Non-neurological, steroid-related adverse events in very low birth weight infants: a prospective audit

Umbilical venous catheter- and peripherally inserted central catheter-associated complications in preterm infants with birth weight < 1250 g : Results from a survey in Austria and Germany

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Umbilical venous catheters (UVC) and peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) are commonly used in preterm infants but have been associated with a number of serious complications. We performed a survey in Austria and Germany to assess the use of UVCs and PICCs in preterm infants with a birth weight < 1250 g and associated rates of catheter-related adverse events.

METHODS

Electronic survey of participating centers of the NeoVitaA trial. Main outcome parameter was the reported rates of UVC- and PICC-associated complications (infection, thrombosis, emboli, organ injury, arrhythmia, dislocation, miscellaneous).

RESULTS

In total, 20 neonatal intensive care units (NICU) providing maximal intensive care in Austria and Germany (level I) were contacted, with a senior neonatologist response rate of 12/20 (60%). The reported rates for UVC with a dwell time of 1-10 days were bacterial infection: 4.2 ± 3.4% (range 0-10%); thrombosis: 7.3 ± 7.1% (0-20%); emboli: 0.9 ± 2.0% (0-5%); organ injury: 1.1 ± 1.9% (0-5%); cardiac arrhythmia: 2.2 ± 2.5% (0-5%); and dislocation: 5.4 ± 8.7% (0-30%); and for PICCs with a dwell time of 1-14 days bacterial infection: 15.0 ± 3.4% (range 2.5-30%); thrombosis; 4.3 ± 3.5% (0-10%); emboli: 0.8 ± 1.6% (0-5%); organ injury: 1.5 ± 2.3% (0-5%); cardiac arrhythmia: 1.5 ± 2.3% (0-5%), and dislocation: 8.5 ± 4.6% (0-30%).

CONCLUSION

The catheter-related complication rates reported in this survey differed between UVCs and PICCs and were higher than those reported in the literature. To generate more reliable data on this clinically important issue, we plan to perform a large prospective multicenter randomized controlled trial investigating the non-inferiority of a prolonged UVC dwell time (up to 10 days) against the early change (up to 5 days) to a PICC.

Nucleated red blood cells and serum lactate values on days 2 and 5 are associated with mortality and morbidity in VLBW infants

AIM

To correlate nucleated red blood cell counts and serum lactate concentrations on day 2 and 5 of life with morbidity and mortality in very low birth weight infants and to determine corresponding cutoff values.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis in a cohort of very low birth weight infants.

RESULTS

250 very low birth weight infants were included in this study. Gestational age ranged from 23 to 35 weeks (mean 29.04) and birth weight was 320-1500 g (mean 1047.9). 55 (22%) patients developed intraventricular hemorrhage, 55 (22%) bronchopulmonary dysplasia, 12 (4.8%) periventricular leukomalacia, 93 (37.2%) retinopathy of prematurity, and 1 (0.4%) necrotizing enterocolitis. Mortality rate was 25/250 (10%). Nucleated red blood cells and serum lactate on day 2 of life were associated with mortality (p < 0.001). Serum lactate on day 5 of life demonstrated an association with retinopathy of prematurity (p = 0.017), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (p = 0.044), and intraventricular hemorrhage (p < 0.001). Cutoff values predicting mortality were >89.5 nucleated red blood cells/100 leucocytes (sensitivity 68.2%, specificity 89.0%) and serum lactate concentrations >8.5 mmol/l (sensitivity 69.6%, specificity 93.5%) on day 2 of life.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that both nucleated red blood cell count and serum lactate concentration are valuable biomarkers in predicting important outcome parameters in very low birth weight infants.

[Parenteral nutrition in premature babies with a birth weight <1500g: a systematic single-center analysis and comparison with current guidelines]

BACKGROUND

Parenteral and enteral nutrition are essential for both growth and development of preterm infants. Based on the results of many studies, the rate of nutritional growth and the amount of substrate delivered parenterally are under debate.

OBJECTIVE

The main aim of this study was to assess parenteral nutrition in very and extremely immature preterm infants, i.e. very low birth weight (VLBW, birth weight <1500g) and extremely low birth weight (ELBW, birth weight <1000g) neonates, and to compare the amount of parenterally delivered substrate in our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to current German guidelines.

METHODS

Retrospective audit at our tertiary NICU at the University Children's Hospital of Saarland, Homburg, Germany between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2010.

RESULTS

In total, 100 premature neonates were included. The mean gestational age was 29.6 weeks (range 24.4-34.1 weeks) and the mean birth weight was 1119 g ± 260 g (range 570 g-1490 g). Comparing the amount of fluids, glucose, amino acids, lipids and kcals with the current guidelines of the German Society for Nutritional Medicine in preterm infants, only glucose was adequately given; however, a substantial number of weight-dependent (more often in ELBW neonates) episodes of hyperglycemia requiring insulin treatment were also seen. During the first 3 weeks of life a substantial drop in body weight, length and head circumference occurred in our study cohort. In contrast, at 2 years corrected age, catch-up growth was seen in our cohort with anthropometric data now comparable to healthy term infants. Using the Bayley II test for developmental outcome assessment, at 2 years corrected age 78.6% (33/42) of infants demonstrated normal development.

CONCLUSIONS

This retrospective data analysis demonstrated inadequate provision of parenteral nutrition in our NICU, which was often not in line with current German guidelines. This was associated with inadequate growth in our cohort, most notably during the first 3 weeks of life; however, implementation of current guidelines is impeded by metabolic disturbances in this cohort, most notably in ELBW neonates. Whether adherence to published guidelines will result in better early ex utero growth, and whether this normalized growth pattern will translate into better long-term outcome on a metabolic and neurological level, remains unclear.