This survey shows that the management of PPHN varies widely around the world. The major PPHN diagnostic method is echocardiography together with bedside SpO2 monitoring. The study numbers show the main differences are between developed and developing countries. Further studies exploring evidence-based principles of diagnosis and management in PPHN are warranted.

Vernix caseosa aspiration is an extremely rare condition resulting in high mortality if complicated by persistent hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). Herein we offer the first case report of PPHN due to massive vernix caseosa aspiration documented by histopathological examination. This case report is presented to provide a synopsis of the pathoetiology of PPHN related to vernix caseosa aspiration syndrome as likely to be encountered by neonatologists and general pediatricians involved with neonatal care.

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Background:Respiratory failure is a most serious neonatal disorder. A severity of illness assessment should be performed for mechanically ventilated infants to predict the probability of hospital mortality and to assist clinical decision making. Objectives: To evaluate the ability of the Score for Neonatal Acute Physiology, version II (SNAP-II) to predict the mortality risk for the infants who are mechanically ventilated with positive pressure ventilation (PPV) at a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods: A prospective observational cohort study was performed in a 12-bed level III NICU at Hat Yai Hospital between January 2010 and December 2010. Results: During the study period, 46 infants were ventilated with PPV at admission. Of these, 8 died (17%) and 30 survived (83%). The overall mean SNAP-II score was significantly higher in the group of infants who died compared with those who survived (36.5 ± 11.5 vs. 22.3 ± 13.6, P < 0.01, respectively).The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the SNAP-II was 0.79 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.66 to 0.92, P = 0.01). Every one-point increment of SNAP-II was associated with an odds ratio of 1.08 (95% CI 1.02 to 1.14, P < 0.01). The stratification of the two sets of scores when compared between groups showed that infants who had SNAP-II scores of ≥32 had the highest mortality risk with an odds ratio of 9.7 (95% CI 1.7 to 56.5) with sensitivity of 75.0% and specificity of 76.3%. Conclusion: SNAP-II scores can significantly predict mortality in infants requiring mechanical PPV.

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