Background Caffeine citrate is one of the most widely used medications in neonatal intensive care units. It is a respiratory stimulant which has well established therapeutic effects in apnea and extubation. Little is known about the very early use of caffeine citrate in preterm neonates. We aim to explore the effectiveness of its very early use in reducing the duration of the respiratory support used and not just extubation. Objectives to study the effect of the very early use of caffeine citrate in preterm neonates on morbidity and short-term neonatal outcomes. Subjects and Methods A prospective phase 3 clinical trial was carried out on 54 preterm neonates less than 34 weeks of gestation who require respiratory support and were given caffeine citrate in two different settings, over a period of one year. Patients were randomly allocated to one of two groups, the first group was given caffeine citrate at initiation of respiratory support(CPAP, NIPPV and IPPV). The second group received caffeine citrate 6 hours before weaning of the respiratory support used. Caffeine citrate was stopped after complete removal of the respiratory support used. Both groups were compared as regard the duration of each respiratory support used separately and the total duration of respiratory support needed for each patient. Results The duration of IPPV used in patients was significantly lower in the patients that received early caffeine citrate. Total duration of the respiratory support needed for each patient was significantly lower in the early group. There was no significant difference in the development of complications related to the drug use between both groups. The total duration of NICU stay was significantly lower in the early group than the other group. Conclusion The Early initiation of caffeine citrate has effectively and safely decreased duration of respiratory support used and NICU stay without the development of any complications. Key words early caffeine citrate, preterm neonates, respiratory support. *CPAP: Continuous positive airway pressure NIPPV: Non invasive positive pressure ventilation IPPV: Intermittent positive pressure ventilation NICU: Neonatal Intensive care unit

Background Current guidelines suggest delayed cord clamping (DCC)as it reduces mortality and allows more placental transfusion. Another technique, umbilical cord milking (UCM), provides a placental transfusion without delaying resuscitation and can be completed as quickly as immediate cord clamping Objective To Investigate clinical and laboratory effects of UCM compared to DCC in preterm neonates. Subjects & Methods Preterm neonates <37 weeks were randomized into two groups DCC for 6o seconds and UCM (stripping 20 cm of umbilical cord 4 times at a speed of 10 cm /second towards the baby then cord was clamped. After stabilization of neonates, blood samples were taken after two hours for all neonates for assessment of hemoglobin, hematocrit and bilirubin. Results Most of the neonates included in our study were born through lower segment caesarean section (LSCS) 73(73%) in DCC group and 86(86%) in UCM group. On the other hand, 27(27%) of neonates in DCC group and 14 (14%) in milking group were delivered by vaginal delivery (VD). There was statistical significance increase of LSCS than VD. (p = 0.023) Instrument used during delivery was forceps 3% for DCC and 2% for UCM group and ventose was not used on any of our neonates. Tactile stimulation and warming were performed for all our neonates. Some neonates required interventions for resuscitation like oxygen supplementation (31 % DCC and 36% UCM), positive pressure ventilation (23%DCC, 28 %UCM), fluid bolus (none in DCC group and 2% in UCM group) or intubation (7% DCC, 9% UCM) noting that no cases required any drug e.g. adrenaline intervention. Positive pressure ventilation without intubation included ambu bag or neopuff was used in 23% and 28 % in DCC group and UCM group respectively. No statistical difference was found in the abovementioned data. Apgar score was recorded for every neonate at 1 and 5 minutes of resuscitation to assess transition and any need for further resuscitation measures. Apgar at 1minute median 6 in DCC and CM group(p = 0.346). Apgar at 5minutes median 8.5 in DCC group and 9 in CM group(p = 0.646). No statistical difference was found in Apgar scores between two groups. Laboratory data including serum hemoglobin, hematocrit and bilirubin level were recorded from a blood sample taken within 2 hours of delivery. The mean hemoglobin, hematocrit in the DCC group was 17.06 (2.35) mg/dl, 48.32 (6.86) mg/dl respectively. The UCM group hemoglobin and hematocrit mean was 17.16 (2.34) mg/dl and 49.11(6.55) mg/dl respectively. Mean for serum bilirubin in DCC group was 3.15(3.02) g/dl and for UCM group was 2.91(2.43) mg/dl. No statistical difference was found between DCC and UCM in the laboratory data. Conclusion UCM and DCC resulted in comparable clinical and laboratory results including resuscitating maneuvers used, hemoglobin, hematocrit bilirubin at 2 hours of life implying that similar amount of placental transfusion occurs in both the groups with no increased risk in UCM group. UCM can be performed in any low resource setting and provides adequate placental transfusion to the premature newborn without delay of resuscitation, making it feasible for depressed neonates as well.

Background: Neonates admitted in any Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) are constantly subjected to several stressful and painful conditions and require pain and sedation management. Ineffective sedation has severe consequences. Excessive sedation can prolong the duration of mechanical ventilation. On the other hand, inadequate sedation may lead to asynchronization with the ventilator and inability of adequate ventilation. The objective of the current study is to evaluate the use of Neonatal Pain, Agitation and Sedation Scale (N-PASS) parameters and double channel amplitude integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) to differentiate between light and deep sedation in neonatal patients. Patients and methods: A total of 30 full term neonates mechanically ventilated with congenital pneumonia were recruited for the current study. Neonates of the study were divided into 2 groups according to the dose of sedative received into Lightly sedated group and Deeply sedated. All studied neonates were subjected to N-PASS and aEEG monitoring before starting sedation and after 2 hours of sedation. Results: Parameters of Burdjalov score (Continuity, Cycling, bandwidth span) and its total score showed a statistically significant decrease after sedation with median in the in non-sedated patients than deeply sedated patients (12 (11 -12) vs. 8 (8 -9), respectively (p<0.001).There was also a difference which was statistically significant between deeply sedated patients than lightly sedated patients [8 (7 -8) vs. 9 (9 -9), respectively (p<0.00)]. When applying ROC analysis, aEEG total (Burdjalov) score at a cut-off value of ≤8 was predictive of deep sedation with 100% sensitivity and specificity. Conclusion: aEEG can be used to differentiate between states of awake and sedation, and can also be used to differentiate the different sedation levels.