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Song IG, Lee J, Kim MS, Lee JW, Jeon SY, Yoo SH, Park HY. Beyond Legal Boundaries: Public and Clinician Perspectives on Treatment Withdrawal in Infants With Poor Neurological Prognosis. J Korean Med Sci 2024; 39:e196. [PMID: 38952347 PMCID: PMC11216905 DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2024.39.e196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite medical advancements in neonatal survival rates, many children have poor neurological outcomes. Because the law in Korea restricts the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment to only cases of imminent death, treatment discontinuation may not be an option, even in patients with poor neurological prognosis. This study investigated the opinions of the general population and clinicians regarding life-sustaining treatment withdrawal in such cases using hypothetical scenarios. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study on the general population and clinicians using a web-based questionnaire. The sample of the general population from an online panel comprised 500 individuals aged 20-69 years selected by quota sampling. The clinician sample comprised 200 clinicians from a tertiary university hospital. We created hypothetical vignettes and questionnaire items to assess attitudes regarding mechanical ventilation withdrawal for an infant at risk of poor neurological prognosis due to birth asphyxia at 2 months and 3 years after the incidence. RESULTS Overall, 73% of the general population and 74% of clinicians had positive attitudes toward mechanical ventilator withdrawal at 2 months after birth asphyxia. The proportion of positive attitudes toward mechanical ventilator withdrawal was increased in the general population (84%, P < 0.001) and clinicians (80.5%, P = 0.02) at 3 years after birth asphyxia. Religion, spirituality, the presence of a person with a disability in the household, and household income were associated with the attitudes of the general population. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis of the general population, respondents living with a person with a disability or having a disability were more likely to find the withdrawal of the ventilator at 2 months and 3 years after birth asphyxia not permissible. Regarding religion, respondents who identified as Christians were more likely to find the ventilator withdrawal at 2 months after birth asphyxia unacceptable. CONCLUSION The general population and clinicians shared the perspective that the decision to withdraw life-sustaining treatment in infants with a poor neurological prognosis should be considered before the end of life. A societal discussion about making decisions centered around the best interest of pediatric patients is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- In Gyu Song
- Department of Pediatrics, Severance Children's Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jung Lee
- Integrative Care Hub, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Min Sun Kim
- Integrative Care Hub, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Center for Palliative Care and Clinical Ethics, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
| | - Ji Weon Lee
- Integrative Care Hub, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - So Yeon Jeon
- Department of Psychiatry, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea
- Department of Psychiatry, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Shin Hye Yoo
- Center for Palliative Care and Clinical Ethics, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hye Yoon Park
- Center for Palliative Care and Clinical Ethics, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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Wintermark P, Lapointe A, Steinhorn R, Rampakakis E, Burhenne J, Meid AD, Bajraktari-Sylejmani G, Khairy M, Altit G, Adamo MT, Poccia A, Gilbert G, Saint-Martin C, Toffoli D, Vachon J, Hailu E, Colin P, Haefeli WE. Feasibility and Safety of Sildenafil to Repair Brain Injury Secondary to Birth Asphyxia (SANE-01): A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Phase Ib Clinical Trial. J Pediatr 2024; 266:113879. [PMID: 38142044 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2023.113879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To test feasibility and safety of administering sildenafil in neonates with neonatal encephalopathy (NE), developing brain injury despite therapeutic hypothermia (TH). STUDY DESIGN We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase Ib clinical trial between 2016 and 2019 in neonates with moderate or severe NE, displaying brain injury on day-2 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) despite TH. Neonates were randomized (2:1) to 7-day sildenafil or placebo (2 mg/kg/dose enterally every 12 hours, 14 doses). Outcomes included feasibility and safety (primary outcomes), pharmacokinetics (secondary), and day-30 neuroimaging and 18-month neurodevelopment assessments (exploratory). RESULTS Of the 24 enrolled neonates, 8 were randomized to sildenafil and 3 to placebo. A