Objective: Nowadays, the neonatal mortality rate which is a national health problem can be reduced, especially in premature infants, thanks to improved patient care and appropriate treatments. The aim of this study was to determine the mortality rate and causes of mortality in our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) during the last five years. Method: Newborns lost between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2018 in the NICU of İzmir Tepecik Training and Research Hospital were included in the study. Demographic data, duration of hospital stay, prenatal risk factors, mode of delivery, presence of congenital anomaly, causes of mortality and mortality rate were determined. Results: The records of 4155 infants hospitalized between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2018 were investigated and a total of 382 neonates who were lost during their stay in the NICU were included in the study. With these results, the five-year mortality rate in our neonatal intensive care unit was calculated as 9.1%. The average duration of hospitalization was 24.5 days (1-384). While prematurity / RDS was the most common cause of neonatal death, the other most common causes were sepsis/multiorgan failure, genetic causes and congenital heart diseases. Conclusion: Although the neonatal mortality rate is reduced with the improvement of perinatal-antenatal care besides technological improvements, health policy regulations are needed to decrease the neonatal mortality rate due to the increasing number of infants requiring major surgery.
Geographical distribution, ethnicity, and other socioeconomic factors may affect anthropometric measurements, and for that reason each society should determine their own measurements accounting for those factors. In this study, we aimed to determine the anthropometric measurements of healthy late preterm and term infants to compare the results with other national and international studies. Materials and methods: This sectional study was carried out among 1197 infants born with a gestational age of ≥35 weeks. Chest circumference, ear length, foot length, palmar length, middle finger length, philtrum distance, inner and outer canthal distances, and palpebral fissure length were measured in the first 24 h of life. Results: All measurements of late preterm infants were smaller than those of term infants (P < 0.05). Compared with male infants, the chest circumference, ear length, foot length, palmar length, philtrum distance, and inner canthal distances of the female infants were lower (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found between male and female infants' middle finger length, outer canthal distance, and palpebral fissure length measurements. Percentile values for all measurements of 35-42 week male and female infants were described. Conclusion: These measurements of male and female infants born between 35 and 42 weeks may be useful for early detection of syndromes by detecting anatomical abnormalities in our population.
Approximately 25% of congenital heart diseases (CHD) are estimated to be critical and require an intervention. In this study, we aimed to investigate the additional value of peripheral perfusion index (PPI) measurements to pulse oximetry screening for critical CHD (CCHD).Infants born at Ege University Hospital between May 2013 and September 2015 were prospectively included in the study. In addition to physical examination, pre- and postductal oxygen saturations and PPI values were measured with a new generation pulse oximeter before discharge from the hospital.A total of 3175 newborns (33 with an antenatal diagnosis of CCHD) were included in the study. With the combination of physical examination, pulse oximetry screening and peripheral perfusion index (PPI) measurements, all newborns with CCHD were detected in our study including three infants without an antenatal diagnosis in whom pulse oximetry screening was negative.PPI measurements may be valuable for early detection of obstructive left heart lesions where pulse oximetry screening has limitations in diagnosis.
In this study; we aimed to see the time-dependent changes in the macronutrient content of early frozen breast milk and also to compare it with fresh breast milk in the first 6 months.We evaluated the milk samples of 43 mothers who delivered at term. Milk samples after the first 15 days following delivery were expressed and collected dividing into seven aliquots to be stored frozen at -20 °C. Every month freshly collected new milk samples were analyzed together with one aliquot of the stored samples, up to 6 months. The energy, protein, lipid, and carbohydrate contents of samples were analyzed by Miris Human Milk Analyzer.In the first 3 months, fresh milk had higher caloric and lipid content when compared to frozen samples. The protein content of fresh milk decreased after 2 months and became lower than frozen samples. The energy and lipid content of frozen milk decreased over time but protein and carbohydrate contents stayed stable. Carbohydrate content of fresh and frozen samples did not show major changes.It may be more suitable to consume the frozen milk that was collected in the early weeks of delivery within first 2 months.
Chloral hydrate is generally considered a safe sedative-hypnotic drug, and is commonly used for sedation of infants and young children before diagnostic procedures. Even chloral hydrate administered within the recommended maximal dose limits can cause serious morbidity and mortality. Here the authors describe a four-month-old girl with a life-threatening central nervous system and respiratory depression after administration of a therapeutic dose of chloral hydrate. The patient gradually recovered with supportive treatment including ventilation therapy.