Neuroprotection care bundle implementation is associated with improved long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes in extremely premature infants

The developmental phenotype of motor delay in extremely preterm infants following early-life respiratory adversity is influenced by brain dysmaturation in the parietal lobe

BACKGROUND

Research indicates that preterm infants requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation often exhibit suboptimal neurodevelopment at follow-up, coupled with altered brain development as detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at term-equivalent age (TEA). However, specific regions of brain dysmaturation and the subsequent neurodevelopmental phenotype following early-life adverse respiratory exposures remain unclear. Additionally, it is uncertain whether brain dysmaturation mediates neurodevelopmental outcomes after respiratory adversity. This study aims to investigate the relationship between early-life adverse respiratory exposures, brain dysmaturation at TEA, and the developmental phenotype observed during follow-up in extremely preterm infants.

METHODS

89 infants born < 29 weeks' gestation from 2019 to 2021 received MRI examinations at TEA for structural and lobe brain volumes, which were adjusted with sex-and-postmenstrual-age expected volumes for volume residuals. Assisted ventilation patterns in the first 8 postnatal weeks were analyzed using kmlShape analyses. Patterns for motor, cognition, and language development were evaluated from corrected age 6 to 12 months using Bayley Scales of Infant Development, third edition. Mediation effects of brain volumes between early-life respiratory exposures and neurodevelopmental phenotypes were adjusted for sex, gestational age, maternal education, and severe brain injury.

RESULTS

Two distinct respiratory trajectories with varying severity were identified: improving (n = 35, 39%) and delayed improvement (n = 54, 61%). Compared with the improving group, the delayed improvement group exhibited selectively reduced brain volume residuals in the parietal lobe (mean - 4.9 cm3, 95% confidence interval - 9.4 to - 0.3) at TEA and lower motor composite scores (- 8.7, - 14.2 to - 3.1) at corrected age 12 months. The association between delayed respiratory improvement and inferior motor performance (total effect - 8.7, - 14.8 to - 3.3) was partially mediated through reduced parietal lobe volume (natural indirect effect - 1.8, - 4.9 to - 0.01), suggesting a mediating effect of 20%.

CONCLUSIONS

Early-life adverse respiratory exposure is specifically linked to the parietal lobe dysmaturation and neurodevelopmental phenotype of motor delay at follow-up. Dysmaturation of the parietal lobe serves as a mediator in the connection between respiratory adversity and compromised motor development. Optimizing respiratory critical care may emerge as a potential avenue to mitigate the consequences of altered brain growth and motor developmental delay in this extremely preterm population.

Standardizing clinician training and patient care in the neonatal neurocritical care: A step-by-step guide

Neonatal neurocritical care (NNCC) has emerged as an important specialty to address neurological conditions affecting newborns including a wide spectrum of brain injuries and developmental impairment. Despite the discipline's growth, variability in NNCC service delivery, patient care, and clinical training poses significant challenges and potentially adversely impacts patient outcomes. Variations in neuroprotective strategies, postnatal care, and training methodologies highlight the urgent need for a unified approach to optimize both short- and long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes for these vulnerable population. This paper presents strategic blueprints for establishing standardized NNCC clinical care and training programs focusing on collaborative effort across medical and allied health professions. By addressing these inconsistencies, the paper proposes that standardizing NNCC practices can significantly enhance the quality of care, streamline healthcare resource utilization, and improve neurodevelopmental outcome, thus paving the way for a new era of neonatal neurological care.

Neuroprotective therapies in the NICU in preterm infants: present and future (Neonatal Neurocritical Care Series)

The survival of preterm infants has steadily improved thanks to advances in perinatal and neonatal intensive clinical care. The focus is now on finding ways to improve morbidities, especially neurological outcomes. Although antenatal steroids and magnesium for preterm infants have become routine therapies, studies have mainly demonstrated short-term benefits for antenatal steroid therapy but limited evidence for impact on long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes. Further advances in neuroprotective and neurorestorative therapies, improved neuromonitoring modalities to optimize recruitment in trials, and improved biomarkers to assess the response to treatment are essential. Among the most promising agents, multipotential stem cells, immunomodulation, and anti-inflammatory therapies can improve neural outcomes in preclinical studies and are the subject of considerable ongoing research. In the meantime, bundles of care protecting and nurturing the brain in the neonatal intensive care unit and beyond should be widely implemented in an effort to limit injury and promote neuroplasticity. IMPACT: With improved survival of preterm infants due to improved antenatal and neonatal care, our focus must now be to improve long-term neurological and neurodevelopmental outcomes. This review details the multifactorial pathogenesis of preterm brain injury and neuroprotective strategies in use at present, including antenatal care, seizure management and non-pharmacological NICU care. We discuss treatment strategies that are being evaluated as potential interventions to improve the neurodevelopmental outcomes of infants born prematurely.

Preterm Neurodevelopmental Trajectories from 18 Months to 4.5 Years

OBJECTIVE

To assess the longitudinal trajectory of cognitive, language, and motor outcomes from 18 months to 4.5 years of age in children born very preterm.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a prospective cohort study of 163 infants born very preterm (born 24-32 weeks of gestation) followed longitudinally and assessed with neurodevelopmental scales and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. Outcomes at 18 months and 3 years were assessed with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, 3rd Edition, and at 4.5 years with the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-III and the Movement Assessment Battery for Children. Cognitive, language, and motor outcomes were categorized as below-average, average, and above-average, and compared across time. Clinical data were analyzed using ANOVA, χ2 tests, and linear regression.

RESULTS

Cognitive and language trajectories were stable from 18 months to 4.5 years for all outcome groups. Motor impairment increased over time, with a greater proportion of children having motor deficits at 4.5 years. Children with below-average cognitive and language outcomes at 4.5 years had more clinical risk factors, greater white matter injury, and lower maternal education. Children with severe motor impairment at 4.5 years were born earlier, had more clinical risk factors, and demonstrated greater white matter injury.

CONCLUSIONS

Children born preterm have stable cognitive and language trajectories, while motor impairment increased at 4.5 years. These results highlight the importance of continued developmental surveillance for children born preterm into preschool age.