Assessment of atropine-sufentanil-atracurium anaesthesia for endotracheal intubation: an observational study in very premature infants

Frequencies, Modalities, Doses and Duration of Computerized Prescriptions for Sedative, Analgesic, Anesthetic and Paralytic Drugs in Neonates Requiring Intensive Care: A Prospective Pharmacoepidemiologic Cohort Study in 30 French NICUs From 2014 to 2020

Objectives: No consensus exists about the doses of analgesics, sedatives, anesthetics, and paralytics used in critically ill neonates. Large-scale, detailed pharmacoepidemiologic studies of prescription practices are a prerequisite to future research. This study aimed to describe the detailed prescriptions of these drug classes in neonates hospitalized in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) from computerized prescription records and to compare prescriptions by gestational age.

Materials and Methods: We included all neonates requiring intensive care in 30 French level III units from 2014 through 2020 with a computerized prescription for an analgesic, sedative, anesthetic, or paralytic agent. We described frequencies of prescription, methods of administration, concomitant drug prescriptions, and dosing regimen, and compared them across gestational ages.

Results: Among 65,555 neonates, 29,340 (44.8%) were prescribed at least one analgesic (acetaminophen in 37.2% and opioids in 17.8%), sedative (9.8%), anesthetic (8.5%), and/or paralytic agent (1%). Among preterm infants born before 28 weeks, 3,771/4,283 (88.0%) were prescribed at least one of these agents: 69.7% opioids, 41.2% sedatives, 32.5% anesthetics, and 5.8% paralytics. The most frequently prescribed agents were sufentanil (in 10.3% of neonates) and morphine (in 8.0% of neonates) for opioids, midazolam (9.3%) for sedatives, ketamine (5.7%) and propofol (3.3%) for anesthetics. In most neonates, opioids and sedatives were prescribed as continuous infusion, whereas anesthetics were prescribed as single doses. Opioids, sedatives and paralytics were mostly prescribed in association with another agent. Doses varied significantly by gestational age but within a limited range. Gestational age was inversely related to the frequency, cumulative dose and duration of prescriptions. For example, morphine prescriptions showed median (IQR) cumulative doses of 2601 (848–6750) vs. 934 (434–2679) µg/kg and median (IQR) durations of 7 (3–15) vs. 3 (2–5) days in infants born <28 vs. ≥ 37 weeks of gestation, respectively (p-value<0.001).

Conclusion: The prescriptions of analgesic, sedative, anesthetic, or paralytic agent were frequent and often combined in the NICU. Lower gestational age was associated with higher frequencies, longer durations and higher cumulative doses of these prescriptions. Dose-finding studies to determine individualized dosing regimens and studies on long-term neurodevelopmental outcome according to received cumulative doses are required.

Premedication before laryngoscopy in neonates: Evidence-based statement from the French society of neonatology (SFN)

CONTEXT

Laryngoscopy is frequently required in neonatal intensive care. Awake laryngoscopy has deleterious effects but practice remains heterogeneous regarding premedication use. The goal of this statement was to provide evidence-based good practice guidance for clinicians regarding premedication before tracheal intubation, less invasive surfactant administration (LISA) and laryngeal mask insertion in neonates.

METHODS

A group of experts brought together by the French Society of Neonatology (SFN) addressed 4 fields related to premedication before upper airway access in neonates: (1) tracheal intubation; (2) less invasive surfactant administration; (3) laryngeal mask insertion; (4) use of atropine for the 3 previous procedures. Evidence was gathered and assessed on predefined questions related to these fields. Consensual statements were issued using the GRADE methodology.

