Premature birth is a frequent occurrence even in developed countries. Technological advances have increased survival rates even for very premature. Prematurity is a risk factor for much morbidity, including developmental delay, deficits in somatic growth and difficulty of affectionate bonds with family. The Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) has emerged as an alternative treatment of low birth weight infants, being part of the national policy of humanization in health, aiming higher attachment, breastfeeding promotion, improved development and security, including how to handle the baby and family relationships. This research aimed to evaluate the evolution of premature assisted by KMC from birth to six months of age, including weight gain, frequency of breastfeeding, duration of hospitalization and development at six months. This is an observational and prospective cohort study of preterm babies at KMC, born between July 2011 and January 2012 in a terciary public maternity with birth weight less than 1750 g and in clinical conditions required for application of the method. The sample consisted of 137 newborns, with a mean birth weight of 1.365±283 g, mean gestational age of 32±3 weeks and 26,2% adequate for gestacional age. They were admitted to the Kangaroo Ward at 19±18 days, weighing 1.430±167g on average, and at this time 57.7% were underweight. They were discharged after 36.8±21.8 days, weighing 1.780±165g and 67.9% were underweight. Those who had apnea in the neonatal intensive care unit, who used vasoactive agents or third-line antibiotics and diagnosed with bronchopulmonary dysplasia had a greater length of stay in hospital (p <0.001). At 6 months (n = 76) had an average weight of 5.954±971g and 68.4% were with weight percentiles between 3 and 97. Denver Developmental Screening Test II was considered suspect at 17.1% of them. The variables strongly associated with this outcome were: peri-intraventricular hemorrhage, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and weight below the 3rd percentile at six months of age. Exclusive breastfeeding rate at discharge was 56.2% and at 6 months was 14.4%. Conclusions: In this sample, children assisted by KMC had adequated weight recovery in the first six months of life, as well as low frequency of developmental delay. At six months, the exclusive breastfeeding rate was low. / O nascimento prematuro é uma ocorrência frequente, mesmo em países desenvolvidos. Os avanços tecnológicos têm proporcionado taxas de sobrevivência cada vez maiores, mesmo para os muito prematuros. A prematuridade é um fator de risco para várias morbidades, dentre elas atraso no desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor, déficit no crescimento somático e dificuldade de vinculação afetiva com a família. O Método Canguru (MC) surgiu como alternativa de assistência ao recém-nascido de baixo peso como parte da política nacional de humanização na saúde, objetivando maior apego, incentivo ao aleitamento materno, melhor desenvolvimento e segurança, inclusive quanto ao manuseio do bebê e ao relacionamento familiar. Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo avaliar a evolução dos prematuros assistidos pelo MC, do nascimento aos seis meses de idade, incluindo evolução ponderal, frequência de aleitamento materno, tempo de hospitalização e desenvolvimento. Trata-se de um estudo observacional e descritivo de uma coorte de bebês prematuros assistidos pelo MC, nascidos entre julho de 2011 e janeiro de 2012 em uma maternidade pública de nível terciário, com peso ao nascer igual ou menor que 1750 g e em condições clínicas necessárias para aplicação do método. A amostra foi constituída por 137 recém-nascidos, com média de peso ao nascer de 1,365±283 g, idade gestacional média de 32±3 semanas, sendo 26,2% com peso ao nascer adequado à idade gestacional. Foram admitidos na Enfermaria Canguru com 19±18 dias de vida, pesando 1.430±167g em média, sendo que, nesse momento 57,7% da amostra tinham baixo peso para a idade cronológica (BP). Tiveram alta hospitalar com 36,8±21,8 dias, pesando 1.780±165g e 67,9% tinham BP. Aqueles que tiveram apneia na unidade de terapia intensiva neonatal, que usaram drogas vasoativas ou antibióticos de terceira linha e os com diagnóstico de displasia broncopulmonar tiveram maior tempo de hospitalização (p< 0,001). Aos seis meses (n=76), tinham peso médio de 5.954±971g, sendo que 68,4% estavam com o peso entre os percentis 3 e 97. Tiveram resultado do Teste de Triagem de Desenvolvimento de Denver II considerado como suspeito 17,1% deles. As variáveis que estiveram fortemente associadas a este resultado foram: hemorragia peri-intraventricular, displasia broncopulmonar e peso abaixo do percentil 3 aos seis meses de idade. A frequência de aleitamento materno exclusivo na alta foi 56,2% e aos 6 meses foi 14,4%. Conclusões: Na amostra estudada as crianças assistidas pelo Método Canguru tiveram recuperação ponderal adequada nos primeiros seis meses de vida, bem como baixa frequência de alteração no desenvolvimento. A frequência de aleitamento exclusivo aos seis meses foi baixa.

