Objective The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of heated humidified high-flow nasal cannula (HHHFNC) and nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) for prevention of extubation failure in preterm infants. Methods Preterm infants (gestation ≥28 weeks) were randomized to HHHFNC or nCPAP after extubation. Primary outcome was extubation failure within 72 h of extubation. Results A total of 128 preterm infants were randomized to receive either HHHFNC (n = 63) or nCPAP (n = 65) after extubation. The primary outcome of extubation failure within 72 h after extubation was not different between the two groups (HHHFNC, 22.2% vs. nCPAP, 18.5%, risk difference of 3.7% and 95% CI −10.3 to 17.6, p = 0.604). The incidence of nasal trauma was significantly lower in the HHHFNC group than in the nCPAP group 6.3% vs. 21.5%, p = 0.020. Conclusions In our study, HHHFNC was as effective as nCPAP for prevention of extubation failure in preterm infants. Also, HHHFNC was associated with significantly less nasal trauma compared with nCPAP.

Background and Objectives: Hemodynamics in neonatal sepsis is complex and poorly understood. Several studies have reported conflicting findings on cerebral blood flow (CBF) in sepsis from severely increased flow to severely decreased flow. The objective of our study was to study CBF by measuring the resistive index (RI) of the anterior cerebral artery in late-onset neonatal sepsis (LONS). Methods: All newborn infants admitted in our neonatal intensive care unit with suspected LONS during the period from January 2017 to December 2017 underwent point-of-care transcranial Doppler ultrasonography to measure the RI of the anterior cerebral artery within 24 h of clinical presentation before starting inotropes if at all required. Infants with congenital heart disease, perinatal asphyxia, major congenital malformations, and genetic syndromes were excluded. Neonates with positive culture were included in the final analysis. Results: Of 89 suspected LONS, 33 were culture positive and were analyzed. The mean admission weight was 2.33 ± 0.76 kg. The mean gestational age was 33.5 ± 3.4 wk. Most common organism isolated was Klebsiella pneumoniae (82%). The RI was high in 54.5% (17 of 33) and normal in 45.5% (15 of 33) cases. Conclusions: LONS is a unique and complex hemodynamic state and we found it associated with the high RI indicating decreased CBF. A larger study may help in more understanding of this unique hemodynamic association.

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Background and Objectives: Point of care neonatal ultrasound is a useful tool in evaluation of heart, brain, lungs, and abdomen in neonatal sepsis. The objective of our study was to perform bedside ultrasound screening of heart, brain, lungs, and abdomen in neonates with late onset culture positive sepsis and study the patterns of abnormalities and also their role in change of patient management. Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary level neonatal care unit from March 2017 to May 2018. All neonates with suspected late onset sepsis on the basis of clinical and laboratory findings underwent point of care neonatal ultrasound of heart, brain, lungs, and abdomen. Results: Of 153 suspected and eligible late-onset neonatal sepsis (LONS) cases, 67 (44%) had positive blood culture and were analyzed. Of this 67 neonates, 30 (45%) had abnormal neurosonography, 38 (57%) had abnormal cardiac output, 14 (20%) had abnormal cardiac contractility, 17 (25%) had abnormal pulmonary pressure, 18 (27%) had pulmonary arterial hypertension, 19 (28%) had pneumonia, and 7 (10%) had free fluid in abdomen. Clinical management was changed in 26 (39%) neonates. Conclusion: Bedside point of care neonatal ultrasound is a useful tool in assessment of heart, brain, lungs, and abdomen in a LONS. It could help in making appropriate decisions in the management, and therefore potentially reduce morbidity and mortality.

Background Delayed cord clamping (DCC) is practiced worldwide, as standard care in both term and preterm babies. Our aim was to determine the hemodynamic effects of DCC on transitional circulation. Material and methods This prospective observational study was carried out in a tertiary care hospital, at Pune, India, from May 2018 to October 2019.Term neonates born during the study period were included. The primary outcome variables of the study were right ventricular output (RVO), left ventricular output (LVO), superior vena cava (SVC) flow (ml/kg/min) and heart rate(HR) at 12 ± 6 and 48 ± 6 h of life measured by point of care functional echocardiography. Inter-observer and intra-observer variability was calculated for these parameters. Results Out of a total of 2744 deliveries during the study period, 620 babies were included. Mean gestational age of the enrolled babies was 38.96 ± 1.08 weeks and mean birth weight was 2.9 ± 0.39 kg. Mean heart rate of babies recorded at 12 ± 6 h of life was 127 beats per minute (bpm) whereas it was 128 bpm at 48 ± 6 h of life. RVO {mean (SD)} was 209.55(44.89) and 205.85(46.35) ml/kg/min, LVO {mean (SD)} was 133.68(31.15) and 134.78(29.84) ml/kg/min whereas SVC flow {mean (SD)} was 106.85(26.21) and 109.29(25.11) ml/kg/min at 12 ± 6 and 48 ± 6 h of life respectively. There was good intra-observer agreement in all the variables. SGA babies had a significantly higher heart rate at 12 ± 6 h of life as compared to AGA babies, although this difference in heart rate could not be appreciated at 48 ± 6 h of life. However SGA babies had a higher LVO, RVO and SVC flow than AGA babies at both the time points of observation. Conclusion After DCC there is less fluctuation in the hemodynamic parameters (heart rate, cardiac output) at the two time points of observation.. As compared to AGA babies, SGA babies had a significantly higher baseline heart rate, LVO, RVO and SVC flow. LVO of SGA babies after delayed cord clamping is found to be significantly lower than LVO seen in other studies, favoring the cardio-stabilizing effect of DCC. Brief rationale This is the first study with a large sample size evaluating the hemodynamic effects of DCC in term neonates by functional echocardiography. The normative data of heart rate and cardiac output of term, stable babies with small for gestational age(SGA) as a special subgroup undergoing DCC requires further evaluation.