Impact of Nonmedical Factors on Neurobehavior and Language Outcomes of Preterm Infants

A Delirium Prevention and Management Initiative: Implementing a Best Practice Recommendation for the NICU

Medically complex infants experiencing NICU stays can be difficult to manage, exhibiting refractory agitation, disengagement, or both-all signs of delirium, which can present in a hypoactive, hyperactive, or mixed form. Though documented in other settings, delirium is under-recognized in NICUs. Pediatric studies show that a high percentage of patients with delirium are under the age of 12 months. Delirium is associated with increased ventilation days, hospital days, and costs. It negatively affects neurodevelopment and social interaction. Studies show that pediatric nurses are unprepared to recognize delirium. Our nurse-led multidisciplinary group created a best practice recommendation (BPR) focused on detecting delirium and minimizing risk through thoughtful sedation management, promotion of sleep hygiene and mobility, and facilitation of meaningful caregiver presence. Occasionally, medications, including melatonin and risperidone, are helpful. In 2019, we introduced this BPR to reduce delirium risk in our NICU. Practice changes tied to this initiative correlate with a significant reduction in delirium scores and risk including exposure to deliriogenic medications. A multidisciplinary care bundle correlates with decreased delirium screening scores in NICU patients.

Parent and staff perspectives on the benefits and barriers to communication with infants in the neonatal intensive care unit

Exposure to high quantity and quality of language in the neonatal period is critical to neurocognitive development; however, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) environments may contribute to language deprivation. Using qualitative thematic content analysis, this study aimed to characterize the knowledge and attitudes of NICU staff and patient families toward the importance of early language experience, the current NICU language environment, and the benefits and barriers of communication in the NICU. Results revealed that all respondents recognized the importance of communication for optimal cognitive development, though few understood why. Staff and family members alike recognized the role of nurses as coaches and role models in promoting communication at the bedside. Nurses generally felt that family members communicate less with their babies than family members themselves perceived, and that cell phone use has fewer communicative advantages than parents perceive. Respondents reported that patient illness, lack of time, and intimidating equipment all raise barriers to communication. These findings yield important considerations for developing educational interventions to improve NICU language environments, including a synergistic, dual focus on both staff and families. Communication in the NICU is a low cost, feasible, and accessible target with aims of ensuring optimal neurocognitive development for at-risk children.

Neuroscience meets nurture: challenges of prematurity and the critical role of family-centred and developmental care as a key part of the neuroprotection care bundle

Advances in neonatal-perinatal medicine have resulted in increased survival at lower gestations. Although the incidence of germinal matrix haemorrhage-intraventricular haemorrhage and cystic periventricular leucomalacia is reducing, a new phenotype of preterm brain injury has emerged consisting of a combination of destructive and dysmaturational effects. Consequently, severe neurological disability is reported at a lower rate than previously, but the overall morbidity associated with premature birth continues to present a large global burden and contributes significantly to increased financial costs to health systems and families. In this review, we examine the developmental milestones of fetal brain development and how preterm birth can disrupt this trajectory. We review common morbidities associated with premature birth today. Although drug-based and cell-based neuroprotective therapies for the preterm brain are under intense study, we outline basic, sustainable and effective non-medical, family-centred and developmental care strategies which have the potential to improve neurodevelopmental outcomes for this population and need to be considered part of the future neuroprotection care bundle.