• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.69-78
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• 2011

Purpose: The aim of this study was conducted to investigate the mean nRBC count in very low births weight infants (VLBWIs) and to determine the usefulness of the nRBC as an independent prognostic factors of perinatal complications in VLBWIs. Methods: This study was conducted on 112 VLBWIs who were hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the author's hospital within the period from March 2003 to and May 2008. Based on the infants' nucleated red blood cells (nRBC) counts at birth, on the third day after birth, on the seventh day after birth, in the second week after birth, and in the fourth week after birth in the medical records, the correlation between nRBC or absolute nRBC counts with birth weight, gestational age, and other perinatal outcomes were retrospectively investigated. Results: In VLBWIs, their mean nRBC and absolute nRBC counts were showing a gradual decrease after birth, and they were consisteantly kept at low values since one week after and inversely proportional to the birth weights. The mean nRBC counts based on the stage after birth showed a significant correlation with perinatal death, necrotizing enterocolitis, and severe intraventricular hemorrhage. Conclusion: The increase in the nRBC count showed a significant correlation with having a severe intraventricular hemorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis, and perinatal death in VLBWIs. If an increase or no decrease in the nRBC count after birth is observed, newborninfant care precautions should be required.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.63 no.2
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• pp.56-62
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• 2020

Background: Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion improves cardiorespiratory status of preterm infants by increasing circulating hemoglobin, improving tissue oxygenation, and reducing cardiac output. However, RBC transfusion itself has also been suggested to negatively affect short-term outcomes such as intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in premature infants. Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the relationship between RBC transfusion and short-term outcomes in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants (birth weight, <1,500 g). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of VLBW infants admitted to the Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital between October 2010 and December 2017. Infants who died during hospitalization were excluded. The infants were divided into 2 groups according to RBC transfusion status. We investigated the relationship between RBC transfusion and short-term outcomes including BPD, ROP, NEC, and IVH. Results: Of the 250 enrolled VLBW infants, 109 (43.6%) underwent transfusion. Univariate analysis revealed that all short-term outcomes except early-onset sepsis and patent ductus arteriosus were associated with RBC transfusion. In multivariate analysis adjusted for gestational age, birth weight and Apgar score at 1 minute, RBC transfusion was significantly correlated with BPD (odds ratio [OR], 5.42; P<0.001) and NEC (OR, 3.40; P= 0.009). Conclusion: RBC transfusion is significantly associated with adverse clinical outcomes such as NEC and BPD in VLBW infants. Careful consideration of the patient's clinical condition and appropriate guidelines is required before administration of RBC transfusions.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.144-152
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• 2008

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common gastrointestinal emergency in the neonatal population. The aim of this study is to evaluate surgical indication and prognostic factors of NEC. Clinical data of seventy patients, diagnosed as NEC between January 2000 & January 2007, were reviewed retrospectively. Fifty-seven patients had medical treatment and 7 of them died. Thirteen patients who presented with pneumoperitoneum on plain abdominal film or were refractory to medical treatment received surgical treatment, and 5 of them died. All the expired 12 patients weighed less than 2500 g. Twenty out of seventy patients showed thrombocytopenia, and 11 patients of them died. The finding of pneumoperitoneum and thrombocytopenia could be the most important surgical indication. Prematurity, low birth weight and thrombocytopenia were related to a bad prognosis. NEC patients who presents with these findings must be considered for close observation and intensive care.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2021

Purpose: Intussusception is the most common cause of bowel obstruction in children; however, it is rarely diagnosed in newborn infants. This study aimed to describe the clinical features of intussusception in newborn infants. Methods: Medical records of eight patients diagnosed with intussusception during the newborn period at Ulsan University Hospital between March 2007 and March 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Among the eight cases, two occurred in the intrauterine period and six occurred in the postnatal period. Intrauterine intussusception presented with symptoms of bowel obstruction within 1 to 2 days after birth, and ileal atresia was diagnosed simultaneously through exploratory laparotomy. All the postnatal patients were extremely low birth weight infants (median gestational age and birth weight: 25⁺⁶ weeks and 745 g, respectively). Four cases were diagnosed preoperatively using abdominal ultrasonography. One patient was diagnosed by exploratory laparotomy because the clinical symptoms were nonspecific and difficult to differentiate from those of necrotizing enterocolitis, a more prevalent complication in preterm infants. The site of intussusception in all six patients was the small bowel. Meckel's diverticulum (one case) and meconium obstruction (two cases) were found to be the lead point. Conclusion: Neonatal intussusception tends to show different clinical features according to its period of occurrence. Intussusception, especially in preterm infants, has nonspecific clinical features; therefore, clinicians should always be cautious of this disease for its early diagnosis.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.74-83
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• 2019

