Do FETO CDH survivors need the same follow-up program as non-FETO patients?

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) survivors are at risk of developing significant chronic health conditions and disabilities. The main purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of CDH infants at 2 years of age (2y) according to whether the infants had undergone fetoscopic tracheal occlusion (FETO) during the prenatal period and characterize the relationship between morbidity at 2y and perinatal characteristics. Retrospective cohort single center study. Eleven years of clinical follow-up data (from 2006 to 2017) were collected. Prenatal and neonatal factors as well as growth, respiratory, and neurological evaluations at 2y were analyzed. One hundred and fourteen CDH survivors were evaluated. Failure to thrive (FTT) was present in 24.6% of patients, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in 22.8%, 28.9% developed respiratory problems, and 22% had neurodevelopment disabilities. Prematurity and birth weight < 2500 g were related to FTT and respiratory morbidity. Time to reach full enteral nutrition and prenatal severity markers seemed to influence all outcomes, but FETO therapy itself only had an effect on respiratory morbidity. Some variables related to postnatal severity (ECMO, patch closure, days on mechanic ventilation, and vasodilator treatment) were associated with almost all outcomes.  Conclusion: CDH patients have specific morbidities at 2y, most of them related to lung hypoplasia severity. Only respiratory problems were related to FETO therapy itself. The implementation of a specific multidisciplinary follow-up program for CDH patients is essential to provide them the best standard of care, but, more severe patients, regardless of whether they received prenatal therapy, need a more intensive follow-up. What is Known: • Antenatal fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion (FETO) increases survival in more severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia patients. • Congenital diaphragmatic hernia survivors are at risk of developing significant chronic health conditions and disabilities. Very limited data are available about the follow-up in patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia and FETO therapy. What is New: • CDH patients have specific morbidities at 2 years of age, most of them related to lung hypoplasia severity. • FETO patients present more respiratory problems at 2 years of age but they don't have an increased incidence of other morbidities. More severe patients, regardless of whether they received prenatal therapy, need a more intensive follow-up.

Reply: "It is Time for a Universal Nutrition Policy in Very Preterm Neonates during the Neonatal Period? Comment on: Applying Methods for Postnatal Growth Assessment in the Clinical Setting: Evaluation in a Longitudinal Cohort of Very Preterm Infants Nutrients 2019, 11, 2772"

We would like to thank Gounaris et al [...].

Applying Methods for Postnatal Growth Assessment in the Clinical Setting: Evaluation in a Longitudinal Cohort of Very Preterm Infants

AIM

To analyze different methods to assess postnatal growth in a cohort of very premature infants (VPI) in a clinical setting and identify potential early markers of growth failure.

METHODS

Study of growth determinants in VPI (≤32 weeks) during hospital stay. Nutritional intakes and clinical evolution were recorded. Growth velocity (GV: g/kg/day), extrauterine growth restriction (%) (EUGR: weight < 10th centile, z-score < -1.28) and postnatal growth failure (PGF: fall in z-score > 1.34) at 36 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA) were calculated. Associations between growth and clinical or nutritional variables were explored (linear and logistic regression).

RESULTS

Sample: 197 VPI. GV in IUGR patients was higher than in non-IUGRs (28 days of life and discharge). At 36 weeks PMA 66.0% of VPIs, including all but one of the IUGR patients, were EUGR. Prevalence of PGF at the same time was 67.4% (IUGR patients: 48.1%; non-IUGRs: 70.5% (p = 0.022)). Variables related to PGF at 36 weeks PMA were initial weight loss (%), need for oxygen and lower parenteral lipids in the first week.

CONCLUSIONS

The analysis of z-scores was better suited to identify postnatal growth faltering. PGF could be reduced by minimising initial weight loss and assuring adequate nutrition in patients at risk.

Influenza vaccination coverage among hospital personnel over three consecutive vaccination campaigns (2001–2002 to 2003–2004)

This study was carried out to assess influenza vaccination coverage among hospital personnel and the impact of health promotion campaigns, within the hospital, designed to increase vaccination coverage over three consecutive vaccination campaigns (2001-2002 to 2003-2004). The health promotion tool used in the 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 were informative posters distributed throughout the hospital. In the 2003-2004 season, the recommendation was also published in the internal bulletin and Web site of the hospital. In addition, a physician and a nurse from the Department of Preventive Medicine visited all departments offering vaccination in the work place. The overall vaccination coverage in the 2001-2002 campaign was 16% with coverage of 11.5% in nurses and 15% in physicians. In the 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 campaigns the overall vaccination coverage was 21% and 40%, respectively (p<0.01). Staff physicians and resident physicians reached 60 and 42% coverage rates in the 2003-2004 campaign, but coverage in nurses and nursing assistant remained around 30% (p<0.01). In summary, influenza vaccination coverage among hospital based healthcare personnel increased significantly during the last three seasons, however, it still remains low despite active attempts at promoting influenza vaccination.