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A male newborn born by an atraumatic vaginal frank breech delivery was noted to have normal limb movement at birth. However, at 24 hours the neonate developed paraplegia with no evidence of spinal cord injury on radiographic films. Ultrasound and MRI demonstrated an epidural hematoma at the level of T8 and distal cord edema which extended to the conus medullaris. Delayed onset paraplegia following an atraumatic vaginal breech delivery is unlikely to have been caused by acute traction or torsion at birth. Traction and torsion injuries would present acutely. This infant developed a T8 epidural hematoma which has not been reported in a newborn. The pathophysiology of a spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) in adults is frequently related to increased abdominal/thoracic pressure which results in increased pressure in the highly anastomotic network of thin walled and valve-less vertebral venous plexus (Batson's plexus). Such increase in abdominal/thoracic pressure could occur during a frank breech delivery and result in a slow onset epidural hematoma. This report highlights the importance of considering slow onset epidural hematoma in the differential diagnosis of neonates who develop slow onset paraplegia. If diagnosed quickly, an epidural hematoma represents a potentially treatable etiology by rapid surgical decompression.

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This is the first report of dexamethasone-induced left ventricular outflow obstruction causing decreased coronary artery perfusion and apical transmural cardiac infarct that resulted in hemopericardium and rapid cardiac tamponade. The differential diagnosis of hemorrhagic pericardial effusion must now include dexamethasone-induced hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

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CONTEXT: Few studies document how parents adapt to the experience of a very low-birth-weight (VLBW; <1500 g) birth despite societal concerns about the ethics and justification of intensive care for these infants. OBJECTIVE: To determine the degree and type of stress experienced over time by mothers whose infants vary in degree of prematurity and medical and developmental risk. DESIGN: Longitudinal prospective follow-up study of a cohort of mothers of high- and low-risk VLBW and term infants from birth to 3 years. SETTING: All level III neonatal intensive care units from a large midwestern metropolitan region. PARTICIPANTS: Mothers and infants prospectively and consecutively enrolled in a longitudinal study between 1989 and 1991. High-risk VLBW infants were diagnosed as having bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and comparison groups were low-risk VLBW infants without bronchopulmonary dysplasia and term infants (>36 weeks, >2500 g). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Standardized, normative self-report measures of maternal psychological distress, parenting stress, family impact, and life stressors. RESULTS: Mothers of VLBW infants (high risk, n = 122; low risk, n = 84) had more psychological distress than mothers of term infants (n=123) at 1 month (13% vs 1%; P = .003). At 2 years, mothers of low-risk VLBW infants did not differ from term mothers, while mothers of high-risk infants continued to report psychological distress. By 3 years, mothers of high-risk VLBW children did not differ from mothers of term children in distress symptoms, while parenting stress remained greater. Severity of maternal depression was related to lower child developmental outcomes in both VLBW groups. CONCLUSIONS: The impact of VLBW birth varies with child medical risk status, age, and developmental outcome. Follow-up programs should incorporate psychological screening and support services for mothers of VLBW infants in the immediate postnatal period, with monitoring of mothers of high-risk VLBW infants.

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OBJECTIVE: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is now the leading cause of lung disease in US infants. In a large regional cohort, we tested the hypothesis that despite innovations in neonatal care, very low birth weight (VLBW) infants (<1500 g) with BPD had poorer developmental outcomes than nonaffected infants during the first 3 years of life, and that BPD predicted poorer outcome beyond the effects of other risk factors. METHODS: Three groups of infants (122 with BPD, 84 VLBW without BPD, and 123 full-term) were followed longitudinally to 3 years of age with the Bayley Scales of Mental and Motor Development. Comparison groups of VLBW infants without BPD and full-term infants did not differ in sex, race, or socioeconomic status. Statistical analyses included hierarchical and stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS: Infants with BPD performed more poorly at all ages. By 3 years, cognitive and/or motor development was in the range of retardation (<70 standard score) for 21% to 22% of infants with BPD. In multiple regression analyses controlling for socioeconomic and neonatal risk conditions, BPD had an independent negative effect on motor outcome at 3 years. Neurologic risk, a summary measure of neurologic problems other than intraventricular hemorrhage, and the presence of BPD independently predicted motor delay. By 3 years, social class, race, and neurologic risk predicted mental outcome, suggesting that the specific effects of BPD are primarily on the motor domain. CONCLUSIONS: In VLBW infants, BPD predicts poorer motor outcome at 3 years, after control for other risks. Cohorts of infants with BPD also had higher rates of mental retardation, associated with greater neurologic and social risk. These findings underscore the need for intensive prevention and habilitation efforts for this growing group of VLBW survivors, as well as investigation into the potential role of BPD in the higher rates of learning disabilities in VLBW cohorts at school age.