RESULTS

Among the 15 formalized good practice statements, 2 were strong recommendations to do (Grade 1+) or not to do (Grade 1-), and 4 were discretionary recommendations to do (Grade 2+). For 9 good practice statements, the GRADE method could not be applied, resulting in an expert opinion. For tracheal intubation premedication was considered mandatory except for life-threatening situations (Grade 1+). Recommended premedications were a combination of opioid + muscle blocker (Grade 2+) or propofol in the absence of hemodynamic compromise or hypotension (Grade 2+) while the use of a sole opioid was discouraged (Grade 1-). Statements regarding other molecules before tracheal intubation were expert opinions. For LISA premedication was recommended (Grade 2+) with the use of propofol (Grade 2+). Statements regarding other molecules before LISA were expert opinions. For laryngeal mask insertion and atropine use, no specific data was found and expert opinions were provided.

CONCLUSION

This statement should help clinical decision regarding premedication before neonatal upper airway access and favor standardization of practices.

Premedication with intravenous midazolam for neonatal endotracheal intubation: A double blind randomized controlled trial

Background

Pain during the neonatal period has been associated with immediate and long-term adverse effects. One of the most frequent painful procedures that neonates face in neonatal intensive care unit is the endotracheal intubation. Midazolam has been a candidate for premedication before neonatal intubation. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of midazolam as the premedication on endotracheal intubation of premature infants during surfactant administration.

Materials and Methods

In a double-blind clinical trial, 80 preterm infants were undertaken for tracheal intubation following the use of atropine associated to either midazolam or placebo. Patient's vital signs and general conditions were constantly monitored, and pain was assessed using premature infant pain profile (PIPP) score.

Results

The mean ± standard deviation for postnatal age was 95.38 ± 50.04 and 111.63 ± 49.4 min in control and midazolam groups, respectively. The patients in the midazolam group had significantly better outcomes across several intubation outcome measures such as duration of endotracheal intubation (23.5 ± 6.7 vs. 18.8 ± 4.8 s, P = 0.001), oxygen saturation level (88.05% ±13.7 vs. 95.1 ± 1.8%, P = 0.002), intubation failure (34.2% vs. 2.5%, P = 0.0001), awake and resistance during intubation (95% vs. 20%, P = 0.0001), and excellent patient condition during intubation (0% vs. 82.5%, P = 0.0001). In addition, PIPP score was significantly lower in the midazolam group (5.2 ± 2.06 vs. 12.9 ± 2.9, P = 0.0001).

Conclusion

Premedication with midazolam in newborns before intubation, can hold promising effects that manifests as better overall outcomes, less complications, better vital signs, more comfortable situation, and lesser pain for these patients.

Premedication practices for neonatal tracheal intubation: Results from the EPIPPAIN 2 prospective cohort study and comparison with EPIPPAIN 1

To describe the frequency and nature of premedication practices for neonatal tracheal intubation (TI) in 2011; to identify independent risk factors for the absence of premedication; to compare data with those from 2005 and to confront observed practices with current recommendations. Data concerning TI performed in neonates during the first 14 days of their admission to participating neonatal/pediatric intensive care units were prospectively collected at the bedside. This study was part of the Epidemiology of Procedural Pain in Neonates study (EPIPPAIN 2) conducted in 16 tertiary care units in the region of Paris, France, in 2011. Multivariate analysis was used to identify factors associated with premedication use and multilevel analysis to identify center effect. Results were compared with those of the EPIPPAIN 1 study, conducted in 2005 with a similar design, and to a current guidance for the clinician for this procedure. One hundred and twenty‐one intubations carried out in 121 patients were analyzed. The specific premedication rate was 47% and drugs used included mainly propofol (26%), sufentanil (24%), and ketamine (12%). Three factors were associated with the use of a specific premedication: nonemergent TI (Odds ratio (OR) [95% CI]: 5.3 [1.49‐20.80]), existence of a specific written protocol in the ward (OR [95% CI]:4.80 [2.12‐11.57]), and the absence of a nonspecific concurrent analgesia infusion before TI (OR [95% CI]: 3.41 [1.46‐8.45]). No center effect was observed. The specific premedication rate was lower than the 56% rate observed in 2005. The drugs used were more homogenous and consistent with the current recommendations than in 2005, especially in centers with a specific written protocol. Premedication use prior to neonatal TI was low, even for nonemergent procedures. Scientific consensus, implementation of international or national recommendations, and local written protocols are urgently needed to improve premedication practices for neonatal intubation.