Introdução: O agrupamento de cuidados é uma estratégia que visa evitar a manipulação intermitente dos neonatos pré-termos, proporcionando um período maior de repouso, fundamental para seu adequado crescimento e desenvolvimento. Esta prática é amplamente utilizada nas Unidades de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal (UTIN). Objetivo: Estabelecer evidências acerca da efetividade do agrupamento de cuidados na organização do ciclo sono-vigília, na estabilidade das respostas fisiológicas e mímica facial em pré-termos com idade gestacional até 32 semanas. Método: Revisão sistemática que identificou estudos publicados e indexados nas bases eletrônicas Cochrane, LILACS, EMBASE, CINAHL, PubMed, Web of Science. Foram utilizados os descritores/termos livres clustered care, neonatal individualized developmental care program OR NIDCAP, kangaroo mother care OR KMC e skin to skin para identificação dos estudos. Além destas bases, foram realizadas buscas por estudos não publicados em revistas indexadas como anais de eventos científicos, teses e dissertações indexadas nas bases eletrônicas de bancos de teses disponibilizados em páginas eletrônicas de universidades e pela ferramenta Google scholar. A análise e seleção das publicações foram realizadas por dois revisores independentes, as publicações com análises discrepantes para inclusão ou não na revisão foram submetidas à avaliação de um terceiro revisor. As publicações que atenderam os critérios de inclusão foram selecionadas para a leitura e análise na íntegra. Após esta avaliação, as que preencheram os critérios de inclusão, foram incluídas na revisão sistemática. Resultados: Foram identificadas 1255 publicações nas bases de dados, das quais 18 foram selecionadas como prováveis inclusão e analisadas na íntegra. Destas, cinco ensaios clínicos randomizados do tipo cross-over foram incluídos na presente revisão. Os sujeitos que compuseram a amostra dos ensaios clínicos analisados foram os neonatos pré-termos com idade gestacional igual ou inferior a 32 semanas. O agrupamento de cuidados foi comparado com um procedimento doloroso. Os resultados mostraram que os RNs apresentam alterações na mímica facial (olhos espremidos), alterações comporamentais (extenção de braços, língua protusa, mãos abertas com adução dos dedos, bocejo) e diminuição na saturação de oxigênio mais significativamente no grupo submetido ao procedimento doloroso comparado ao grupo de cuidados agrupados (p<0,004). No entanto, valores semelhantes nas alterações faciais e fisiológicas ocorreram no grupo submetido ao agrupamento de cuidados e os sinais de estresse avaliados após o agrupamento de cuidados, persisitiu por maior tempo, comparado com a fase de recuperação do neonato no grupo do procedimento doloroso. Quanto à frequência cardíaca, os neonatos com idade gestacional inferior a 30 semanas apresentaram elevados índices quando o procedimento doloroso foi precedido pelo agrupamento de cuidados (p<0,0001). Conclusões: As evidências encontradas sugerem que o agrupamento de cuidados causa alterações na resposta comportamental (ciclos sono-vigília), instabilidade nos parâmetros fisiológicos (frequência cardíaca e saturação de oxigênio) e sinais de estresse demonstrado através da mímica facial (sobrancelhas salientes e sulco nasolabial) em recém-nascidos com idade gestacional menor ou igual a 32 semanas. A adoção da prática de agrupamento de cuidados não garante que os neonatos pré-termos submetidos a este tipo de cuidado apresentem respostas fisiológicas e comportamentais mais estáveis. / Introduction: The clustered care is a strategy to avoid the intermittent preterm infants handling, providing them a longer rest period, essential to their health growth and development. This procedure is widely used in the context of Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU). Objective: To establish evidence concerning the effectiveness of the clustered care in organizing the sleep-wake cycle in the physiological responses and facial expressions in gestational age up to 32 weeks preterm infants. Methods: A systematic review that identified the studies published in the Cochrane, LILACS, EMBASE, CINAHL, PubMed and Web of Science electronic databases. The descriptors used to identify the studies were: \"clustered care, neonatal individualized developmental care program OR NIDCAP, kangaroo mother care OR KMC e skin to skin. Also these database, it was identified the studies not published in indexed journals including studies presented in scientific events and thesis and dissertations available in the electronic databases hosted in the universities homepages and publications identified by the Google scholar gate. The selection of publications and analysis of them were performed by two independent reviewers. The publications with conflicting evaluation between the two reviewers were submitted to evaluation by a third reviewer. The publications that met the inclusion criteria were selected for analysis of the full text. After this analysis, those studies that met the inclusion criteria were included in the systematic review. Results: We identified 1255 publications in databases, 18 of them were selected as probable inclusion