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Plasma amino acids were measured in eight very low birth weight infants (less than or equal to 1000 gm) before and after infusion of parenteral alimentations with Freamine III. Significant elevation in serum threonine, valine, isoleucine, methionine, serine, proline, glycine and ornithine was noted after twenty four hours of infusion. On the other hand, significant decreases in taurine and tyrosine levels were noted. Our study suggests that current solution is not optimal for premature neonates and the amount of protein administered during the first week in infants weighing less than or equal to 1000 gm should be decreased from the recommended 2.5-3.0 gm/kg/day.

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From June 1980 to September 1984, forty-five newborns (weight greater than or equal to 2000 g), initially presumed normal, were seen with bilious vomiting in the first 72 hours and were prospectively followed up. Nine (20%) required surgical intervention, five (11%) had nonsurgical obstruction such as meconium plug or left microcolon, and the remaining 31 (69%) had idiopathic bilious vomiting. Infants with idiopathic bilious vomiting had a benign transient course and resumed feedings by 1 week of age; 30 of the 31 had normal or nonspecific findings on initial plain abdominal roentgenogram. Specific findings on the initial plain abdominal roentgenogram were noted in five infants, and four (80%) of these had a lesion requiring surgical intervention; 56% (5/9) of neonates with surgical lesions had normal or nonspecific findings on the plain abdominal roentgenograms. None developed bowel ischemia or midgut infarction secondary to a volvulus as they were identified by contrast studies shortly after the initial episode of bilious vomiting. Although the majority of "normal" neonates with bilious vomiting do not have a surgical lesion, this study indicates that 56% of surgical cases will be missed if contrast studies are not done.

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The effect of indomethacin on carbohydrate metabolism was studied in six premature infants with significant patent ductus arteriosus (mean +/- S.D., birth weight 1,066 +/- 244 gm, gestational age 30 +/- 1.6 weeks). All infants were in a glucose steady state between 50 and 100 mg/dl over a 2-hour period before indomethacin administration. There was a significant fall in plasma glucose at 1, 6, 12, and 24 hours following intravenous indomethacin infusion. Since there was no significant change in insulin levels from the baseline, the mechanism of indomethacin-mediated lack of prostaglandin inhibition of insulin release was not substantiated. Based on this study, plasma glucose levels should be followed closely in the first 24 hours following intravenous indomethacin administration.

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Oxygen consumption (VO2) and CO2 production (VCO2) were measured continuously for 24 h in 10 premature infants during their ongoing nursing care. Using a flow-through technique, the total VO2 and VCO2 over a given period of time were determined from the area under the O2-and CO2-concentration-time curve of the mixed expired gas. Following chest physiotherapy, heel stick and i.v. needle insertion, there was a significant (p less than 0.01) increase in VO2 and VCO2. When measured for 24 h, the total daily increase of VO2 attributed to these procedures ranged from 2.1 to 11.7% of total daily VO2, equivalent to an estimated energy loss of 0.6-4.1 kcal/kg/day.

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We studied the effect of penicillin on early-onset Group B streptococcal disease over a 52-month period in neonates who were at high risk of infection. Shortly after birth, 1187 neonates weighing 2000 g or less had blood samples taken for cultures and were randomized into an early-treatment group (given intramuscular penicillin G within 60 minutes of birth) or a control group. The incidence of early-onset disease was 20 per 1000 live births (24 of 1187); the number of infants in the early-treatment group who had disease (10 of 589) was similar to that in the control group (14 of 598). The fatality rates were similar in both groups (6 of 10 vs. 8 of 14). Cultures from blood obtained with one hour of birth were positive in 21 of the 24 infants with disease; 22 of the 24 were symptomatic within four hours of birth. Thus, infection was well established before the first hour of postnatal life. At autopsy, gram-positive cocci were seen in lung sections of four infants in whom cultures of blood obtained after treatment had been sterile; this indicates that giving routine antibiotic therapy before culture samples are obtained can obscure bacteriologic diagnosis. We conclude that penicillin given at birth to neonates weighing 2000 g or less does not prevent early-onset streptococcal disease or reduce excess mortality associated with disease.

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To determine if furosemide would prevent the renal side effects of indomethacin therapy in premature infants with patent ductus arteriosus, 19 premature infants were randomized into two groups: nine received indomethacin alone, and ten received indomethacin followed immediately by furosemide. There was no significant difference between the groups in birth weight, gestational age, postnatal age, and in cardiopulmonary or renal status at the time of study. Infants who received indomethacin and furosemide had significantly higher urine output (P less than 0.05), higher FENa and FECl (P less than 0.01), and higher glomerular filtration rate (P less than 0.05) than those of infants who received indomethacin alone. Seven infants in each group responded to indomethacin therapy with disappearance of PDA murmur and improvement of cardiovascular status. The results of this study suggest that furosemide may prevent the renal side effects of indomethacin therapy and yet not affect the efficacy of indomethacin in the closure of a PDA.