mild decrease in blood pressure was reported in 2 of the 8 neonates after initial dose, but not with subsequent doses. Sildenafil plasma steady-state concentration was rapidly reached, but decreased after TH discontinuation. Twelve percent of neonates (1/8) neonates died in the sildenafil group and 0% (0/3) in the placebo group. Among surviving neonates, partial recovery of injury, fewer cystic lesions, and less brain volume loss on day-30 magnetic resonance imaging were noted in 71% (5/7) of the sildenafil group and in 0% (0/3) of the placebo group. The rate of death or survival to 18 months with severe neurodevelopmental impairment was 57% (4/7) in the sildenafil group and 100% (3/3) in the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS Sildenafil was safe and well-absorbed in neonates with NE treated with TH. Optimal dosing needs to be established. Evaluation of a larger number of neonates through subsequent phases II and III trials is required to establish efficacy. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.govNCT02812433.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pia Wintermark
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
| | - Anie Lapointe
- Department of Neonatology, Sainte-Justine Hospital, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Robin Steinhorn
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, and Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA
| | | | - Jürgen Burhenne
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Andreas D Meid
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Gzona Bajraktari-Sylejmani
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - May Khairy
- Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Gabriel Altit
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Marie-Therese Adamo
- Pharmacy Department, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Alishia Poccia
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Guillaume Gilbert
- MR Clinical Science, Philips Healthcare, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Daniela Toffoli
- Department of Ophthalmology, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Julie Vachon
- Member of the Ordre des Psychologues du Quebec, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Hailu
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Patrick Colin
- Patrick Colin Consultant Inc, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Walter E Haefeli
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
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Dathe AK, Stein A, Bruns N, Craciun ED, Tuda L, Bialas J, Brasseler M, Felderhoff-Mueser U, Huening BM. Early Prediction of Mortality after Birth Asphyxia with the nSOFA. J Clin Med 2023; 12:4322. [PMID: 37445355 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12134322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Birth asphyxia is a major cause of delivery room resuscitation. Subsequent organ failure and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) account for 25% of all early postnatal deaths. The neonatal sequential organ failure assessment (nSOFA) considers platelet count and respiratory and cardiovascular dysfunction in neonates with sepsis. To evaluate whether nSOFA is also a useful predictor for in-hospital mortality in neonates (≥36 + 0 weeks of gestation (GA)) following asphyxia with HIE and therapeutic hypothermia (TH), (2) nSOFA was documented at ≤6 h of life. (3) A total of 65 infants fulfilled inclusion criteria for TH. All but one infant received cardiopulmonary resuscitation and/or respiratory support at birth. nSOFA was lower in survivors (median 0 [IQR 0-2]; n = 56, median GA 39 + 3, female n = 28 (50%)) than in non-survivors (median 10 [4-12], p < 0.001; n = 9, median GA 38 + 6, n = 4 (44.4%)). This was also observed for the respiratory (p < 0.001), cardiovascular (p < 0.001), and hematologic sub-scores (p = 0.003). The odds ratio for mortality was 1.6 [95% CI = 1.2-2.1] per one-point increase in nSOFA. The optimal cut-off value of nSOFA to predict mortality was 3.5 (sensitivity 100.0%, specificity 83.9%). (4) Since early accurate prognosis following asphyxia with HIE and TH is essential to guide decision making, nSOFA (≤6 h of life) offers the possibility of identifying infants at risk of mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Kathrin Dathe
- Neonatology, Paediatric Intensive Care and Paediatric Neurology, Department of Paediatrics I, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany
- Centre for Translational Neuro- and Behavioural Sciences, C-TNBS, Faculty of Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany
- Department of Health and Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Ernst-Abbe-University of Applied Sciences, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Anja Stein
- Neonatology, Paediatric Intensive Care and Paediatric Neurology, Department of Paediatrics I, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany
- Centre for Translational Neuro- and Behavioural Sciences, C-TNBS, Faculty of Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany
| | - Nora Bruns
- Neonatology, Paediatric Intensive Care and Paediatric Neurology, Department of Paediatrics I, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany
- Centre for Translational Neuro- and Behavioural Sciences, C-TNBS, Faculty of Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany
| | - Elena-Diana Craciun
- Neonatology, Paediatric Intensive Care and Paediatric Neurology, Department of Paediatrics I, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany
- Centre for Translational Neuro- and Behavioural Sciences, C-TNBS, Faculty of Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany
| | - Laura Tuda
- Neonatology, Paediatric Intensive Care and Paediatric Neurology, Department of Paediatrics I, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany
- Centre for Translational Neuro- and Behavioural Sciences, C-TNBS, Faculty of Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany
| | - Johanna Bialas
- Neonatology, Paediatric Intensive Care and Paediatric Neurology, Department of Paediatrics I, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany
- Centre for Translational Neuro- and Behavioural Sciences, C-TNBS, Faculty of Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany
| | - Maire Brasseler
- Neonatology, Paediatric Intensive Care and Paediatric Neurology, Department of Paediatrics I, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany
- Centre for Translational Neuro- and Behavioural Sciences, C-TNBS, Faculty of Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany
| | - Ursula Felderhoff-Mueser
- Neonatology, Paediatric Intensive Care and Paediatric Neurology, Department of Paediatrics I, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany
- Centre for Translational Neuro- and Behavioural Sciences, C-TNBS, Faculty of Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany
| | - Britta M Huening
- Neonatology, Paediatric Intensive Care and Paediatric Neurology, Department of Paediatrics I, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany
- Centre for Translational Neuro- and Behavioural Sciences, C-TNBS, Faculty of Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany
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Pekeles H, Al Amrani F, Perez-Morgui M, Wintermark P, Shevell M. Characteristics of Children With Cerebral Palsy in the Post-Therapeutic Hypothermia Era. J Child Neurol 2023; 38:130-136. [PMID: 36872628 DOI: 10.1177/08830738231159162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
Objectives: To explore the profile of children with cerebral palsy secondary to intrapartum asphyxia treated with therapeutic hypothermia after birth and to compare characteristics of children treated with therapeutic hypothermia with mild vs severe cerebral palsy outcome. Study Design: We identified all children treated with therapeutic hypothermia for intrapartum asphyxia in a single-center tertiary-level neonatal intensive care unit from 2008 to 2018 with a cerebral palsy outcome. We collected perinatal and outcome measures from patient charts. We searched the literature for characteristics of children with cerebral palsy prior to therapeutic hypothermia (historical cohort) to compare to our cohort. We subdivided our cohort into mild vs severe cerebral palsy and compared neonatal characteristics to identify predictors of severe phenotype. Results: Thirty of 355 cooled neonates (8%) developed cerebral palsy. More children had spastic quadriparesis and epilepsy, and fewer had visual impairment in the post-therapeutic hypothermia era compared to the historical cohort, but had similar Gross Motor Function Classification System scores. In our cohort, more children had severe (19 of 30, 63%) compared to mild cerebral palsy (11 of 30, 37%). The severe group had higher mean birth weight, lower 5- and 10-minute Apgar scores, and more often white matter injury with associated deep gray matter injury or near-total injury pattern (P < .05). Conclusions: Our data demonstrated more infants with severe rather than mild cerebral palsy in our cohort treated with therapeutic hypothermia. Birthweight, 5- and 10-minute Apgar scores, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings were significantly different between mild and severe phenotype groups. Our findings can guide clinicians how to better weigh these factors, when counseling parents in the neonatal period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Pekeles
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, 10040Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Fatema Al Amrani
- Pediatric Neurology Unit, Department of Child Health, 194179Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
| | | | - Pia Wintermark
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Montreal Children's Hospital, 5620McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, 5620McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Michael Shevell
- Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology/Neurosurgery, 5620McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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