• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.176-185
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• 2002

Knowing the accurate GA is critical in nursing care of high-risk newborns. A descriptive study was performed to examine the reliability and clinical applicability of the new Ballard examination (NBE) in high-risk infants. Method: A NBE was performed to measure GA by assessing the neuromuscular and physical maturity in the course of physical examination of a convenient sample of 50 high-risk infants. Results: 1) There was a highly correlation between both the GA by LMP (GA-LMP) and GA by NBE (GA-NBE) (r = .894, p = .000) 2) There was a greater positive relationship in neuromuscular maturity than physical maturity in the GA-NBE of the high-risk newborn (r = .657 versus r = .915, p <. 05). 3) The high-risk infants were thoes with congenital anomalies, prematurity, and RDS(Respiratory Distress Syndrome). Male infants showed a higher neuromuscular maturity, compared to female infants. 4) There was a positive correlation between neuromuscular, physical, total maturity, GA-LMP and GA-NBE in the birth weight, 1 minute Apgar score. Conclusion: The study supports the reliability an clinical relevance of NBE in assessment of the accurate GA in high-risk infants.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.58 no.6
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• pp.224-229
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• 2015

Purpose: Thyroid dysfunction is common in preterm infants. Congenital hypothyroidism causes neurodevelopmental impairment, which is preventable if properly treated. This study was conducted to describe the characteristics of thyroid dysfunction in very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs), evaluate risk factors of hypothyroidism, and suggest the reassessment of thyroid function with an initially normal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) as part of a newborn screening test. Methods: VLBWIs (January 2010 to December 2012) were divided into two groups according to dysfunction-specific thyroid hormone replacement therapy, and associated factors were evaluated. Results: Of VLBWIs, 246 survivors were enrolled. Only 12.2% (30/246) of enrolled subjects exhibited thyroid dysfunction requiring thyroid hormone replacement. Moreover, only one out of 30 subjects who required thyroid hormone treatment had abnormal thyroid function in the newborn screening test with measured TSH. Most of the subjects in the treatment group (22/30) exhibited delayed TSH elevation. Gestational age, Apgar score, antenatal steroids therapy, respiratory distress syndrome, patent ductus arteriosus, sepsis, intraventricular hemorrhage, postnatal steroids therapy, and duration of mechanical ventilation did not differ between the two groups. Birth weight was smaller and infants with small for gestational age were more frequent in the treatment group. Conclusion: Physicians should not rule out suggested hypothyroidism, even when thyroid function of a newborn screening test is normal. We suggest retesting TSH and free thyroxine in high risk preterm infants with an initially normal TSH level using a newborn screening test.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.44-49
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• 2009

Purpose : Early surfactant treatment and minimal ventilation, bronchopulmonary dysplasia needed prolonged oxygen supplement is a problem. This study aimed to report the effects of early surfactant treatment and minimal ventilation on the prevention of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in respiratory distress syndrome. Methods : We retrospectively studied 139 premature newborn infants (gestational age, 36 weeks; birth weight, 1,500 gm) admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Daegu Fatima Hospital between January 2001 and December 2006. We analyzed the occurrence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia with respect to ventilator care and surfactant treatment. Results : The incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia was significantly higher with prolonged ventilator care, moderate to severe respiratory distress syndrome, and low Apgar score (P<0.001). Despite early surfactant treatment and minimal ventilation, mild bronchopulmonary dysplasia occurs in a considerable number of patients with mild respiratory distress syndrome. The patient group with low Apgar scores required ventilator care for a prolonged period (P=0.020). Conclusion : Early surfactant treatment and minimal ventilation shortens the duration of ventilator care; however, the preventive effects on bronchopulmonary dysplasia are limited. Therefore, not only early surfactant treatment and minimal ventilation but also appropriate management in the delivery room is essential.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.10
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• pp.1096-1101
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• 2005

Purpose : Recently, early surfactant replacement and tidal volume based gentle ventilation has been a fundamental treatment of respiratory distress syndrome(RDS). The aims of this study were to survey the changes in ventilator care duration and rate of complication in RDS groups. Methods : We performed a retrospective study of 255 newborn infants less than 1,500 g admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit(NICU) and discharged from January 1999 to December 2003. 141 of 255 newborn infants were RDS groups that required invasive management, such as endotracheal intubation, surfactant replacement and assisted ventilation. We analyzed epidemiologic data to study the changes in ventilator care duration and outcome of RDS groups. Results : Of 141 RDS groups, 135 were mild to moderate RDS groups and only 6 were severe RDS groups. 24(17.8%) of 135 mild to moderate RDS groups and 3(50%) of 6 severe RDS groups were antenatal no use of maternal dexamethasone. 127(90.1%) of 141 RDS groups underwent replacement of surfactant during 3 hours after birth. 121(85.9%) weaned within 48 hours. Conclusion : Our study shows a decreased frequency of severe RDS by a antenatal use of maternal dexamethasone and decreased duration of ventilator care by early surfactant replacement and gentle ventilation.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.77-84
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• 1997

