Background: Congenital malformations are major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality and account for 8-10% of all peri-natal deaths especially in developing countries. Incidence of congenital malformation is increasing owing to reduction in other causes of neonatal deaths due to improvement in perinatal care worldwide. This study was aimed to evaluate the incidence, perinatal variables and contributing risk factors associated with birth defects that will help to plan future strategies for prevention, early diagnosis and timely management.  Methods: This is a hospital-based prospective observational study conducted in department of pediatrics of a tertiary care centre of western India over period of two year. All new-borns with anatomical congenital malformations detected antenatal or postnatal (prior to discharge) period were included in this study. Detailed and careful clinical examination was carried out for all new-born.Results: The incidence of congenital malformation in the present study is 1.27%. Prematurity (76.1%), low birth weight (68%) and male neonates (67%) were associated with increased risk of congenital malformation. Most common system involved in this study was cranio-spinal system (47.3%). Overall, most common congenital anomaly was Hydrocephalus with meningomyelocele (8%). Among maternal variables, malnutrition (90%), consanguinity (40%) and abortions (40%) are strongly associated with malformations.  Conclusions: Congenital malformations are important cause of neonatal death. Strategies to diagnose, prevent, treat and rehabilitate the neonate are utmost necessary. Early screening to identify high risk pregnancies and timely management is strongly recommended.

Background: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is one of the causes of perinatal mortality and morbidity which affects approximately 9.65% of pregnancies worldwide. Doppler indices from the fetal circulation can reliably predict adverse perinatal outcome. Aims &objectives: To compare perinatal complications and outcome between term and preterm IUGR neonates having normal and abnormal umbilical artery flow Doppler. Methodology: 140 IUGR Neonates with abnormal and normal antenatal umbilical artery Doppler scan admitted in NICU of Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad were included in the study. Amongst them 52 were preterm and 88 were term neonates. Study was conducted between October 2019 to December 2019. Primary outcome measure is neonatal mortality and secondary outcome measure is neonatal morbidities like perinatal asphyxia, hypoglycemia, NEC, hyperbilirubinemia etc. Results: Amongst140 IUGR neonates Preterm were more in case group 36(51.4%) compared to control group 16(22.8 %.) Hypoglycaemia and NEC was observed more in preterm 19 (36.5%) and 14(26.9%) compared to 16(18.2%) and 11(12.5%) in term respectively. Birth asphyxia was observed more in term 26(29.5%) than preterm 7(13.5%). At birth perinatal asphyxia was observed more in case group, 27 out of 70 (38.5%), as compared to 6 out of 70 (8.5%) in control group (P <0.05). Hypoglycemia and NEC was noticed in 30(42.8%) and 24(34.2%) neonates in case group, as compared to 5(7.1%) and 2(2.8%) neonates in control group respectively. (P < 0.05) Conclusion: Neonates with abnormal Umbilical Artery Doppler flow are at increased risk of perinatal complications and needs extra care during this period.

Background: Very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates are at high risk for morbidity and mortality. Preterm birth is one of the major clinical problems in Obstetrics and Neonatology. Aim & Objective: To study morbidity and mortality pattern of VLBW neonates admitted to NICU at Department of Pediatrics, Civil hospital, Ahmedabad. Methodology: This cross-sectional prospective observational study was performed on all hospitalized VLBW neonates. Their course during hospitalization and relevant was documented in pre designed performa. Results: In the present study, out of 1748 neonates, 374 (21.39%) were VLBW with 69% males. Mean gestational age was 31.3±1.8 weeks; mean birth weight 1279±193 grams. Common morbidities in VLBW neonates are Neonatal jaundice, Probable sepsis, Apnea of prematurity and RDS. Mortality rate is improved with increasing gestational age and weight. Conclusion: Birth weight and mechanical ventilation are the 2 major factors responsible for mortality. A decline in the mortality and morbidity of these newborns (especially the ELBW neonates) can only be made possible through optimizing perinatal care including regionalization, CPR at birth, early NCPAP and quality improved collaborative (QIC) in our NICU.

Background: 60–80% of neonatal deaths are due to low birth weight (LBW <2500 g) in developing countries.Aim & Objective:The objectives of this study was to identify a suitable anthropometric surrogate and to identify LBW babies in the resource limited settings like rural areas where 80–90% deliveries take place to screen the LBW babies.Subject and Method:This is a prospective observational study conducted in department of pediatrics of tertiary care hospital and medical college of western India. A total of 519 newborns were studied by random sampling method. BW and other anthropometric measurements were taken within 24 h of birth. Result:Mean birth weight significantlyincreases with increasing value of anthropometric measurement, all key anthropometric parameters were significantly correlated to each other. The correlation with birth weight is more for chest circumference (0.58)than mid upper arm circumference (0.54). Conclusion:CC is the better measurement to identify low birth-weight babies. Measurement of both MUAC and CC is of little additional value in predicting LBW babies. Chest circumference is a simple, quick, and valid screening tool for identifying LBW neonates in a community setting where there are problems of nonavailability of weighing scales.

No abstract