Anaesthetic concerns in preterm and term neonates

Anaesthesia for neonates is a composite of good knowledge of neonatal and transitional physiology combined with skill in airway maintenance and vascular access. When the newborn is a preterm, the complexities of management increase due to the small size and accompanying issues such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia and apnoea. World over, the number of survivors of preterm birth is on the increase. We searched Pubmed for "Anesthesia, apnea, neonatal, neonates, physiology, preterm, spinal anesthesia", as well as cross references from review articles. These babies have a high incidence of conditions warranting surgery (e.g., tracheoesophaeal fistula, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, anorectal malformations, incarcerated hernia, necrotising enterocolitis). The possibility of neurodevelopmental harm by anaesthetics is currently the topic of active research. In parallel, advances in paediatric anaesthesia equipment, use of regional and neuraxial anaesthesia and availability of monitoring have steadily increased the safety of anaesthesia in these tiny patients.

Premedication practices for delivery room intubations in premature infants in France: Results from the EPIPAGE 2 cohort study

Objectives

To assess premedication practices before tracheal intubation of premature newborns in the delivery room (DR).

Study design

From the national population-based prospective EPIPAGE 2 cohort in 2011, we extracted all live born preterms intubated in the DR in level-3 centers, without subsequent circulatory resuscitation. Studied outcomes included the rate and type of premedication, infants’ and maternities’ characteristics and survival and major neonatal morbidities at discharge from hospital. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed and a generalized estimating equation was used to identify factors associated with premedication use.

Results

Out of 1494 included neonates born in 65 maternities, 76 (5.1%) received a premedication. Midazolam was the most used drug accounting for 49% of the nine drugs regimens observed. Premedicated, as compared to non premedicated neonates, had a higher median [IQR] gestational age (30 [28–31] vs 28 [27–30] weeks, p<10⁻³), median birth weight (1391 [1037–1767] vs 1074 [840–1440] g, p<10⁻³) and median 1-minute Apgar score (8 [6–9] vs 6 [3–8], p<10⁻³). Using univariate analyses, premedication was significantly less frequent after maternal general anesthesia and during nighttime and survival without major morbidity was significantly higher among premedicated neonates (56/73 (81.4%) vs 870/1341 (69.3%), p = 0.028). Only 10 centers used premedication at least once and had characteristics comparable to the 55 other centers. In these 10 centers, premedication rates varied from 2% to 75%, and multivariate analysis identified gestational age and 1-minute Apgar score as independent factors associated with premedication use.

Conclusion

Premedication rate before tracheal intubation was only 5.1% in the DR of level-3 maternities for premature neonates below 34 weeks of gestation in France in 2011 and seemed to be mainly associated with centers’ local policies.

Cerebral Oxygenation During Neonatal Intubation-Ancillary Study of the Prettineo-Study

Purpose: This study aimed to describe cerebral Near InfraRed Spectroscopy (NIRS) profiles during neonatal intubation using two different premedication regimens. Methods: Neonates requiring non-emergency intubation were enrolled in an ancillary study, conducted in two French Neonatal Intensive Care Units participating in a larger on-going multicenter, double blind, randomized, controlled trial. Patients were randomly assigned to the "atropine-propofol" (Prop) group or the "atropine-atracurium-sufentanil" (SufTrac) group. Regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rScO₂), pulse oxymetry (SpO₂), mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), and transcutaneous partial pressure of carbon dioxide (TcPCO₂) were collected at 9 predefined time points from 1 min before to 60 min after the first drug injection. The two primary outcomes were a decrease in rScO₂ value >20% from baseline and a decrease in fractional cerebral tissue oxygen extraction (FTOE) value >10% from baseline, at any time point. Secondary outcomes included physiological parameters changes over time and correlations between mean arterial blood pressure, and FTOE at different time points. Descriptive results were obtained and exploratory statistical analyses were performed for 24 included patients. Results: rScO₂ decreased in 5/11 (46%) infants from the Prop group and 10/13 (77%) from the SufTrac group (p = 0.11); FTOE decreased in 10/11 (91%) infants from the Prop group, and 12/13 (92%) from the SufTrac group (p = 0.90). rScO₂ values decreased over time in both groups, whereas FTOE's pattern appeared more stable. SpO₂ and transcutaneous TcPCO₂ seemed more preserved in the Prop group while MABP seemed more preserved in the SufTrac group. No important correlation was observed between MABP and FTOE (r = 0.08 to 0.12 across the time points). Conclusion: Our results suggest a frequent decrease in cerebral oxygenation without obvious impairment in cerebral autoregulation during neonatal intubation with premedication. This study confirms the feasibility and the informative value of cerebral NIRS monitoring in this setting. Clinical Trial Registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT02700893.

