Paediatrics Flashcards
Outline the neonatal life support process
- If pink, give back to mother
- If not, rub vigorously
- If unsuccessful, start bag and mask ventilation (e.g. Neopuff at 6mmHg)
- If not pinking up, add oxygen
- Give IV adrenaline 0.3ml 1:1000; followed by 1ml and then an infusion 20ml/kg 0.9% saline
- Check glucose
- If meconium, suction and wash out oropharynx
- Consider endotracheal intubation
What is the scoring system used to assess the progress of life support in the neonate?
Apgar Score (monitors vital signs inc. pulse, respirations, tone and colour)
Outline the ABCE approach of neonatal intensive care
Airway
Breathing
Circulation
Epithelium (lung/gas exchange, barrier functions of the gut and skin for digestion, keeping out bacteria, intact neuroepithelium lining ventricles and retina)
What common vital signs are monitored in neonatology intensive care?
Temperature, BP, pulse, respiration, blood gases, pulse oximetry, U/Es, FBC, weight etc.
List some common problems facing babies on the NICU?
Hypothermia Hypoxia Hypoglycaemia Respiratory Distress Syndrome Infection Intraventricular haemorrhage Apnoea Retinopathy of prematurity Necrotising enterocolitis
What is the pathophysiology of intraventricular haemorrhage in preterms?
Preterms are at particular risk due to:
1 Unsupported blood vessels in the subependymal germinal matrix
2. Unsupported blood pressure
What are the signs associated with intraventricular haemorrhage?
Seizures, bulging fontanelle, cerebral irritability, cerebral palsy.
Many are asymptomatic
What is neonatal apnoea?
Neonatal apnoeas are episodes when an infant fails to make any respiratory effort.
They are defined as:
1 .No respiratory efforts for a period of more than 20 sec
- A break in respiration of less than 20 sec but associated with bradycardia
- Reduction in heart rate of more than 30%
What are some common causes of neonatal apnoea?
Prematurity Infection Hypothermia Aspiration Congenital heart disease
What is necrotising enterocolitis?
Medical condition where a portion of the bowel dies.
What are the signs of necrotising enterocolitis?
Poor feeding, bloating, decreased activity, blood in the stool, or vomiting of bile
What is the mortality rate associated with necrotising enterocolitis?
25%
What is retinopathy of prematurity?
Fibrovascular proliferation of retinal vessels leading to retinal detachment/impaired vision
What are the non-invasive techniques for neonatal ventilation?
(3)
CPAP
NIPPV (nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation)
HFNC
What are the invasive techniques for neonatal ventilation?
3
Timed-cycled pressure limited ventilation
Patient-triggered ventilation
High-frequency ventilation
List some complications of long-term ventilation in neonates
Lung (pneumothorax, pulmonary haemorrhage, pneumonia)
Airways (upper airway obstruction)
Others (patent-ductus arteriosus, pneumomediastinum
How does neonatal sepsis present?
Non-specific and subtle signs
Labile temperature, lethargy, poor feeding, respiratory distress, collapse, DIC
How is neonatal sepsis managed?
ABC approach Supportive (ventilation, volume expansion, ionotropes) Bloods (FBC, CRP, glucose, cultures) CXR Lumbar puncture
Failure to respond within 24hrs - consider stool samples for virology, throat swab, urine CMV culture
What empirical antibiotics are given in the case of early-onset neonatal sepsis?
What antibiotics would you consider if meningitis or listeria are suspected?
Benzylpenicillin and gentamicin
If meningitis is suspected - give ceftriaxone
If listeria suspected (purulent conjunctivitis, maternal infection) - give amoxicillin/ampicillin
What empirical antibiotics are given in the case of late-onset neonatal sepsis?
Flucloxacillin and gentamicin
What organism causing late-onset neonatal sepsis associated with central venous catheters in place? How would you treat it?
Coagulase-negative Staph.
Vancomycin and discuss removing the catheter
What other type of organism may you consider if treatment with antibiotics fails in the case of late-onset neonatal sepsis?
Fungal sepsis
What are the definition of early and late-onset neonatal sepsis?
Early ( <3 days)
Late ( >3 days?
List some causes of neonatal seizure
Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (due to antenatal or intrapartum hypoxia)
Infection (meningitis/encephalitis)
Intracranial haemorrhage
Metabolic disorder/disturbance (e.g. hypoglycaemia, hypocalcaemia etc.)
Kernicterus