BACKGROUND Perinatal mortality is a rare outcome among babies born at term in developed countries after normal uncomplicated pregnancies; consequently, the numbers involved in large databases of routinely collected statistics provide a meaningful evaluation of these uncommon events. The National Perinatal Data Collection records the place of birth and information on the outcomes of pregnancy an...

BACKGROUND Hypocarbia and hyperoxia are risk factors for periventricular leukomalacia in low birth weight infants. The association of a cumulative index of exposure to hypocarbia and hyperoxia and periventricular leukomalacia has not been evaluated. OBJECTIVE Our goal was to examine the relationship between cumulative index of exposure to hypocarbia and hyperoxia and periventricular leukomala...

The incidence of allergic airway diseases continues to increase in industrial countries while remaining much more stable in developing countries. Allergens inhaled are eventually also swallowed and evidently the gastrointestinal immune system has a role in regulating allergic responses in the pulmonary as well as the GI system. While some studies have pointed out the role of probiotic bacteria ...

At present time, delivery room management of babies born through Meconium stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) often includes suctioning of the mouth and nose before the delivery of the shoulders. This addresses the concern that babies will inhale meconium present in the upper airway with their first breath putting them at risk of MAS. The rationale of routine perineal suctioning of all babies born th...

I have always hated Internet chat rooms and studiously avoided them. To me, they are chaotic, confusing, and frustrating. I have also accepted the fact that on this question I am probably in the minority. I suspect that most students who participate in online courses have experience with chat and are quite comfortable with the fragmented and seemingly incoherent conversations that are the hallm...

Monitoring of preterm infants in the delivery room (DR) remains limited. Current guidelines suggest that pulse oximetry should be available for all preterm infant deliveries, and that if intubated a colorimetric carbon dioxide detector should provide verification of correct endotracheal tube placement. These two methods of assessment represent the extent of objective monitoring of the newborn c...

OBJECTIVES Maternal satisfaction during the birthing process has been well documented, whereas little is known about the fathers' birth experiences. Our objective was to evaluate and compare the birth satisfaction of mothers and fathers. DESIGN Comparative cross-sectional study. SETTING Number of participating centres: one level III maternity centre (2813 births in 2011) in Sherbrooke, Queb...

Although recent advances in neonatal care have improved survival rates, rates of bronchopulmonary dysplasia remain unchanged. Although neonatologists are increasingly applying gentle ventilation strategies in the neonatal intensive care unit, the same emphasis has not been applied immediately after birth. A lung-protective strategy should start with the first breath to help in the establishment...

OBJECTIVE We sought to assess the independent effect of perinatal factors on the risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in very-low-birthweight infants. STUDY DESIGN This was a population-based observational study. Data were prospectively collected by the Israel Neonatal Network. Multivariable analyses identified independent risk factors for BPD. RESULTS Of 12,139 infants surviving to a ...

OBJECTIVE Because the optimal concentration of oxygen (FiO2) required for stabilization of the newly born infant has not been established, the FiO2 is commonly adjusted according to the infant's oxygen saturation (SpO2). We aimed to determine the range of pre-ductal SpO2 in the first minutes of life in healthy newborn infants. STUDY DESIGN We applied an oximetry sensor to the infant's right p...