European Consensus Guidelines on the Management of Respiratory Distress Syndrome - 2019 Update

As management of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) advances, clinicians must continually revise their current practice. We report the fourth update of "European Guidelines for the Management of RDS" by a European panel of experienced neonatologists and an expert perinatal obstetrician based on available literature up to the end of 2018. Optimising outcome for babies with RDS includes prediction of risk of preterm delivery, need for appropriate maternal transfer to a perinatal centre and timely use of antenatal steroids. Delivery room management has become more evidence-based, and protocols for lung protection including initiation of CPAP and titration of oxygen should be implemented immediately after birth. Surfactant replacement therapy is a crucial part of management of RDS, and newer protocols for its use recommend early administration and avoidance of mechanical ventilation. Methods of maintaining babies on non-invasive respiratory support have been further developed and may cause less distress and reduce chronic lung disease. As technology for delivering mechanical ventilation improves, the risk of causing lung injury should decrease, although minimising time spent on mechanical ventilation using caffeine and, if necessary, postnatal steroids are also important considerations. Protocols for optimising general care of infants with RDS are also essential with good temperature control, careful fluid and nutritional management, maintenance of perfusion and judicious use of antibiotics all being important determinants of best outcome.

Effect of Atropine With Propofol vs Atropine With Atracurium and Sufentanil on Oxygen Desaturation in Neonates Requiring Nonemergency Intubation: A Randomized Clinical Trial

IMPORTANCE

Propofol or a combination of a synthetic opioid and muscle relaxant are both recommended for premedication before neonatal intubation but have yet to be compared.

OBJECTIVE

To compare prolonged desaturation during neonatal nasotracheal intubation after premedication with atropine-propofol vs atropine-atracurium-sufentanil treatment.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Multicenter, double-blind, randomized clinical trial (2012-2016) in 6 NICUs in France that included 173 neonates requiring nonemergency intubation. The study was interrupted due to expired study kits and lack of funding.

INTERVENTIONS

Eighty-nine participants were randomly assigned to the atropine-propofol group and 82 to the atropine-atracurium-sufentanil group before nasotracheal intubation.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary outcome was prolonged desaturation (Spo2 <80% lasting > 60 seconds), using intention-to-treat analysis using mixed models. Secondary outcomes assessed the characteristics of the procedure and its tolerance.

