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Level III Units (level + iii_unit)
Selected AbstractsBilious vomiting in the newborn: 6 years data from a Level III CentreJOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH, Issue 5 2010Atul Malhotra Background: Bilious vomiting in the newborn is an urgent condition that frequently requires neonatal and paediatric surgical involvement. Investigations involve abdominal X-ray and contrast imaging in most cases. We aimed to describe the prevalence of surgical intervention in this cohort and assess the reliability of contrast imaging in accurate prediction of underlying condition. Methods: A retrospective audit of data from December 2001 to October 2007 was undertaken. Data on newborns admitted to a level III unit with bilious vomiting was extracted. Infants with bilious aspirates but no vomiting were excluded. Results: Sixty-one infants were admitted to the unit during the period with bilious vomiting. Most of them were out born (83.6%). Mean (and standard deviation) gestation was 38.3 weeks (±3.2); weight was 3173.5 grams (±717.6); day of admission was 3.68 days (1,28); and length of stay in the unit was 9.96 days (1,48). There were 52 (85.2%) abnormal X-rays and 21 (34.4%) abnormal contrast studies. Sixteen (26.6%) babies had laparotomies of which 6 were malrotations with volvulus, 2 small bowel obstructions, 2 meconium ileus, 2 Hirschsprung's disease, 2 other findings, while 2 were normal. Positive predictive value (number of accurate predictions of surgical findings) for barium contrast studies was 85.7% in this series. Conclusion: Bile stained vomiting is a surgical emergency and prompt investigation is the key in the management. Contrast studies still form the backbone of such investigations. [source] Differences in the length of initial hospital stay in very preterm infantsACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 10 2007Emmi Korvenranta Abstract Aim: To investigate the effect of maternal, infant and birth hospital district related factors on the length of initial hospital stay in very preterm infants. In addition, rehospitalization rate within the first year from the initial discharge was studied. Methods: A register study covering all very preterm infants (gestational age < 32 weeks or birthweight < 1501 g) born alive in Finland between years 2000 and 2003 (N = 2148). Factors affecting length of stay (LOS) were studied using generalized linear model (GLM). Results: The proportion of very preterm infants born in a level III unit varied in the hospital districts from 53% to 94%. Median LOS was 53 days (interquartile range: 38,76). There were large regional differences in the LOS, the difference being up to 10.5 days among the hospital districts (p < 0.0001). Rehospitalization rate was 47.2% within the first year from the initial discharge, and the absence of rehospitalization was associated with a 4.1 days shorter initial LOS (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Our study showed large regional variation in LOS of very preterm infants despite similar case mix. We speculate that the variation depends on differences in treatment practices and discharge criteria. [source] Therapeutic hypothermia for neonatal encephalopathy: a UK survey of opinion, practice and neuro-investigation at the end of 2007ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 4 2009Andrew Kapetanakis Abstract Background: The 2007 Cochrane review of therapeutic hypothermia for neonatal encephalopathy (NE) indicates a significant reduction in adverse outcome. UK National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidelines are awaited. Objective: To benchmark current opinion and practice to inform future strategies for optimal knowledge transfer for therapeutic hypothermia. Methods: A web based questionnaire (30 sections related to opinion and practice of management of NE) sent to the clinical leads of Level I, II and III neonatal units throughout the UK in November/December 2007. Results: One hundred and twenty-five (out of 195) UK neonatal units responded (response rate 66%). Ten percent, 37.5% and 51.5% responses were from level I, II and III units respectively. Twenty eight percent of all units provided therapeutic hypothermia locally (52% of level III units), however 80% of responders would offer therapeutic hypothermia if there was the facility. Overall, 57% of responders considered therapeutic hypothermia effective or very effective , similar for all unit levels; 43% considered more data are required. Regional availability of therapeutic hypothermia exists in 55% of units and 41% of units offer transfer to a regional centre for therapeutic hypothermia. Conclusion: In the UK in 2007, access to therapeutic hypothermia was widespread although not universal. More than half of responders considered therapeutic hypothermia effective. Fifty-five percent of perinatal networks have the facility to offer therapeutic hypothermia. The involvement of national bodies may be necessary to ensure the adoption of therapeutic hypothermia according to defined protocols and standards; registration is important and will help ensure universal neurodevelopmental follow up. [source] In-hospital mortality of newborn infants born before 33 weeks of gestation depends on the initial level of neonatal care: the EPIPAGE studyACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 3 2003JP Empana Aim: To determine the relation between the level of initial neonatal care and in-hospital mortality of infants born before 33 wk of gestation in the era of surfactant therapy. Methods: A 1 y prospective population-based survey was conducted in the north of France, as part of the EPIPAGE (Epidemiologie des Petits Ages Gestationnels) survey. Perinatal data were recorded for 585 very premature newborns transferred to a neonatal intensive care unit in 1997. The relation between the level of the neonatal unit that provided care for the first consecutive 48 h and in-hospital mortality was assessed by multivariate logistic regression, and adjusted for perinatal data and initial disease severity, estimated by the Clinical Risk Index for Babies (CRIB). Results: The average gestational age (mean ± SD) was 31.6 ± 0.62 wk in level I, 30.7 ± 0.21 in level II, 29.9 ± 0.13 in non-teaching level III, and 29.0 ± 0.15 in the level III teaching unit (p < 0.0001). The mean in-hospital mortality rate was 8.4% and did not differ by level of care (ptrend= 0.17). After adjustment for perinatal data and CRIB, however, with the teaching unit as the reference, the risk of death was significantly higher in level I,II units [adjusted odds ratio (ORa) = 7.9, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 2.2,29.1], but not in the non-teaching level III units (ORa = 0.8, 95% CI 0.3,2.1). Conclusion: In-hospital mortality in non-teaching level III units was similar to that in a teaching unit, but significantly higher in level I-level II units. Neonatal care of newborns delivered before 33 wk of gestation should initially occur in level III units. [source] | ||||||||||