Ritter BC, Nelle M, Perrig W, Steinlin M, Everts R: Executive functions of children born very preterm-deficit or delay? Eur J Pediatr 2013, 172(4):473-483. In the last updates I mentioned a good review article of executive function in ex-preterm infants. This new article compares ex-very preterm infants to controls as they get older. In the ex-preterm group who were younger (8 to 10 years old) there was a significant decrement in their executive function abilities. In the older ones (10 to 12 years old) in contrast there was no difference from controls. The authors interpret this as showing that the lower executive function abilities described in the very preterm group are a delay, rather than a deficit.

Jain A, Deshpande P, Shah P: Peripherally inserted central catheter tip position and risk of associated complications in neonates. J Perinatol 2013, 33(4):307-312. When you put in a picc in a very preterm baby, if the tip of the catheter sticks in the mid-clavicular region, it is more likely to infiltrate and need removal. On the other hand if you can get it a little further, to the middle third of the clavicle so the tip starts to turn downward, then the results are as good as getting in the SVC.

Benzies K, Magill-Evans J, Hayden K, Ballantyne M: Key components of early intervention programs for preterm infants and their parents: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 2013, 13(Suppl 1):S10. This review examined which components of early intervention programs are useful. They conclude ‘Positive and clinically meaningful effects of early interventions were seen in some psychosocial aspects of mothers of preterm infants.’ which is great. They did not identify which components of the interventions improve preterm outcomes, which is probably the only way we can get funding for them

Moral-Pumarega M, Caserio-Carbonero S, De-La-Cruz-Bertolo J, Tejada-Palacios P, Lora-Pablos D, Pallas-Alonso C: Pain and stress assessment after retinopathy of prematurity screening examination: Indirect ophthalmoscopy versus digital retinal imaging. BMC Pediatrics 2012, 12(1):132. 24 infants had a retinal exam with the retcam, and then 3 to 5 days later with a standard indirect ophthalmoscopy. Pain scores were quite a bit lower with the retinal camera.