Neonates with a 10-min Apgar score of zero: Outcomes by gestational age

Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Preterm Infants Born to Mother with COVID-19

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a wide impact on both pregnant women and their babies. Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a gastrointestinal emergency in neonates with high morbidity and mortality. Objective: This study aims to investigate the incidence of NEC in preterm infants born to mothers with confirmed COVID-19. Methods: This observational study was conducted in neonatal intensive care unit at Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia, from May 2020 to April 2021. All preterm infants born to mothers with positive COVID-19 based on swab examination were included as study participants. PCR swab examination was performed within 48 hours after birth. The diagnosis of COVID-19 was defined as positive if the swab test result could detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The diagnosis of NEC was established by clinical symptoms and confirmed by abdominal radiography. Results: Out of 45 preterm infants included in this study, 6 infants experienced NEC. Factors that were significantly associated with the incidence of NEC included asphyxia and intubated mother. Positive PCR results from the infants alone did not significantly increase the risk of NEC. The combination of asphyxia and intubated mother (Odds Ratio [OR]=10.000, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]=1.056-94.677, P=0.020) and the combination of positive PCR result, asphyxia, and intubated mother (OR=2.438, 95% CI=1.673-3.551, P=0.007) were found to be significantly associated with the incidence of NEC Conclusion: Significant factors associated with the incidence of NEC in preterm infants born to mothers with COVID-19 included asphyxia and intubated mothers prior to delivery. A positive PCR result alone did not significantly increase the risk of NEC.

Singapore Neonatal Resuscitation Guidelines 2021

Neonatal resuscitation is a coordinated, team-based series of timed sequential steps that focuses on a transitional physiology to improve perinatal and neonatal outcomes. The practice of neonatal resuscitation has evolved over time and continues to be shaped by emerging evidence as well as key opinions. We present the revised Neonatal Resuscitation Guidelines for Singapore 2021. The recommendations from the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation Neonatal Task Force Consensus on Science and Treatment Recommendations (2020) and guidelines from the American Heart Association and European Resuscitation Council were compared with existing guidelines. The recommendations of the Neonatal Subgroup of the Singapore Resuscitation and First Aid Council were derived after the work group discussed and appraised the current available evidence and their applicability to local clinical practice.

Apgar score at 10 minutes and adverse outcomes among low-risk pregnancies

OBJECTIVE

Among low-risk pregnancies, we ascertained the association between 10-minute Apgar score and adverse outcomes of newborn infants.

METHOD

We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the U.S. vital statistics datasets (2011-2018), which included live births from low-risk women with non-anomalous singleton gestations who delivered at 37-41 weeks. When a newborn infant had an abnormal 5-minute Apgar score (0-5), a 10-minute Apgar score was documented in the birth certificate. Apgar score at 10 min was categorized as low (0-3), moderate (4-6), and normal (7-10). The primary outcome was composite neonatal adverse outcome. The secondary outcomes were individual neonatal adverse outcomes and infant mortality. Multivariable Poisson regression analyses were used to estimate the association between 10-minute Apgar score and adverse outcomes (using adjusted relative risk [aRR] and 95% confidence intervals [CI]).

RESULTS

Of 31.5 million live births delivered (2011-2018), 111,163 (0.4%) met inclusion criteria; of them, 74.2%, 20.7%, and 5.1% had normal, moderate, and low 10-minute Apgar scores, respectively. The overall composite neonatal adverse outcome was 100.6 per 1,000 live births and the risk was significantly higher among those with a moderate (aRR 3.19; 95% CI 3.06-3.31) or low 10-minute Apgar score (aRR 6.62; 95% CI 6.34-6.91) than with a normal 10-minute Apgar score. Infant mortality also showed a similar pattern. Newborn infants with improved Apgar scores from 5 to 10 min were associated with lower risks of the composite neonatal adverse outcome, as well as infant mortality, than those with scores that remained stable.

CONCLUSION

Among low-risk pregnancies, newborn infants with a lower 10-minute Apgar score were associated with a higher risk of adverse outcomes.

European Resuscitation Council Guidelines 2021: Newborn resuscitation and support of transition of infants at birth

The European Resuscitation Council has produced these newborn life support guidelines, which are based on the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) 2020 Consensus on Science and Treatment Recommendations (CoSTR) for Neonatal Life Support. The guidelines cover the management of the term and preterm infant. The topics covered include an algorithm to aid a logical approach to resuscitation of the newborn, factors before delivery, training and education, thermal control, management of the umbilical cord after birth, initial assessment and categorisation of the newborn infant, airway and breathing and circulation support, communication with parents, considerations when withholding and discontinuing support.

[Newborn resuscitation and support of transition of infants at birth]

The European Resuscitation Council has produced these newborn life support guidelines, which are based on the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) 2020 Consensus on Science and Treatment Recommendations (CoSTR) for Neonatal Life Support. The guidelines cover the management of the term and preterm infant. The topics covered include an algorithm to aid a logical approach to resuscitation of the newborn, factors before delivery, training and education, thermal control, management of the umbilical cord after birth, initial assessment and categorisation of the newborn infant, airway and breathing and circulation support, communication with parents, considerations when withholding and discontinuing support.

