Tag Archives: Systematic Reviews

Does gestational age matter?

Taking a break from the SUPPORT brouhaha for a moment, here is a great systematic review from Greg Moore and colleagues in Ottawa. (Moore GP, Lemyre B, Barrowman N, Daboval T: Neurodevelopmental outcomes at 4 to 8 years of children … Continue reading

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Is volume ventilation really better?

A systematic review published in 2011 of the studies comparing pressure to volume ventilation stated that there was ‘reduced death/BPD, duration of ventilation, pneumothoraces, hypocarbia and periventricular leukomalacia/severe intraventricular hemorrhage’ using volume targeted ventilation.’ I think it may be true that volume ventilation … Continue reading

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HIE: what’s next?

Kapadia VS, Chalak LF, Dupont TL, Rollins NK, Brion LP, Wyckoff MH: Perinatal Asphyxia with Hyperoxemia within the First Hour of Life Is Associated with Moderate to Severe Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy. The Journal of pediatrics 2013. If you are acidotic at … Continue reading

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Probiotic Fungi too?

It seems that probiotic fungi, specifically Saccharomyces boulardii probably don’t prevent NEC. There is one previous study Costalos et al which showed no difference in NEC, but some benefits on secondary outcomes (it was very underpowered for NEC, 87 babies … Continue reading

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Predicting outcomes in preterm infants: is it time to throw away the ultrasound machine?

It is common practice, nearly universal, I would guess, to perform head ultrasounds in the 1st week of life as a way to predict which very preterm babies will have very poor outcomes, and then to consider redirection of care … Continue reading

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Does NIDCAP work?

I guess that depends on what you mean ‘work’.  Does developmentally sensitive care lead to more responsive, humane, and less disturbing care, improving the environment for our preterm infants, I think the answer is clearly yes. If you mean does … Continue reading

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How much oxygen?

At the PAS meeting in Washington DC, that has just finished, the COT trial results were presented, as well as the short term outcomes of the BOOST trials. These are a series of clinical trials which have compared higher saturations … Continue reading

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Pacifiers (soothers, dummies) are friendly to babies

The baby friendly initiative has been a force for improving breast-feeding rates, with many sensible parts to the program. Unfortunately some of it isn’t evidence based, such as the prohibition of what I will call soothers. I’m originally from England … Continue reading

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Oh No; not renal dose dopamine again!

This is the sort of thing that really irritates me: If you report ‘we did X, and Y happened’ the obvious question should be, ‘what would have happened if you didn’t do X?’ That is called having controls! It is … Continue reading

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A life of quality

Saroj Saigal has just published a very important review of long term quality of life of former preterm infants. As you can imagine, as she originated this area of study for the preterm, it is clearly written and thoughtful. (Saigal … Continue reading

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