and were analyzed in its entirety. From these 18 studies, five cross-over randomized clinical trials were included in this systematic review. The subjects who comprised the samples of analyzed trials were premature infants up to 32 week gestational age. The clustered care group was compared with a painful procedure. The results showed that newborns exhibited alterations in the facial expressions (eyes squeezed), behavior changes (arms extension, protruding tongue, open hands with fingers adduction, yawn) and oxygen saturation decreasing more significant in the group undergoing painful procedure compared with the clustered care group (p <0.004). However, similar values in facial and physiological changes occurred in the clustered care group and stress signals evaluated after grouping care, persisted for a longer time compared to the recovery phase in the newborn of painful procedure group. As for heart rate, neonates with gestational age below 30 weeks showed high levels when the painful procedure was preceded by clustered care (p <0.0001). Conclusions: The evidence suggests that the clustered care causes changes in the behavioral responses (sleep-wake cycles), instability in physiological parameters (heart rate and oxygen saturation) and stress signals demonstrated through facial expressions (protruding eyebrows and nasolabial folds) in the premature infants up to 32 weeks gestational age. he grouping of care does not guarantee that the preterm group undergoing care exhibit more stability in physiological and behavioral responses. The adoption of the clustered care practice does not guarantee that the preterm infant underwent to it exhibit more stability in the physiological and behavioral responses.

Estudo exploratório, transversal que objetivou identificar os fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento associados às alterações de linguagem em crianças aos 18 meses acompanhadas em um serviço especializado de um município paulista. Participaram crianças atendidas no Serviço de Estimulação Precoce entre 01 de janeiro de 2013 e 31 de dezembro de 2015. Os dados foram obtidos através dos prontuários do serviço. As variáveis estudadas foram: peso ao nascer, idade gestacional, índice de Apgar, ocorrências clínicas (pré-natal, parto e pós-parto) e anomalias congênitas. Na fase descritiva, caracterizou-se os participantes, a partir das variáveis de interesse, sendo calculadas frequências e porcentagens das variáveis. Na fase analítica, buscou-se associações entre a variável dependente (atraso no desenvolvimento) e as demais variáveis, utilizou-se ainda modelos de regressão logística multinomial para estimar a chance de ocorrência das variáveis categóricas. O projeto de pesquisa foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo (CAAE 61587916.0.0000.5393; Ofício CEP-EERP-USP nº373/2016), após anuência da Secretaria Municipal de Saúde. Nos três anos elencados para o estudo observou-se que 78 prontuários (56,9%) eram de crianças que deram entrada no serviço no ano de 2013, 49 (35,8%) em 2014, e 10 (7,3%) no ano de 2015. A maioria das crianças era do sexo masculino, com nascimentos distribuídos em sua maioria, entre os hospitais 1 e 2 e grande parte foi identificada com mais de um risco ao nascimento. A média da idade materna foi de 28 anos, com registros que indicavam, em sua maioria, mais de uma intercorrência durante a gestação, parto e pós-parto. Após a caracterização inicial das variáveis, as crianças foram divididas em três grupos: G1 - detectadas com atrasos no desenvolvimento da linguagem, encaminhadas para terapia fonoaudiológica aos 18 meses; G2 - crianças que passaram pelo retorno aos 18 meses e foram reagendadas para retorno aos dois anos, devido a dúvida quanto ao atraso ou não nas habilidades esperadas, recebendo alta neste; G3 - encaminhadas antes dos 18 meses para terapia, devido atraso significativo no desenvolvimento global. A partir dessa distribuição, buscou-se verificar associação entre os grupos e as variáveis mencionadas. O teste exato de Fisher indicou associação significante (p<0,001) entre os grupos em relação à variável anomalias congênitas. A análise de regressão logística indicou que crianças sem registros de intercorrências durante a gestação e no parto e nascimento, tiveram menores chances de evoluir com atrasos no desenvolvimento da linguagem. Aquelas nascidas prematuras apresentaram chance 8,51 vezes maior de terem, como desfecho, atraso na linguagem do que as crianças nascidas a termo e pós-termo. Crianças com valores de Apgar inferior a 4 no primeiro minuto e 7 no 5º minuto tiveram maior chance de apresentar atrasos; o baixo peso ao nascer também aumentou as chances deste desfecho. Os resultados deste estudo apontam para a necessidade da pronta detecção e encaminhamento precoce dessas crianças para serviços especializados, visando minimizar e/ou até evitar agravos futuros / This exploratory, cross-sectional study aimed at identifying the developmental risk factors associated with language changes in children at 18 months followed at a specialized service in a city of São Paulo. Participants were children attending the Early Stimulation Service between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2015. Data were obtained from the service charts. The variables studied were birth weight, gestational age, Apgar score, clinical occurrences (prenatal, delivery and postpartum) and congenital anomalies. In the descriptive phase, the participants were characterized by the variables of interest, and the frequencies and percentages were calculated. In the analytical phase, we sought associations between the dependent variable (developmental delay) and the other variables, and multinomial logistic regression models were used to estimate the chance of occurrence of the categorical variables. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing (CAAE 61587916.0.0000.5393; CEP-EERP-USP no. 373/2016), after consent of the Municipal Health Department. In the three years listed for the study, it was observed that 78 medical records (56.9%) belonged to the children who entered the service in 2013, 49 (35.8%) in 2014, and 10 (7.3%), in the year 2015. Most of the children were male, with births mostly distributed between hospitals 1 and 2, and most of them were identified as having more than one birth risk. The mean of maternal age was 28 years, with records indicating, for the most part, more than one intercurrence during pregnancy, delivery and postpartum. After the initial characterization of the variables, children were divided into three groups: G1 - children who were detected with delays in language development, referred for speech therapy at 18 months. G2 was related to children who returned for appointment at 18 months of age, and were rescheduled for return with two years, due to doubts related to delay or due they had no expected abilities; those children received discharge at two years old; and G3 was for children who was referred before 18 months for therapy, due to significant delay in overall development. From this distribution, we sought to verify association between the groups and the mentioned variables. The Fisher exact test indicated a significant association (p<0.001) between the groups in relation to the variable congenital anomalies. Logistic regression analysis indicated that children with no records of intercurrences during gestation, delivery and childbirth were less likely to evolve with delays in language development. Those children born premature presented an 8.51 times greater chance of having, as an outcome, delay in language than children born at term and post-term. Children with Apgar values less than 4 in the first minute and 7 in the fifth minute had a greater chance of delays; low birth weight also increased the odds of this outcome. The results of this study point to the need for prompt detection and early referral of these children to specialized services, in order to minimize and / or avoid future disorders

Abstract The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of antenatal and postnatal corticosteroids in the prevention for mortality and acute and long-term morbidity in preterm infants. Altogether 109 eligible preterm infants participated in a randomized, multi-center, double-blinded controlled trial studying the efficacy of early dexamethasone (DX) treatment. The infants received either four doses of DX or placebo. DX treatment did not have a detectable influence on survival without bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), severe intracranial hemorrhage, or periventricular leukomalacia. In a meta-analysis of 15 trials, we found that early prolonged DX treatment (> 96 h, n = 1594 infants) decreased the risk of BPD (RR 0.72 95% CI 0.61–0.87), whereas early short DX course did not (n = 1069 infants). However, prolonged DX increased the risk of gastrointestinal (GI) complications (RR 1.59 95% CI 1.02–2.46). Fifty-one very preterm infants participated in a randomized placebo-controlled trial studying early hydrocortisone (HC) started before 36 hours of age and continued for 10 days. The basal and stimulated serum cortisol levels were measured before the intervention. The study was interrupted because of GI perforations in the HC group. HC decreased the risk of patent ductus arteriosus. HC-treated infants with serum cortisol concentrations above the median had a high risk of GI perforation. HC increased survival without BPD among infants with low endogenous cortisol levels. Altogether 45 surviving infants were enrolled in the follow-up of the early HC trial at 2 years of age. None of the study patients had died after discharge. There was no difference in the recorded rehospitalization rate, growth characteristics, or neurological development between HC and placebo-treated children. Altogether 249 women pregnant at less than 34.0 gestational weeks participated in a randomized trial studying the efficacy of a single additional dose of betamethasone (BM). All of the 159 infants in the BM group and 167 in the placebo group were born before 36 weeks of gestation. Intact survival was comparable between the BM and placebo groups, whereas the need for surfactant therapy in RDS was increased in the BM group. According to a post hoc analysis of 206 infants delivered within 1–24 hours, the BM booster tended to increase the risk of RDS and to decrease intact survival.

