Insulin infusions in extremely low birth weight infants

Is "Bed Sharing" Beneficial and Safe during Infancy? A Systematic Review

Background. There is conflicting evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of bed sharing during infancy-while it has been shown to facilitate breastfeeding and provide protection against hypothermia, it has been identified as a risk factor for SIDS. Methods. A systematic search of major databases was conducted. Eligible studies were observational studies that enrolled infants in the first 4 weeks of life and followed them up for a variable period of time thereafter. Results. A total of 21 studies were included. Though the quality of evidence was low, bed sharing was found to be associated with higher breastfeeding rates at 4 weeks of age (75.5% versus 50%, OR 3.09 (95% CI 2.67 to 3.58), P = 0.043) and an increased risk of SIDS (23.3% versus 11.2%, OR 2.36 (95% CI 1.97 to 2.83), P = 0.025). Majority of the studies were from developed countries, and the effect was almost consistent across the studies. Conclusion. There is low quality evidence that bed sharing is associated with higher breast feeding rates at 4 weeks of age and an increased risk of SIDS. We need more studies that look at bed sharing, breast feeding, and hazardous circumstance that put babies at risk.

A Clinical Report of Adverse Health Effects Due to Bed Sharing in Two Children with Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury

This paper explores the possibility that bed sharing may carry particular risks for children with special healthcare needs (CSHCN). Two cases of CSHCN who may have sustained adverse health effects from bed sharing are described. These two case reports indicate that CSHCN may be particularly susceptible to risks associated with bed sharing. Healthcare providers for CSHCN may need to inquire about patients' sleeping arrangements and, when bed sharing is acknowledged, provide counseling regarding the potential risks and benefits. They may need to monitor more closely for adverse events when bed sharing is a factor and should consider reporting health problems that may have occurred in concurrence with bed sharing.

[Practice for insulin infusion in preterm infants]

Transient neonatal hyperglycemia is commonly observed during the first week of life in the preterm infants less than 30 weeks of gestational age. Continuous insulin infusion is an effective treatment in this situation.

OBJECTIVE

To ascertain how insulin is administered in different french neonatal intensive care units.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We surveyed 49 neonatal intensive care units with a questionnaire. Response rate was 77.5% (38/49).

RESULTS

Thirty four of 38 neonatal intensive care units reported the use of insulin infusions in this setting. Glucose level indicating insulin therapy and the initial insulin doses were quite variable according to the different units (respectively 7-16.5 mmol/l and 0.01-0.1 U/kg/h). A range of minimal insulin concentrations was used (0.01-0.1 U/ml), 57% utilizing concentration between 0.05 and 0.2 U/ml. Flow rates below 0.3 ml/h were used at time by 76%. Albumin was rarely added. Fifty seven percent of the neonatal intensive care units took counter-measures such as preconditioning and flushing the tubing to control insulin loss due to adsorption. The counter-measures were differently applied. Despite these measures, hyperglycemia and insulin resistance were frequently observed (respectively 30% and 47%). The different practices are discussed according to the literature.

CONCLUSION

In order to deliver insulin reliably, we suggest an insulin delivery method for the preterm infants.