No abstract

A prospective multicentre 12‐month survey of neonatal respiratory disorders in 63 537 Italian infants was performed to evaluate the incidence of acute neonatal respiratory disorders and of the main related complications. A total of 1427 developed respiratory disorders (2.2%), 208 of whom died (14.6%). The incidence of respiratory distress syndrome was 1.16%, with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 24%; that of transient tachypnoea was 0.93%, with a CFR of 1.3%. The rates of meconium aspiration syndrome, persistent pulmonary hypertension and pneumonia were 0.06%, 0.02% and 0.07%, with CFRs of 10.3%, 38.5% and 21.7%, respectively. The occurrences of the main complications in affected newborns were: bronchopulmonary dysplasia 5.6%, necrotizing enterocolitis 1.7%, patent ductus arteriosus 9.8%, 3o and 4o grade intraventricular haemorrhage 6.8% and air leak 4.9%. It was concluded that the incidence of acute neonatal respiratory disorders and the main related complications was lower than that reported two decades ago and that the CFR of acute neonatal respiratory disorders had increased. These results may be the consequences of (i) progress in the management of high‐risk pregnancies, (ii) an increased number of viable infants with extremely low birth weight and (iii) diffusion of antenatal treatment with corticosteroids which, in this series, seemed to reduce the morbidity but not the mortality in the high‐risk infants.

Small-for-gestational-age preterm infants with prenatal haemodynamic disturbances have an unusual intestinal haemodynamic response to the first feed. In the whole group of preterm infants, the value of mean velocity measured 30 min after the first feed is a good tool for the clinician in predicting early enteral feeding.

Bonafe L, Rubaltelli FF. The incidence of acute neonatal respiratory disorders in Padova county: an epidemiological survey. Acta Pzdiatr 1996;85: 1236-40. Stockholm. ISSN 0803-5253 The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of respiratory diseases in newborns and the mortality rate caused by the same disorders in an area-based survey conducted during the period extending from June I, 1993, to May 3 I , 1994. These rates were related to sex, gestational age, birth weight, Apgar score, mode of delivery and obstetric pathologies. A total of 7588 newborns were studied. A simple diagnostic system was used, which was based on clinical, laboratory and instrumental criteria. The incidence of respiratory disorders was 3.3%; the overall mortality rate was 0.28% and the case fatality rate for respiratory distress syndrome was 14.8%. Neonatal asphyxia was frequently associated with respiratory diseases. 0 Epidemiology, neonatal asphyxia, newhorn infant, respiratory disorder, respiratory distress syndrome FF Ruhallelli. Division

A prospective multicentre 12-month survey of neonatal respiratory disorders in 63 537 Italian infants was performed to evaluate the incidence of acute neonatal respiratory disorders and of the main related complications. A total of 1427 developed respiratory disorders (2.2%), 208 of whom died (14.6%). The incidence of respiratory distress syndrome was 1.16%, with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 24%; that of transient tachypnoea was 0.93%, with a CFR of 1.3%. The rates of meconium aspiration syndrome, persistent pulmonary hypertension and pneumonia were 0.06%, 0.02% and 0.07%, with CFRs of 10.3%, 38.5% and 21.7%, respectively. The occurrences of the main complications in affected newborns were: bronchopulmonary dysplasia 5.6%, necrotizing enterocolitis 1.7%, patent ductus arteriosus 9.8%, 3 degrees and 4 degrees grade intraventricular haemorrhage 6.8% and air leak 4.9%. It was concluded that the incidence of acute neonatal respiratory disorders and the main related complications was lower than that reported two decades ago and that the CFR of acute neonatal respiratory disorders had increased. These results may be the consequences of (i) progress in the management of high-risk pregnancies, (ii) an increased number of viable infants with extremely low birth weight and (iii) diffusion of antenatal treatment with corticosteroids which, in this series, seemed to reduce the morbidity but not the mortality in the high-risk infants.