Donor Milk, Formula Go Head-to-Head for Extreme Preemies in the NICU
Whether extremely preterm neonates got nutrient fortified, pasteurized donor milk or preterm formula in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) made little difference in neurodevelopmental outcomes, a randomized clinical trial found. Among newborns fed minimal maternal milk, the adjusted mean Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (BSID) cognitive score at 22 to 26 months […]
Probiotics for Preterm Infants Could Pose Serious Danger, FDA Warns
The FDA warned the public Thursday that certain probiotic products given to preterm infants in hospital settings are potentially dangerous. The agency also sent warning letters to Abbott Nutrition and Infinant Health, two makers of probiotic products that the FDA said violate federal laws. “Preterm infants who are administered a probiotic product are at risk […]
Preterm babies given certain fatty acids have better vision
Preterm babies given a supplement with a combination of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids have better visual function by the age of two and a half. This has been shown by a study at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. The study, published in The Lancet Regional Health Europe, covers 178 extremely preterm babies at the […]
No Negative Neurodevelopmental Issues With Late Exposure to Antenatal Steroids
SAN FRANCISCO – Giving late preterm antenatal corticosteroids did not impact childhood neurodevelopmental outcomes, a researcher reported. In a follow-up to the ALPS study, there were no statistically significant differences in the scores of children exposed to corticosteroids or to placebo in the third trimester based on cognitive testing, according to Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, MD, of […]
Not So Fast for NSAID Closure of Heart Defect in Preterm Newborns
Early ibuprofen administration did not help babies born preterm with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), as waiting for the heart defect to close on its own was associated with non-inferior, perhaps even better clinical outcomes, in a randomized trial. For infants born with moderate or larger PDAs, expectant management worked at least as well as early […]
Prenatal Steroids May Improve Outcomes in Extremely Preterm Infants
A complete course of antenatal steroids was associated with higher survival in extremely preterm infants, a cohort study showed. Among infants born at 22 weeks to less than 24 weeks, 53.9% who had full exposure to antenatal steroids at gestational age 21 to 22 weeks survived to discharge, compared with 37.5% who had partial steroid […]
Active Treatment for Extremely Preterm Babies on the Rise
Babies born extremely preterm were more likely to receive active treatment in recent years, but there were gaps in treatment among different racial and ethnic groups, according to a cross-sectional study. From 2014 to 2020, the proportion of extremely preterm infants who received active treatment rose nearly 4% each year (45.7% to 58.8%), increasing in […]
Less Invasive Surfactant Delivery Works for Tiniest Newborns
For extremely preterm infants with potential respiratory distress syndrome, less invasive surfactant administration (LISA) was associated with a significant decrease in the risk of adverse outcomes, a cohort study found. There was a drop in requirement for invasive mechanical ventilation between those infants receiving LISA within the first 72 hours of life and those who […]
Maternal milk tied to better school-age outcomes for children born preterm
Children who were born preterm are at heightened risk of lower academic achievement in math, reading and other skills and are also at greater risk for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). But a new study suggests that an intervention in the first weeks and months of a preterm infant’s life may lead to better neurodevelopmental outcomes in […]