Preterm birth disrupts the development of the brain and other critical organs of the infant body. Since the brain is one of the last organs to finish developing during pregnancy, the risk for substantial neurological deficits increases as the gestational age decreases. One way to combat these deficits is to reconnect the preterm infant with the mother via skin-to-skin contact, also known as kangaroo care (KC). This intimate touch helps to replicate aspects of the environment that the preterm infant experienced in utero. The purpose of this literature review was to analyze the current literature to better understand the effects that KC may have on facilitating neurodevelopment of preterm infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). Emphasis was placed on neurophysiologic functioning, autonomic functioning, and neurobehavioral functioning. A database search of CINAHL Plus with Full Text, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition was conducted, and a total of six articles were reviewed based on their relevance and application towards this thesis. KC is a low-cost, relatively easy intervention to initiate that can have positive impacts on many aspects of preterm infant growth and maturation. There is limited research regarding the use of KC as an intervention to support neurodevelopment, especially with regards to long-term effects. Existing research supports the use of KC as an intervention to facilitate neurodevelopment in preterm infants in the NICU.

<p><strong>Background:</strong> Inadequate nutrition during the postnatal period may be associated with adverse outcomes in later life. Tailoring nutrition to promote optimal growth requires monitoring body composition (BC). This could guide nutritional strategies to promote optimal outcomes, however preterm infant BC data is lacking. <strong></strong></p> <p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To introduce and assess the feasibility of air displacement plethysmography (PEA POD) as a bedside tool in the NICU; Second, to longitudinally measure preterm infant BC in hospital.</p> <p><strong>Methods</strong>: This was a longitudinal, observational study. Inclusion criteria: infants 24-37 weeks gestational age (GA); informed consent. Exclusion criteria: chromosomal/congenital abnormalities; hydrops fetalis. Preterm infant BC assessed by PEA POD; anthropometric measures were collected. Infants assessed from study inclusion to hospital discharge. For reference, 23 term infants were measured.</p> <p><strong>Results</strong>: PEA POD was a feasible bedside tool to measure preterm infant BC that was accepted by parents and free of adverse events. Longitudinal measures demonstrated preterm infants (n=65) gained fat mass (FM) and fat free mass (FFM) at differing rates, leading to an overall %FM increase in hospital. Our data suggests that, at term corrected age, preterm infants may achieve a BC similar to full term infants at birth.</p> <p><strong>Discussion</strong>: This study established PEA POD as a useful bedside clinical tool for preterm infants. Longitudinal BC changes in preterm infants using PEAPOD in hospital is described for the first time. Future application of PEA POD can expand longitudinal measures to create reference preterm infant BC data for evaluating quantity and quality of growth in relation to nutritional management.</p> / Master of Science in Medical Sciences (MSMS)

Contexte: L’hémorragie intraventriculaire néonatale est associée à des séquelles neuro-développementales, mais le risque à long terme d'autres issues est inconnu. L'association entre l'hémorragie intraventriculaire néonatale et le risque de morbidité durant l’enfance a été évaluée. Méthodes: Une cohorte longitudinale de 794,384 bébés nés entre 2006 et 2016 au Québec, Canada a été analysé. Les nouveau-nés ont été suivis jusqu'à une période de 12 ans après leur naissance, pour identifier les hospitalisations subséquentes. Dans les modèles de régression de Cox, ajustés pour les caractéristiques maternelles et néonatales, les « hazard ratios » et intervalles de confiance (IC) à 95% ont été estimés pour l'association entre l'hémorragie intraventriculaire avec l’hospitalisation ultérieure. Résultats: Au total, 1,322 nourrissons (0,2%) ont développé une hémorragie intraventriculaire de grade I à IV. L'incidence de l'hospitalisation était plus élevée chez les bébés présentant une hémorragie intraventriculaire que chez les bébés sans hémorragie (23,8 vs 5,7 par 100 personnes-années). Comparés aux bébés sans hémorragie, les bébés affectés avaient un risque d'hospitalisation 1,56 fois plus élevé (IC à 95% 1,43-1,70). Le risque était 2,81 fois plus élevé pour les grades