The effects of nurse prescribing on medication and patient outcomes seem positive when compared to physician prescribing. However, conclusions must remain tentative due to methodological weaknesses in this body of research. More randomised controlled designs in the field of nurse prescribing are required for definitive conclusions about the effects of nurse prescribing.

Background: There is no data available whether sedation should be given during minimally invasive surfactant therapy (MIST). Objective: To compare the level of comfort of preterm infants receiving sedation versus no sedation for MIST. Methods: A retrospective study of preterm infants receiving MIST was performed in Leiden University Medical Center in 2014. Sedation (propofol 1 mg/kg) was optional and left to the discretion of the caregiver. Standardized COMFORTneo scores were compared, and COMFORTneo <14 was considered comfortable. Basic characteristics and complications were noted. Results: In 38 infants receiving MIST, 23 received propofol and 15 were not sedated. Mean (SD) gestational age [29 (2) vs. 29 (3) weeks] and birth weight [1,312 (483) vs. 1,469 (588) g] were not different. Median (IQR) COMFORTneo was not different between the groups before [11 (9-15) vs. 10 (8-12)] and after MIST [10 (8-12) vs. 9 (8-10)], but lower in the sedated group during MIST [12 (9-17) vs. 20 (15-23)] with more often COMFORTneo <14 (56 vs. 11%). Duration of MIST [2 (2-4) vs. 3 (2-7) min] and occurrence of bradycardia (13 vs. 33%) and hypotension (21 vs. 18%) were not different. Although not significant, intubation occurred more often in the sedated group (during MIST: 9 vs. 0%, <24 h after MIST: 26 vs. 13%). During MIST, oxygen saturation <80% lasted longer in the sedated group [3 (2-4) vs. 1 (0-2) min], and nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation was applied more (100 vs. 33%). Conclusions: Preterm infants receiving MIST were more comfortable when sedation was given, but needed ventilation more often. A randomized controlled trial is warranted to test whether the benefit of sedation outweighs the risks of complications.

NTR5010, pre-results.

BackgroundCaffeine promotes spontaneous breathing by antagonizing adenosine. We assessed the direct effect of caffeine on respiratory effort in preterm infants at birth.MethodsThirty infants of 24-30 weeks of gestation were randomized for receiving caffeine directly after birth in the delivery room (caffeine DR group) or later in the neonatal intensive care unit (control group). Primary outcome was respiratory effort, expressed as minute volume, tidal volumes, respiratory rate, rate of rise to maximum tidal volume, and recruitment breaths at 7-9 min after birth.ResultsAfter correction for gestational age, minute volumes ((mean±SD; 189±74 vs. 162±70 ml/kg/min; P<0.05) and tidal volumes ((median (interquartile range (IQR)) 5.2 (3.9-6.4) vs. 4.4 (3.0-5.6) ml/kg) were significantly greater in the caffeine DR group. Although respiratory rates were similar ((mean±SD) 35±10 vs. 33±10), RoR increased significantly ((median (IQR) 14.3 (11.2-19.8) vs. 11.2 (7.9-15.2) ml/kg/s), and more recruitment breaths were observed (13 vs. 9%).ConclusionCaffeine increases respiratory effort in preterm infants at birth, but the effect on clinical outcomes needs further investigation.

Excessive liquid in airways and/or distal lung tissue may underpin the respiratory morbidity associated with transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN). However, its effects on lung aeration and respiratory function following birth are unknown. We investigated the effect of elevated airway liquid volumes on newborn respiratory function. Near-term rabbit kittens (30 days gestation; term ~32 days) were delivered, had their lung liquid-drained, and either had no liquid replaced (control; = 7) or 30 ml/kg of liquid re-added to the airways [liquid added (LA); = 7]. Kittens were mechanically ventilated in a plethysmograph. Measures of chest and lung parameters, uniformity of lung aeration, and airway size were analyzed using phase contrast X-ray imaging. The maximum peak inflation pressure required to recruit a tidal volume of 8 ml/kg was significantly greater in LA compared with control kittens (35.0 ± 0.7 vs. 26.8 ± 0.4 cmHO, < 0.001). LA kittens required greater time to achieve lung aeration (106 ± 14 vs. 60 ± 6 inflations, = 0.03) and had expanded chest walls, as evidenced by an increased total chest area (32 ± 9%, < 0.0001), lung height (17 ± 6%, = 0.02), and curvature of the diaphragm (19 ± 8%, = 0.04). LA kittens had lower functional residual capacity during stepwise changes in positive end-expiratory pressures (5, 3, 0, and 5 cmH0). Elevated lung liquid volumes had marked adverse effects on lung structure and function in the immediate neonatal period and reduced the ability of the lung to aerate efficiently. We speculate that elevated airway liquid volumes may underlie the initial morbidity in near-term babies with TTN after birth. Transient tachypnea of the newborn reduces respiratory function in newborns and is thought to result due to elevated airway liquid volumes following birth. However, the effect of elevated airway liquid volumes on neonatal respiratory function is unknown. Using phase contrast X-ray imaging, we show that elevated airway liquid volumes have adverse effects on lung structure and function in the immediate newborn period, which may underlie the pathology of TTN in near-term babies after birth.