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Serial measurements of pulmonary function and arterial blood gases during the first 3 postnatal days of life were obtained in 12 infants with meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS). Nine normal neonates with similar weight and gestational age were studied as controls. Infants with MAS has significantly lower pH on day 1, and had greater P(A-a)O2 throughout the study period than that of normal controls. The PCO2 was comparable between the groups. Both dynamic lung compliance (Cdyn) and specific lung compliance (C/VL) were lower in infants with MAS as compared with those of normal infants. The functional residual capacity (FRC) for normal infants on days 1, 2, and 3 were 2.0 +/- 0.3, 2.1 +/- 0.3, and 2.2 +/- 0.3 ml/cm, respectively, and for infants with MAS were 1.8 +/- 0.4, 2.3 +!- 1.1, and 2.2 +/- 0.6 ml/cm, respectively. Radiographic hyperinflation of the lungs was seen in 6 infants with MAS on day 1; 3 were associated with high FRC (greater than 2 SD of normal) and 2 with low FRC, indicating air trapping. The early use of PEEP should be cautious if hyperinflation or air trapping is present.

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Over a period of 18 months, 100 full-term newborns developed an axillary or a rectal temperature greater than or equal to 37.8 C during the first four days of postnatal life. These febrile term newborns represented 1% of all full-term newborns in the normal nursery. Of the febrile newborns, 10% had culture-proven bacterial disease (BD). Fever developed in 54%, 27%, 13%, and 6% on the first, second, third, and fourth days, respectively. In 17 newborns fever developed within the first hour of life; 13 of these had mothers with fever and two others were under a radiant warmer in the birth room. Fever occurring on the third day of postnatal life had a significantly higher chance of being associated with BD than fever occurring at any other time in the first four days of postnatal life. Newborns with temperature greater than or equal to 39 C had a significantly higher incidence of BD than newborns with temperature less than 39 C. The incidence of fever among breast-fed newborns (0.98%) was similar to that of formula-fed newborns (1.01%). Of the 100 febrile newborns, 45 had other symptoms compatible with BD, and eight of these had proven BD (group B Streptococcus in five, group D Streptococcus in one, Shigella D in one, and Propionibacterium species in one). The two other febrile newborns with proven BD had no other symptoms of infection (group B Streptococcus and Escherichia coli). Mean WBC count of febrile newborns with BD was significantly lower than that of febrile newborns without BD. Only three febrile newborns had WBC count less than 5,000/cu mm and two of them had proven BD. Febrile newborns should be evaluated and treated with antibiotics when they have symptoms of infection other than fever or when the fever persists or recurs.

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In the course of a double-blind controlled trial of intravenous indomethacin therapy in premature infants with patent ductus arteriosus, plasma glucose was evaluated in 47 infants before and at 24, 48, and 72 hours following the medication. Twenty-two infants were assigned to the control group and 25 were in the indomethacin group. Significantly lower plasma glucose was noted at 24 (P less than 0.01) and 48 (P less than 0.05) hours in the indomethacin group as compared to the control group. There was a significant inverse correlation between the plasma glucose and the corresponding plasma indomethacin concentration (P less than 0.05) and between the plasma glucose and the corresponding plasma indomethacin concentration-time integral (P less than 0.01) at 24, 48, and 72 hours after drug administration, suggesting that the decreased plasma glucose may be related to indomethacin therapy. The results of this study indicate that endogenous prostaglandin may play a role in glucose homeostasis in premature infants.

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In the course of a double-blind controlled study of intravenous indomethacin therapy in premature infants with patent ducts arteriosus (PDA), dynamic lung compliance (CL) was determined in 11 infants (six control, five indomethacin) who were not on assisted ventilation during the study period. The clinical, biochemical and laboratory data before the study were comparable between the groups. Following therapy with indomethacin there was a significant decrease in left atrial/aortic root ratio (LA/Ao), left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD) on echocardiogram, and an increase in tidal volume (VT) and CL. In the control group, these variables did not change significantly. The improved lung compliance following early indomethacin closure of PDA may alter the clinical course and outcome of these premature infants.

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To provide a clinical assessment of cardiovascular dysfunction (CVD) in premature infants with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), a scoring system (CVD score) was devised and correlated with blood gases, acid-base balance, and echocardiogram. The score consisted of evaluation of heart rate, quality of peripheral arterial pulsation, degree of precordial pulsation, duration of murmur and cardiothoracic ratio on chest roentgenogram. There were 116 observations made on 55 premature infants who had PDA and required medical or surgical treatment. Significant positive correlations were seen for CVD score with left atrial (LA)/aortic (Ao) ratio (p less than 0.001), left ventricular and diastolic dimension (DD) (p less than 0.001), blood pH (p less than 0.01), and blood PCO2 (p less than 0.01). The scoring system may by used as a clinical guide when echocardiogram or angiogram is not available.

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Room-air oxygen concentration in the respiratory care areas of our Special Care Nursery ranged from 20.9% to 24.8%. Calculated oxygen concentrations in our respiratory care areas, assuming an air turnover of five or 12 air changes per hour, were frequently far below observed concentrations. This indicated that ventilation in our respiratory care areas provided below minimum recommended number of air changes per hour. Therefore, in respiratory care areas in older structures with poor ventilation or with ventilatory system breakdown, environmental oxygen should be monitored.

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