Neonatal medicine Flashcards
(111 cards)
What is necrotising enterocolitis?
Necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) is a serious illness in which tissues in the intestine (gut) become inflamed and start to die
What are the symptoms of necrotising enterocoloitis?
- Feeding intolerance
- Blood + mucus stools
- Vomiting bile-stained fluid
- Abdominal distension which can quickly progress to abdominal discolouration, perforation and peritonitis.
- Hypotension
- Hypothermina
- Jaundice
How is necrotising enterocolitis diagnosed?
Abdominal X-ray
- Pneumatosis intestinalis - intramural gas
- Bowel wall thickening, persistent bowel loops that are filled with gas
- Air both inside and outside of the bowel wall (Rigler sign)
- Air outlining the falciform ligament (football sign)

What is the treatment for necrotising enterocolitis?
-
Broad spectrum antibiotics
- Penicillin, gentamicin and metronidazole
- IV feeds
- NG tube
- Laparotomy
How can necrotising enterocolitis be prevented?
Erythromycin
Why is vitamin K given to babies after birth?
To prevent haemorrhagic disease of the newborn
How is vitamin K delivered to a baby after birth?
one off IM injection
Phytonadione
What is haemorrhagic disease of the newborn?
Hemorrhagic disease of the newborn is a rare bleeding problem that can occur after birth.
How is haemorrhagic disease of the newborn cateogrised?
- Early onset occurs within 24 hours of birth
- Classic onset occurs within two to seven days
- Late onset occurs within two weeks to six months
What are the symptoms of haemorrhagic disease of the newborn?
Warning bleeds, which may seem insignificant
Low weight for your baby’s age
Slow increase in weight
What babies are at risk of developing haemorrhagic disease of the newborn?
-
Antiseizure drugs that interfere with vitamin K metabolism
Such as phenytoin, phenobarbital, caramezepine, or primidone -
Blood thinning medications
Such as warfarin (Coumadin) or aspirin -
Antibiotics
Such as cephalosporins -
Antituberculosis medications
Such as rifampin and isoniazid
How is haemorrhagic disease of the newborn diagnosed?
Blood clotting tests
What are the steps in newborn resusitation?
1) Dry baby and maintain temperature
2) Assess tone, respiratory rate, heart rate
3) If gasping or not breathing give 5 inflation breaths*
4) Reassess (chest movements)
5) If the heart rate is not improving and <60bpm start compressions and ventilation breaths at a rate of 3:1
When does each newborn reflex stop?
-
Stepping
- 2 months of age
-
Moro
- 3-4 months of age
-
Rooting
- 4 months of age
-
Grasp
- 4-5 months of age
What is the definition of hypoglycaemia?
There is no agreed definition of neonatal hypoglycaemia but a figure of < 2.6 mmol/L is used in many guidelines.
What is the cause of neonatal hypoglycaemia?
- Preterm birth (< 37 weeks)
- Maternal diabetes mellitus
- IUGR
- Hypothermia
- Neonatal sepsis
- Inborn errors of metabolism
- Nesidioblastosis
- Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome
What are the features of neonatal hypoglycaemia?
May be asymptomatic
Autonomic (hypoglycaemia → changes in neural sympathetic discharge)‘Jitteriness’
Irritable
Tachypnoea
Pallor
Neuroglycopenic
Poor feeding/sucking
Weak cry
Drowsy
Hypotonia
Seizures
Other features may include
Apnoea
Hypothermia
What is the management of hypoglycaemia?
Asymptomatic
- Encourage normal feeding (breast or bottle)
- Monitor blood glucose
Symptomatic or very low blood glucose
- Admit to the neonatal unit
- Intravenous infusion of 10% dextrose
What are the steps for newborn resusitation?
- Following birth, the first step is to dry the baby maintain temperature and start the clock
- Following this you assess tone breathing and heart rate.
- If gasping or not breathing, you open the airway to give 5 inflation breaths.
- You then reassess for an increase in the heart rate. If there is no increase in the heart rate you ensure the inflation breaths you are giving are adequate by checking chest movement.
- If the chest is not moving you assume the inflation breaths are inadequate and recheck head position, consider 2-person airway control and other manoeuvers and repeat inflation breaths then look for a response.
- If the chest is moving but the heart rate is still undetectable or less than 60 beats per minute you start chest compressions at a ratio of 3 compressions to 1 inflation breath (3:1).
- You reassess heart rate every 30 seconds, and if it is still undetectable or very slow, you consider IV access and drugs.
What is gastroschisis?
Gastroschisis describes a congenital defect in the anterior abdominal wall just lateral to the umbilical cord

What is the management of gastroschisis?
Vaginal delivery may be attempted
Newborns should go to theatre as soon as possible after delivery, e.g. within 4 hours
What is exomphalos (omphalocoele)?
Abdominal contents protrude through the anterior abdominal wall but are covered in an amniotic sac formed by amniotic membrane and peritoneum

What are the disease associations with exomphalos (omphalocoele)?
- Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome
- Down’s syndrome
- Cardiac and kidney malformations
What is the management for exomphalos (omphalocoele)?
Caesarean section is indicated to reduce the risk of sac rupture
A staged repair may be undertaken as primary closure may be difficult due to lack of space/high intra-abdominal pressure