III/IV (IC à 95% 2,23 à 3,53) comparés à ceux nés sans hémorragie. Les hémorragies intraventriculaires pré-terme était associée à 1,82 fois le risque (IC 95% 1,66-2,00) comparés aux bébés nés termes sans hémorragie. Les hémorragies intraventriculaires à terme étaient associées à 3,19 fois le risque d'hospitalisation (IC 95% 2,55-4,00), comparativement à ceux nés termes sans hémorragie. Les raisons principales des hospitalisations comprenaient les maladies du système nerveux central, ophtalmologiques, musculo-squelettiques et cardiovasculaires. Conclusion: L'hémorragie intraventriculaire, notamment de grades sévères et parmi les bébés à terme, est un déterminant important du futur risque d’hospitalisation durant l’enfance. / Background: Neonatal intraventricular hemorrhage is associated with neurodevelopmental sequelae, but the long-term risk of other outcomes is unknown. The association between neonatal intraventricular hemorrhage and the risk of childhood morbidity was assessed. Methods: A longitudinal cohort of 794,384 infants born between 2006 and 2016 in Quebec, Canada was analyzed. Infants were tracked over time to identify later hospitalizations with follow-up extending up to 12 years after birth. In Cox regression models adjusted for maternal and infant characteristics, the hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated for the association of intraventricular hemorrhage with future hospitalization. Results: A total of 1,322 (0.2%) infants developed grade I to IV intraventricular hemorrhage. The incidence of childhood hospitalization was higher in infants with intraventricular hemorrhage than in infants without hemorrhage (23.8 vs. 5.7 per 100 person-years). Compared with no hemorrhage, infants with intraventricular hemorrhage had 1.56 times the risk of hospitalization (95% CI 1.43-1.70). The risk was 2.81 times higher for grade III/IV hemorrhage (95% CI 2.23-3.53) compared to those born without hemorrhage. Preterm intraventricular hemorrhage was associated with 1.82 times the risk (95% CI 1.66-2.00) compared to term infants born without hemorrhage. Intraventricular hemorrhage at term was associated with 3.19 times the risk of hospitalization (95% CI 2.55-4.00) compared to those born term without hemorrhaging. Primary reasons for hospitalizations included central nervous system, ophthalmologic, musculoskeletal, and cardiovascular disorders. Conclusion: Intraventricular hemorrhage, especially of higher grades and in term neonates, is an important determinant of the future risk of child hospitalization.

Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is reportedly superior to mechanical ventilation in the neonatal population by reducing bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). The neonate is vulnerable to injury secondary to immature physiological systems and skin structures and the current CPAP devices place constant pressure on nares, nasal septum and forehead, increasing injury risk. Through the framework of comparative effectiveness research an examination of nasal interfaces currently used during neonatal CPAP was conducted in an effort to provide scientifically supported recommendations and improve clinical outcomes. The primary aim of this study was to determine differences in the frequency, severity and specific types of nasal injuries described when comparing different nasal CPAP interfaces (prongs/mask/rotation) used in the treatment of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). A secondary aim of the study was to identify risk factors that may be associated with skin breakdown during nasal CPAP administration. A three group prospective randomized experimental design was used to study78 neonates <1500 grams receiving nasal CPAP using the same delivery system. The subjects were randomized into three groups: 1) continuous nasal prong group, 2) continuous nasal mask group, or 3) alternating mask/prongs group. Serial data collection included: demographic, biophysical measures and the Neonatal Skin Condition Scale (NSCS). This study demonstrated a significant difference in the frequency and severity of skin injury when utilizing a method of rotating mask and prong nasal interfaces during neonatal CPAP therapy; a useful clinical recommendation. Specific nursing care implications related to study findings include; choosing a device for best fit for infant (face shape and infant size); positioning of the CPAP device; developmental position of the infant; and focused skin assessment with rapid intervention. Standardized care including skin barriers, clinical expertise of nursing and respiratory therapy, and skin care management are strategies that warrant additional research.