2020 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science With Treatment Recommendations

This 2020 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science With Treatment Recommendations (CoSTR) for neonatal life support includes evidence from 7 systematic reviews, 3 scoping reviews, and 12 evidence updates. The Neonatal Life Support Task Force generally determined by consensus the type of evidence evaluation to perform; the topics for the evidence updates followed consultation with International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation member resuscitation councils. The 2020 CoSTRs for neonatal life support are published either as new statements or, if appropriate, reiterations of existing statements when the task force found they remained valid.Evidence review topics of particular interest include the use of suction in the presence of both clear and meconium-stained amniotic fluid, sustained inflations for initiation of positive-pressure ventilation, initial oxygen concentrations for initiation of resuscitation in both preterm and term infants, use of epinephrine (adrenaline) when ventilation and compressions fail to stabilize the newborn infant, appropriate routes of drug delivery during resuscitation, and consideration of when it is appropriate to redirect resuscitation efforts after significant efforts have failed.All sections of the Neonatal Resuscitation Algorithm are addressed, from preparation through to postresuscitation care. This document now forms the basis for ongoing evidence evaluation and reevaluation, which will be triggered as further evidence is published.Over 140 million babies are born annually worldwide (https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/births-and-deaths-projected-to-2100). If up to 5% receive positive-pressure ventilation, this evidence evaluation is relevant to more than 7 million newborn infants every year. However, in terms of early care of the newborn infant, some of the topics addressed are relevant to every single baby born.

Neonatal Life Support: 2020 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science With Treatment Recommendations

This 2020 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science With Treatment Recommendations (CoSTR) for neonatal life support includes evidence from 7 systematic reviews, 3 scoping reviews, and 12 evidence updates. The Neonatal Life Support Task Force generally determined by consensus the type of evidence evaluation to perform; the topics for the evidence updates followed consultation with International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation member resuscitation councils. The 2020 CoSTRs for neonatal life support are published either as new statements or, if appropriate, reiterations of existing statements when the task force found they remained valid. Evidence review topics of particular interest include the use of suction in the presence of both clear and meconium-stained amniotic fluid, sustained inflations for initiation of positive-pressure ventilation, initial oxygen concentrations for initiation of resuscitation in both preterm and term infants, use of epinephrine (adrenaline) when ventilation and compressions fail to stabilize the newborn infant, appropriate routes of drug delivery during resuscitation, and consideration of when it is appropriate to redirect resuscitation efforts after significant efforts have failed. All sections of the Neonatal Resuscitation Algorithm are addressed, from preparation through to postresuscitation care. This document now forms the basis for ongoing evidence evaluation and reevaluation, which will be triggered as further evidence is published. Over 140 million babies are born annually worldwide (https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/births-and-deaths-projected-to-2100). If up to 5% receive positive-pressure ventilation, this evidence evaluation is relevant to more than 7 million newborn infants every year. However, in terms of early care of the newborn infant, some of the topics addressed are relevant to every single baby born.

Duration of Resuscitation at Birth, Mortality, and Neurodevelopment: A Systematic Review

CONTEXT

The International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation Neonatal Life Support Task Force reviewed evidence for the duration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for newborns immediately after birth.

OBJECTIVE

To summarize evidence for ongoing CPR on the outcomes of survival, neurodevelopment, and the composite of survival without moderate or severe neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI).

DATA SOURCES

Medline, Embase, Evidence-Based Medicine Reviews, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Scientific Electronic Library Online were searched between inception and February 29, 2020.

STUDY SELECTION

Two independent reviewers selected studies of newborns with at least 10 minutes of asystole, bradycardia, or pulseless electrical activity for which CPR is indicated.

DATA EXTRACTION

Two independent reviewers extracted data and appraised the risk of bias.

RESULTS

In 16 eligible studies, researchers reported outcomes of 579 newborns born between 1982 and 2017. Within individual studies, 2% to 100% of infants survived to last follow-up (hospital discharge through 12 years). Summarized across studies, 237 of 579 (40.9%) newborns survived to last follow-up. In 13 studies, researchers reported neurodevelopmental outcomes of 277 newborns. Of these, 30 of 277 (10.8%) survived without moderate or severe impairment, and 240 of 277 (87%) met the composite outcome of death or NDI (191 died and 49 survived with moderate or severe impairment).

LIMITATIONS

There was very low certainty of evidence because of risk of bias and inconsistency.

CONCLUSIONS

Infants with ongoing CPR at 10 minutes after birth are at high risk for mortality and neurodisability, but survival without moderate or severe NDI is possible. One specified duration of CPR is unlikely to uniformly predict survival or survival without neuroimpairment.