Purpose : The routine evaluation of gastric residuals (RGR) is considered standard care for premature infants. This study evaluated the usefulness of RGR in premature infants. Methods : The study retrospectively investigated 208 premature infants (gestational aged under 34 weeks) who underwent gavage feeding in a neonatal intensive care unit at a tertiary hospital. The patients were divided into two groups: RGR (n=104) and no-RGR (n=104). Those in the no-RGR group had their gastric residuals checked only if signs of feeding intolerance were present. Clinical outcomes, including the time to reach full enteral feeding (FEF) and the incidences of gastrointestinal disorders such as feeding intolerance (FI) and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), were compared. Data were analyzed with SPSS ver. 21, using a Mann-Whitney U test, chi-squared test, and Fisher's exact test. Results : There was no statistically significant difference for the time to FEF (z=-0.61, p=.541), incidence of FI ($X^2=0.38$, p=.540), and NEC ($X^2=1.42$, p=.234) between the two groups. Conclusion : No-RGR did not increase the risk for FI or NEC. These results suggest that RGR evaluation may not improve nutritional outcomes in premature infants. Recommendations for further research and practice guidelines will be provided.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.194-210
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• 2022

Human milk contains a number of nutritional and bioactive molecules including microorganisms that constitute the so-called "Human Milk Microbiota (HMM)". Recent studies have shown that not only bacterial but also viral, fungal, and archaeal components are present in the HMM. Previous research has established, a "core" microbiome, consisting of Firmicutes (i.e., Streptococcus, Staphylococcus), Proteobacteria (i.e., Serratia, Pseudomonas, Ralstonia, Sphingomonas, Bradyrhizobium), and Actinobacteria (i.e., Propionibacterium, Corynebacterium). This review aims to summarize the main characteristics of HMM and the role it plays in shaping a child's health. We reviewed the most recent literature on the topic (2019-2021), using the PubMed database. The main sources of HMM origin were identified as the retrograde flow and the entero-mammary pathway. Several factors can influence its composition, such as maternal body mass index and diet, use of antibiotics, time and type of delivery, and mode of breastfeeding. The COVID-19 pandemic, by altering the mother-infant dyad and modifying many of our previous habits, has emerged as a new risk factor for the modification of HMM. HMM is an important contributor to gastrointestinal colonization in children and therefore, it is fundamental to avoid any form of perturbation in the HMM that can alter the microbial equilibrium, especially in the first 100 days of life. Microbial dysbiosis can be a trigger point for the development of necrotizing enterocolitis, especially in preterm infants, and for onset of chronic diseases, such as asthma and obesity, later in life.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.186-189
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• 1995

Neonatal intestinal perforation is mainly caused by necrotizing enterocolitis, intestinal atresia, meconium ileus or unknown etiology. Occasionally, Hirschsprung's disease presents with neonatal intestinal perforation, of which, it is known that total colonic aganglionosis is common. Therefore, Hirschsprung's disease should be considered as a cause of neonatal intestinal perforation. The authors have experienced 3 cases of neonatal Hirschsprung's disease associated with colonic perforations. Cecal perforations were noted in 2 cases with aganglionosis from descending colon and sigmoid perforation in a case with aganglionosis in rectum. These cases will be discussed with literature review.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.168-171
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• 1997

Appendiceal perforation is uncommon in the neonate. Diess reported the first case in 1908. Approximately 111 additional cases have been reported since that time. However, with exclusion of neonatal appendicitis associated with inguinal or umbilical hernias, necrotizing enterocolitis, meconium plug, and Hirschsprung's disease, there are only 36 cases of primary neonatal appendicitis. We treated a 12 days old boy with perforation of the appendix. The infant was 3000 g at birth and had a normal spontaneous vaginal delivary at 35 weeks of gestation. The mother was 31-year-old and had premature rupture of membrane. After normal feeding for the first 5 days of life, the infant had emesis of undigested milk, decreased activity and jaundice. The baby was admitted to the Pediatrics. Progressive abdominal distension, fever, decreased activity, and vomitting developed over the next six days. Erect abdominal radiography showed pneumoperitoneum. At exploratory laparotomy, a $0.8{\times}0.6$ cm sized perforation was noted at antime-senteric border of midportion of the appendix. Trasmural inflammation and the presence of ganglion cells were noticed on histology.

• Journal of Korea Association of Health Promotion
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.21-25
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• 2003

Vomiting in pediatric patient is frequently encountered problem in emergency room or outpatient clinic. In differential diagnosis, age of the patient or accompanying symptoms should be considered in the differential diagnosis. Accurate diagnosis is very important because surgical treatment is necessary in some of the conditions. Imaging diagnosis of conservative modality such as upper gastrointestinal series or colon study is still important radiological examination in the initial differential diagnosis, but recently ultrasonography offers accurate diagnosis in many situations. The cause of vomiting in pediatric are diverse according to the age group :neonatal sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, or hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in neonates : gastroesophageal reflux, viral enteritis, or intussusception in infant: midgut volvulus, appendicitis, metabolic disorders, or increased intracranial pressure also an be the cause. knowledge of radiological findings of normal gastrointestinal tract is important to recognize abnormalities. A discussion of radiological findings in variable surgical conditions to present as vomiting in pediatric patients is offered.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.198-201
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• 2004

Rotavirus is a most common etiologic viral agent of pediatric gastroenteritis. Most newborns infected by rotavirus show no specific symptoms, yet, some of neonates can develop serious complications such as intestinal perforation, necrotizing enterocolitis or even death. And rotavirus infection may cause only neurologic manifestation such as seizure without gastrointestinal manifestations in some neonates. We experienced a case of neonatal rotavirus infection with benign convulsion without gastrointestinal manifestations, and report this case with literature review as followings.