significant RF results in a $587.85 benefit per infant screened.

Is there a role for high-frequency ultrasonography in clinical staging of retinopathy of prematurity?

PURPOSE

To compare 20-MHz ultrasonography with ophthalmoscopy in the staging of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

METHODS

We used a handheld 20-MHz ultrasound system to examine 38 eyes of 19 neonates who had an indirect ophthalmoscopic examination (diagnosis masked) within 48 hours prior to ultrasonography. Determination of ROP by indirect ophthalmoscopy was compared with independent identification of ultrasonic features indicative of ROP stages.

RESULTS

In masked cases, ultrasonography correctly identified 13 of 18 (72.2% sensitivity) eyes with zone 2, stage 2 ROP or worse and 19 of 20 (95.0% specificity) normal eyes (zone 2, stage 1 ROP or better) (chi-square, 18.4; P < .001).

CONCLUSION

In the neonatal nursery, a 20-MHz handheld ultrasound system may be an effective screening tool to initially identify ROP for further ophthalmoscopic evaluation and management.

Efficacy of Topical Anesthetics to Reduce Pain in Premature Infants during Eye Examinations for Retinopathy of Prematurity

BACKGROUND:

Eye examinations for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) are stressful and probably painful, but many ophthalmologists do not apply topical anesthetics because their efficacy in reducing pain has not been established.

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the potential benefits of topical anesthetic eye drops in reducing pain during neonatal eye examination for ROP.

METHODS:

Neonates born at ⩽30 weeks' gestation and expected to have at least 2 examinations for ROP were included. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either proparacaine HCl ophthalmic solution 0.5% or NaCl 0.9% (saline) eye drops prior to an eye examination. In a subsequent examination, each patient received the alternate treatment. Eye drops were prepared in the pharmacy in identical tuberculin syringes, and physicians, nurses, and pharmacists were blinded to the treatment given. Pain was measured using a scoring system with both physical and physiologic measures of pain (Premature Infant Pain Profile [PIPP], possible range 1–21), which has been validated in preterm infants. PIPP scoring was performed simultaneously by 2 nurses: 1 and 5 minutes before and after the eye examination and during initial placement of the eye speculum. The same ophthalmologist performed all examinations.

RESULTS:

Twenty-two patients were studied, with 11 infants receiving proparacaine and 11 receiving saline as the first treatment. Crossover was performed with a median of 17.5 days between treatments. Patients experienced significantly less pain at speculum insertion with proparacaine than with saline (paired difference −2.5 ± 3.4; p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS:

Topical anesthetic pretreatment reduces the pain response to eye examination for ROP and should become routine practice. Because this is not effective in all infants, additional measures to reduce pain should be taken.

Efficacy of sucrose to reduce pain in premature infants during eye examinations for retinopathy of prematurity

BACKGROUND

Eye examinations for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) are painful to the neonate. The use of topical anesthetic for eye examinations to evaluate ROP is routine in our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), but does not completely suppress painful responses. Sweet solutions have been shown to reduce procedural pain in newborns.

OBJECTIVE

To examine whether the addition of sucrose 24% to topical anesthetic improves procedural pain control during the ROP eye examination.

METHODS

Neonates born at < or = 30 weeks' gestation were included in this placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover study. Patients were randomly assigned to receive treatment with either proparacaine HCl ophthalmic solution 0.5% plus 2 mL of sucrose 24% or proparacaine HCl ophthalmic solution 0.5% plus 2 mL of sterile water (placebo) prior to an eye examination. In a subsequent eye examination, each patient received the alternate treatment. Oral sucrose and sterile water were prepared in the pharmacy in identical syringes, and physicians, nurses, and pharmacists in the NICU were blinded to the treatment given. Pain was measured using the Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) scoring system, which measures both physical and physiologic measures of pain, and the scores were simultaneously assessed by 2 study nurses. PIPP scores were recorded 1 and 5 minutes before and after the eye examination and during initial placement of the eye speculum. The same ophthalmologist performed all eye examinations. Several different definitions of a pain response were investigated.

RESULTS

Twenty-three infants were studied, with 12 receiving sucrose and 11 receiving placebo as the first treatment. For 3 of the 5 definitions of pain response, patients experienced significantly less pain at speculum insertion with sucrose than with placebo. After the ROP examination, pain responses were similar with either sucrose or placebo.

CONCLUSIONS

Oral sucrose may reduce the immediate pain response in premature infants undergoing eye examination for ROP.