Problématique : Les prématurés évoluent dans l’unité néonatale qui présente une intensité lumineuse parfois forte et variable, ce qui a pour effet de provoquer une instabilité physiologique, ainsi qu’une augmentation du niveau d’activité motrice chez ces derniers. Par ailleurs, le contrôle de l’éclairage à l’unité néonatale favorise la stabilité physiologique et réduit le niveau d’activité motrice des prématurés. Deux méthodes de contrôle de l’éclairage ont été étudiées, soit l’éclairage tamisé constant et l’éclairage cyclique. Or, la méthode de contrôle de l’éclairage la plus appropriée au système nerveux immature des prématurés est inconnue et il y a ambivalence en ce qui concerne les résultats des études ayant évalué ces deux modes de contrôle de l’éclairage. But : Le but de cette étude était de mesurer les effets de l’éclairage cyclique versus l’éclairage tamisé constant sur la stabilité physiologique et le niveau d’activité motrice de prématurés nés entre 28 et 32 semaines d’âge gestationnel. Méthode : Un essai clinique randomisé a été réalisé. Les 38 prématurés recrutés dans une unité néonatale de niveaux II et III d’un hôpital universitaire, ont été randomisés dans l’un des deux groupes d’intervention, soit le groupe exposé à l’éclairage tamisé constant ou celui exposé à l’éclairage cyclique. Ces deux types d’éclairage ont été appliqués pendant 24 heures. La stabilité physiologique a été mesurée par le score Stability of the Cardio Respiratory System in Premature Infants (SCRIP) et le niveau d’activité motrice a été mesuré avec un accéléromètre (Actiwatch®). L’intensité lumineuse à laquelle les prématurés ont été exposés a été mesurée de façon continue à l’intérieur de l’incubateur à l’aide d’un photomètre. Résultats : L’analyse des données révèle qu’il n’y aucune différence significative entre les deux groupes d’intervention en ce qui a trait à la stabilité physiologique (valeur-p du score SCRIP de 0,54 à 0,96) et au niveau d’activité motrice (valeur-p de 0,09 à 0,88). Les participants des deux groupes ont manifesté une stabilité physiologique et un niveau d’activité motrice comparables. Conclusion : Des interventions de contrôle de l’éclairage doivent être adoptées à l’unité néonatale, que ce soit des interventions qui permettent la mise en œuvre de l’éclairage cyclique ou de l’éclairage tamisé constant, dans le but de favoriser l’adaptation du prématuré à l’environnement de l’unité néonatale. Des recherches additionnelles sont requises afin d’identifier la méthode de contrôle de l’éclairage (éclairage cyclique ou éclairage tamisé constant) qui doit être implantée à l’unité néonatale. / Problem statement: After birth, preterm infants evolve in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) characterized by a high and variable lighting which differs significantly from the dimmed intra-uterine environment. Exposure to high or variable NICU lighting can create physiological instability in preterm infants as well as increasing their motor activity level. An appropriate control of the NICU lighting can prevent the adverse effects of exposing infants to inadequate levels of lighting. To date, it appears that two methods of lighting control have been discussed and studied: near dark lighting and cycled lighting. At the same time, it is acknowledged that there is ambiguity about the results of studies which have evaluated these two NICU lighting methods. Therefore, the optimal NICU lighting remains unknown and further research is needed to identify the lighting mode witch promote preterm infant’s adaptation to the NICU environment. Purpose: The objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of cycled lighting versus near dark lighting on the physiological stability and motor activity level of preterm infants born between 28 and 32 weeks of gestation. Methods: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) allowed the assessment of preterm infants' physiological stability and motor activity level. 38 preterm infants born between 28 to 32 weeks of gestational age were recruited from a level II and III NICU university affiliated hospital. Each infant were randomly allocated to one of the following groups for 24 hours: cycled lighting or near dark lighting. Physiological stability was assessed by the SCRIP score, while the motor activity level was evaluated by an accelerometer (Actiwatch®). The light intensity level was continuously measured with a light meter to ensure that the lighting mode assigned was respected. Results: The analysis conducted indicates no significant difference between the two intervention groups in regard to physiological stability (score SCRIP = p-value 0.54 to 0.96) and the motor activity level (p- value 0.09 to 0.88). This lack of significant difference between the two groups indicates that the participants in the two groups demonstrated a comparable physiological stability state and a comparable level of motor activity when exposed to near dark lighting or cycled lighting. Conclusion: Guidelines to decrease bright light, either near dark or cycled light should be adopted in NICUs to control preterm infant’s’ exposure to light. Further research is required to identify the method of lighting control (cycled lighting or near dark lighting) which should be implanted in the neonatal unit.