RESULTS

Of 173 neonates randomized (mean gestational age, 30.6 weeks; mean birth weight, 1502 g; 71 girls), 171 (99%) completed the trial. Of 89 infants, 53 (59.6%) in the atropine-propofol group vs 54 of 82 (65.9%) in the atropine-atracurium-sufentanil group achieved the primary outcome (adjusted RD, -6.4; 95% CI, -21.0 to 8.1; P = .38). The atropine-propofol group had a longer mean procedure duration than did the atropine-atracurium-sufentanil group (adjusted RD, 1.7 minutes; 95% CI, 0.1-3.3 minutes; P = .04); a less frequent excellent quality of sedation rate, 51.7% (45 of 87) vs 92.6% (75 of 81; P < .001); a shorter median time to respiratory recovery, 14 minutes (IQR, 8-34 minutes) vs 33 minutes (IQR, 15-56 minutes; P = .002), and shorter median time to limb movement recovery, 18 minutes (IQR, 10-43 minutes) vs 36 minutes (IQR, 19-65 minutes; P = .003). In the 60 minutes after inclusion, Spo2 was preserved significantly better in the atropine-propofol group (time × treatment interaction P  = .02). Of the atropine-propofol group 20.6% had head ultrasound scans that showed worsening intracranial hemorrhaging (any or increased intraventricular hemorrhage) in the 7 days after randomization vs 17.6% in the atropine-atracurium-sufentanil group (adjusted RD, 1.2; 95% CI, -13.1 to 15.5, P = .87). Severe adverse events occurred in 11% of the atropine-propofol group and in 20% of the atropine-atracurium-sufentanil group.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Among neonates undergoing nonemergency nasotracheal intubation, the frequency of prolonged desaturation did not differ significantly between atropine used with propofol or atropine used with atracurium and sufentanil. However, the study may have been underpowered to detect a clinically important difference, and further research may be warranted.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01490580, EudraCT number: 2009-014885-25.

Assessment of sedation level prior to neonatal intubation: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Adequate premedication before neonatal endotracheal intubation reduces pain, stress, and adverse physiological responses, diminishes duration and number of attempts at intubation, and prevents traumatic airway injury. Therefore, intubation should not be started until an adequate level of sedation is reached. It is not clear how this should be measured in the clinical situation.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study is to provide a systematic review of the usability and validity of scoring systems or other objective parameters to evaluate the level of sedation before intubation in neonates. Secondary aims were to describe parameters that are used to determine the level of sedation and criteria on which the decision to proceed with intubation is based.

METHODS

Literature was searched (January 2017) in the following electronic databases: Embase, Medline, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Registrar of Controlled Trials, Pubmed Publisher, and Google Scholar.

RESULTS

From 1653 hits, 20 studies were finally included in the systematic review. In 7 studies, intubation was started after a predefined time period; in 1 study, preoxygenation was the criterion to start with intubation; and in 12 studies, intubation was started in case of adequate sedation and/or relaxation. Only 4 studies described the use of 3 different objective scoring system, all in the neonatal intensive care unit, which are not validated.

CONCLUSION

No validated scoring systems to assess the level of sedation prior to intubation in newborns are available in the literature. Three objective sedation assessment tools seem promising but need further validation before they can be implemented in research and clinical settings.

European Consensus Guidelines on the Management of Respiratory Distress Syndrome - 2016 Update

Advances in the management of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) ensure that clinicians must continue to revise current practice. We report the third update of the European Guidelines for the Management of RDS by a European panel of expert neonatologists including input from an expert perinatal obstetrician based on available literature up to the beginning of 2016. Optimizing the outcome for babies with RDS includes consideration of when to use antenatal steroids, and good obstetric practice includes methods of predicting the risk of preterm delivery and also consideration of whether transfer to a perinatal centre is necessary and safe. Methods for optimal delivery room management have become more evidence based, and protocols for lung protection, including initiation of continuous positive airway pressure and titration of oxygen, should be implemented from soon after birth. Surfactant replacement therapy is a crucial part of the management of RDS, and newer protocols for surfactant administration are aimed at avoiding exposure to mechanical ventilation, and there is more evidence of differences among various surfactants in clinical use. Newer methods of maintaining babies on non-invasive respiratory support have been developed and offer potential for greater comfort and less chronic lung disease. As technology for delivering mechanical ventilation improves, the risk of causing lung injury should decrease although minimizing the time spent on mechanical ventilation using caffeine and if necessary postnatal steroids are also important considerations. Protocols for optimizing the general care of infants with RDS are also essential with good temperature control, careful fluid and nutritional management, maintenance of perfusion and judicious use of antibiotics all being important determinants of best outcome.