Paediatrics Flashcards
What defines a pre term baby?
Born before 37 weeks gestation
How do you assess a baby when they are born?
Breathing, heart rate, colour, tone and response to stimulation
APGAR score
How do you keep premature babies warm when they are first born?
Keep the baby warm using a plastic bag under a radiant heater
What might a baby with respiratory distress syndrome look like?
Tachypnoea, grunting, cyanosis
Flaring of alae nasi
Intercostal and subcostal retractions
What management may be required for a baby with respiratory distress syndrome?
May need oxygen, CPAP (generate pressure below vocal cords to inflate lungs) or ventilation
What cardiovascular problems may be present in a premature baby?
Cardiovascular: ductus venosus and foramen ovale need to close
Hypotension: heart not pumping properly, not enough blood volume
Patent ductus arteriosus: Blood flow back into pulmonary system, increase stress on lungs, compliance of lungs change, need more pressure to inflate
What is a Qp/Qs ratio? And what is it used to measure?
Left to right shunt resulting in fully oxygenated blood recirculating through the lungs
Qp: pulmonary flow
Qs: systemic flow
Normal ratio of 1 because volume to lungs is equal to volume systemically
In patient with left to right shunt, Qp/Qs is greater than 1
What can be used to help close a patent ductus arteriosus?
Surgery: ligation, manually or with intravascular coils
NSAIDs: prostaglandin e2 keeps the duct open so block this with indomethacin or ibuprofen
If a pre term baby weighs below 1500g, what nutritional management should be given?
Total parenteral nutrition
Why are pre term babies prone to sepsis?
T and b cells, Opsonins and complement immature, bugs which dont make us ill, will make them ill
What signs might be visible that a pre term baby has necrotising enterocolitis?
Feeding intolerance
Abdominal distension
Bloody stools
Increased gastric residuals: volume of fluid remaining in stomach during enteral nutrition feeding
When are intraventricular haemorrhages most likely to happen in pre term infants?
First 7-14 days
Why are pre term infants particularly prone to intraventricular haemorrhage?
Blood vessels in brain are not fully developed and are fragile
What are the different grades of intraventricular haemorrhage?
Grade 1-2: smaller amount of bleeding, most of the time, no long term problems
Grade 3-4: more severe bleeding, blood presses on (3) or directly involves (4) brain tissue. Blood clots can form and block the flow of CSF which can lead to hydrocephalus
What are symptoms of intraventricular haemorrhage?
Apnoea Changes in BP and heart rate Decreased muscle tone Decreased reflexes Excessive sleep Lethargy Weak suck Seizures or other abnormal movements
What tests can be done to check for intraventricular haemorrhage?
All babies born before 30 weeks should have an ultrasound of the head in 1-2 weeks of life
Second screen around the time baby was due to be born
What is Cystic periventricular leukomalacia?
White matter brain injury characterised by necrosis of white matter near lateral ventricles, decreased blood flow or oxygen to this region, damage to glial cells
Premature infants at highest risk
Motor control problems, developmental delays, develop cerebral palsy or epilepsy later in life
What increases risk of peri ventricular leukomalacia occurring?
If baby has had intraventricular haemorrhage Uterine infections Premature rupture of membranes Premature babies Very low birthweight babies
What problems do pre term babies encounter after delivery?
Get cold even faster
Have more fragile lungs
Don’t breathe effectively
Have fewer reserves
What percentage of babies born at 25 weeks or below develop cerebral palsy?
20%
Disabling cerebral palsy: 12%
What long term neurodevelopmental outcomes are common in pre term babies?
Cerebral palsy/ motor delay Cognitive impairment/ learning difficulties Speech, hearing, visual impairment Epilepsy Behavioural – ADHD, autism
How do we improve outcomes for pre term babies?
Antenatal magnesium sulfate
Antenatal corticosteroids
Better neonatal care
Research
What is magnesium sulfate used for in pre term infants?
IV before birth reduces risk of cerebral palsy and motor dysfunction in preterm infants
You are undertaking normal newborn screening examination on 30 hours old newborn infant on postnatal ward. You note that baby appears jaundiced. What History would you take?
How many weeks gestation? What birth weight? Was the delivery normal and vaginal? Apgar scores at 1 min and 5 min Has baby breast fed satisfactorily? Was the pregnancy uneventful? What is mother's blood group? Did antenatal serology show anything? Has baby passed stools/urine? Meconium? What colour? Are parents both well? Have they had previous pregnancies/babies? Any problems with these?