NEONATAL EXAMINATION Flashcards

1
Q

What equipment is required for a neonatal examination?

A

Neonatal stethoscope

Ophthalmoscope

Neonatal sats monitor

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2
Q

You have been asked to perform a neonatal examination on a baby that was born last night. The mother comes into the room carrying her baby. How should you start the examination?

A

Introduce yourself

Gain consent

Check mothers and babies names

Congratulate the mother on the birth

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3
Q

Having introduced yourself, gained consent and washed your hands, how would you proceed with examining a neonate?

A

Expose - you will need to strip the baby down to his or her nappy. You may want to ask the mother to do this.

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4
Q

What questions do you want to ask the mother before examining her newborn?

A

How was the birth?

Was he/she born vaginally or by caesarean section?

Were forceps or a ventouse used?

Did your baby need any help after birth with breathing?

How are you feeding your baby? Breast or bottle?

If breast, how is it going/baby latching ok, etc?

If bottle, which milk are you giving your baby/is baby taking bottles ok, etc?

Are there any conditions that run in you or dad’s family e.g. congenital heart problems?

Has anyone in your family (especially females) had problems with their hips at birth?

Has your baby passed its sticky black stool yet?

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5
Q

On general inspection of a newborn in a neonatal examination what might you observe?

A

Does it look and behave “normally”, i.e. colour e.g. jaundice, activity and posture.

Is there any obvious bruising or marks from birth?

Strawberry naevi

Stork marks

Mongolian blue spot.

Symmetry of face

Remember to turn the baby over and inspect its back too.

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6
Q

Having generally inspected a newborn as part of a neonatal examination, what would you do next?

A

Feel the fontanelles - they should be soft. Are they sunken or bulging?

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7
Q

Having assessed the fontanelles as part of a neonatal examination, what would you do next?

A

Measure the circumference of the baby’s head

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8
Q

Having assessed the fontanelles and measured the circumference of the baby’s head, what do yo then do as part of the neonatal examination?

A

If the baby has its eyes open check the red reflex using the ophthalmoscope

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9
Q

What might an absent red reflex in a neonate suggest?

A

Congenital cataract

Retinoblastoma

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10
Q

Having checked for a newborn’s red reflex as part of a neonatal examination, what would you do next?

A

Assess the limbs:

Clavicles (these can be injured during birth if shoulder dystocia occurs)

Both arms (e.g. Erb’s palsy) down to legs and feet.

Open up the baby’s hand and look at the palm for normal palmar creases, count the fingers on each hand.

Look at the feet, is there any signs of a sandal gap or talipes and count the toes on each foot.

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11
Q

Having checked a newborn’s fontanelles, red reflex and limbs what would you then do as part of a neonatal examination?

A

Auscultate the heart and lungs

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12
Q

What is the normal heart rate of a neonate?

A

120-150

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13
Q

As well as rate, what else might you be looking for when you auscultate the heart of a neonate?

A

Murmurs and where they radiate too

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14
Q

What is the normal respiratory rate of a newborn?

A

30 - 60

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15
Q

As the resp rate, what else might you be looking for when you auscultate the lungs of a neonate?

A

Additional sounds such as stridor or grunting

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16
Q

What would you specifically look for on the abdomen of a neonate when examining for the first time?

A

Umbilical stump/clamp to ensure no signs of infection.

17
Q

What would you specifically look for on the back of a neonate when examining them for the first time?

A

Sacral dimpling - neural tube defect

18
Q

Having assessed the baby’s head, limbs, abdomen and back, what must you then assess?

A

Undo the baby’s nappy to look for any obvious genital abnormalities.

It its a male you should palpate both the testes and make a note if you can’t.

19
Q

You are performing a neonatal examination and have undone the baby’s nappy and examined the external genitalia. What should then do before doing up the nappy?

A

Test the hips for developmental dysplasia of the hips using Barlow and then Ortolani test.

20
Q

How is Barlow test for development dysplasia of the hip performed?

A

Flex knees and hips to 90˚

Line up legs in parallel to each other in line with shoulders

Apply backward pressure to each knee in turn.

A subluxable hip is suspected on the basis of palpable partial or complete displacement using your finger.

21
Q

Having performed Barlow’s test for developmental dysplasia of the hip, why do we then perform Ortolani’s test?

A

Used to confirm Barlow findings to check that hip is actually dislocated

22
Q

How do you perform Ortolani manoeuvre?

A

Flex knee and hips to 90˚

Line up legs in parallel to each other in line with shoulders

Abduct hip whilst applying anterior pressure on the thigh to relocated the hip.

A relocating hip will be felt with your finger on the joint.

23
Q

What are the primitive reflexes that you could look for when assessing a neonate?

A

Moro - remember to explain to mum before performing this

Sucking

Grasping

Walking/stepping

Rooting reflex

Babinski sign

24
Q

How do you finish off a neonatal examination?

A

Note everything in the red book

Thank the mother

Offer to redress the baby