Les populations neuronales ont la capacité de s’organiser en réseaux qui produisent spontanément différents patterns d’activité électrique coordonnée. Au travers de leur activité synchrone, les réseaux immatures combinent les informations génétiques et les influences environnementales et contrôlent plusieurs processus neuro-développementaux dont la plasticité synaptique. Pendant le développement prénatal et post-natal précoce, ces activités électriques synchrones peuvent être générées au sein des cortex sensoriels eux-mêmes, des structures sous-corticales ou être évoquées par l’activité des organes sensoriels, elle-même spontanée ou provoquée par les stimuli sensoriels. Dans des travaux antérieurs, nous avons montré qu’un pattern EEG typique du prématuré, le « Delta-brush » (DB), qui associe une onde lente et des oscillations rapides, pouvait être évoqué dans les cortex primaires sensori-moteur, visuel et auditif par les mouvements spontanés et par les stimuli sensoriels correspondants. L’objectif de la présente étude, dédiée aux réponses corticales aux stimuli auditifs (click), était de préciser les caractéristiques spatio-temporelles des DBs évoqués ainsi que leur rapport avec des potentiels évoqués auditifs corticaux. Pour cela, les enregistrements EEG ont été réalisés en haute résolution (32 électrodes) chez 30 nouveau-nés prématurés de 30 à 38 semaines d’âge gestationnel sans risque neurologique et la position des électrodes a été recalée sur des IRM 3D acquises chez d’autres prématurés représentatifs des âges étudiés. L’analyse de population a montré une augmentation significative de la puissance spectrale après le stimulus dans toutes les bandes de fréquence allant du delta à gamma et située au niveau de la partie moyenne et postérieure du lobe temporal. Ces réponses du cortex temporal avaient une prédominance droite, étaient plus amples dans le sommeil calme et diminuaient en puissance avec l’âge. Le moyennage des réponses EEG a révélé que la composante lente du DB était une onde lente négative de grande amplitude qui culminait dans les régions temporales moyenne et postérieure à environ 550 et 700 ms respectivement. L’analyse temps-fréquence a confirmé la présence d’oscillations rapides dont les oscillations gamma, à partir du pic de l’onde lente et cohabitant avec cette dernière durant environ 700 ms. Ces résultats suggèrent que le DB évoqué par les stimuli auditifs correspond en fait à la composante lente tardive du potentiel évoqué auditif cortical du prématuré et qu’il regroupe des oscillations dans toutes les bandes de fréquence, gamma y compris, fréquence identifiée ici pour la première fois en réponse à un stimulus sensoriel chez le prématuré humain. Nous avons obtenu des résultats préliminaires similaires aussi dans une autre modalité sensorielle ; l’activité oscillatoire du DB évoqué contribue donc probablement à la maturation des cartes corticales et représente un biomarqueur potentiel du fonctionnement normal des cortex sensoriels chez le prématuré. / At the early developmental stages, during the third trimester of gestation in humans and the first post-natal weeks in rodents, sensory neocortical areas reveal similar patterns of spontaneous correlated neuronal activity. In vitro and in vivo experiments indicate that these spontaneous activities are generated from neuronal networks in the cerebral cortex, in subcortical structures or in the sensory periphery (retina, limb jerks, whiskers). Spontaneous, periphery-driven and also sensory evoked activity is relayed to the developing cerebral cortex via the thalamus and the neocortical subplate, which amplifies the afferent sensory input. The patterns of sensory evoked activity were extensively studied in rodents, but in humans their spatiotemporal dynamics still remain elusive. In humans this developmental process happens during the second half of gestation: the major growing afferents from the thalamus spread within the transient subplate zone, relocate in the cortical plate, and form functional synapses with both transient and permanent neuronal populations. Characteristic immature activity patterns of “delta-brushes” (DBs) have been reported in the preterm temporal cortex following auditory stimuli. However, the spatiotemporal dynamics of these auditory-evoked DBs remain elusive. Here, we explored the electrophysiological responses evoked by click stimuli using 32-electrode EEG recordings in thirty premature infants from 30 to 38 postmenstrual weeks (PMW) of age. Electrodes position was digitalized and registered to 3D reconstructions of preterm heads and brains computed from MRI images of other age-matched groups. Population power spectrum analysis within the 2 seconds after stimulation revealed significant increase in all frequency bands from delta to gamma, located on the middle and posterior temporal regions with a right predominance and higher power increase in the quiet sleep. Time-frequency wavelet analysis also showed fast oscillations including gamma that begin at the peak of the delta waves and co-occur with it during a period of around 700 ms. Power of auditory evoked responses significantly decreased from 30 to 38 WPM in delta to alpha bands. These are the first report of gamma oscillations in preterm sensory evoked responses. Furthermore, average cortical auditory evoked potentials (CAEP) (processed with a mean reference and a 0.16 Hz high-pass filter) revealed high amplitude delta negative waves peaking successively from the middle to posterior temporal regions at around 550 and 700 ms. Altogether these results suggest that the auditory-evoked DBs in premature infants are a slow late component of the CAEP covering temporal regions and grouping fast oscillations notably gamma oscillations.