We measured the blood flow velocity of the anterior cerebral artery via anterior fontanelle approach of fifty five preterm neonates with duplex Doppler sonography and analyzed the waveform and calculated pulsatility index, resistive index. Intracranial velocities and pulsatility indexes were increased with increasing gestational age, birth weight, and age of the neonate, but resistive indices decreased. In sick babies, characteristic resistive index increment were seen in patients with intraventricular hemorrhage, but no statistical difference was seen in patients with respiratory distress syndrome. Our results suggest that duplex Doppler sonography is a useful noninvasive means of monitoring cerebrohemodynamics in normal preterm neonates and flow change of sick babies.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.124-129
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• 2011

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of oral sildenafil therapy in neonates with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 32 neonates ${\geq}$35 weeks' gestation and fraction of inspired oxygen ($FiO_2$) 1.0 with PPHN. The first dose (0.5 mg/kg) of oral sildenafil was started and 1 mg/kg was given every 6 hour thereafter. Mean airway pressure (MAP), $FiO_2$, oxygenation index (OI), mean arterial blood pressure (MBP) were documented before and 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours after sildenafil. For adverse effects, gastrointestinal symptoms, brain ultrasound, funduscopy and auditory brainstem response results were evaluated. Results: The underlying diseases of PPHN (n=32) were meconium aspiration syndrome (n=9), respiratory distress syndrome (n=8), pneumonia (n=3), and idiopathic (n=12). Thirty-one neonates survived; 3 neonates were transferred for inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) and all of them survived. In 28 infants, $FiO_2$ and OI improved significantly by 6 hours and MAP improved significantly by 48 hours after initiation of sildenafil. There were no clinically significant adverse effects of sildenafil. Conclusion: Sildenafil may be an effective and safe agent for near-term and term neonates with PPHN, providing significant improvement in oxygenation, and thus may be especially useful in the treatment of PPHN in hospitals without iNO.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.257-264
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• 2011

Purpose: The development of postnatal pneumothorax and its common causes and clinical aspects were studied to promote early diagnosis and proper management. Methods: A retrospective study of neonates who were hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit at Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital from 2001 to 2010 was performed. Term neonates were divided into a spontaneous pneumothorax group and a secondary pneumothorax group. The secondary group was divided into term and preterm groups. Results: Of 4,414 inpatients, 57 (1.3%) were diagnosed with pneumothorax. Of term newborn patients, 28 (80%) had a secondary pneumothorax, and seven (20%) had a spontaneous pneumothorax. No differences were observed for gender, birth weight, resuscitation, or duration of admission between the spontaneous and control groups. The duration of treatment with a thoracostomy (20 patients, 57%) was longer in the spontaneous group (5.4${\pm}$2.9 days vs. 2.7${\pm}$2.0 days) than that in the control group. Patients with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) developed a pneumothorax 22.8 hours after surfactant treatment, whereas patients with transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN), pneumonia, and meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) developed pneumothorax after 16.6 hours. Of 50 patients with a secondary pneumothorax, 19 (38%) had RDS, 11 (22%) had MAS, 7 (14%) had TTN, and six (12%) had pneumonia. Among term newborns, 42.9% were treated only with 100% oxygen. Among preterm newborns, 72.6% and 27.3% needed a thoracostomy or ventilator care, respectively. Conclusion: A pneumothorax is likely to develop when pulmonary disease occurs in neonates. Therefore, it is important to carefully identify pneumothorax and provide appropriate treatment.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.7
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• pp.855-861
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• 2002

Purpose : Thymus size can be affected by several factors and perinatal diseases can be estimated by its size. The purpose of this study was to search for a relationship between cardiothymic/thoracic(CT/T) ratio and perinatal diseases such as neonatal respiratory distress syndrome(RDS) and intrauterine growth retardation(IUGR) by measuring the width of the cardiothymic shadow at the level of the carina and dividing it by the width of the thorax at the costophrenic angles. Methods : A clinical study was conducted on newborn infants with RDS(n=51), IUGR(n=27), and premature rupture of membranes(PROM, n=48), who were admitted at NICU of Catholic University of Daegu from June 2000 to Oct. 2001. CT/T ratio was measured within six hrs of age, at 2-3 days of age, and at 5-7 days of age. Results : CT/T ratios of RDS group, IUGR group, and PROM group were $0.46{\pm}0.07$, $0.32{\pm}0.04$. $0.36{\pm}0.06$, respectively. CT/T ratios of RDS group within 6hrs of age, at 2-3 days of age, and at 5-7 days of age were $0.43{\pm}0.07$, $0.34{\pm}0.06$, $0.25{\pm}0.04$, respectively. There were statistically significances among the RDS group, the IUGR group, and the PROM group and in the RDS group at different times. Regression for gestational age among three groups was not statistically significant but correlation for gestational age in the entire groups was statistically significant. CT/T ratio between normal spontaneous vaginal delivery and c-section among three groups was not statistically significant. CT/T ratios with dexamethasone-treated group and untreated group was not statistically significant. Conclusion : We concluded that thymus size differed significantly in the perinatal diseases such as RDS and IUGR, and so can be used as an early diagnostic tool for perinatal diseases.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.310-314
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• 2009

Purpose : Pneumothorax is an important factor responsible for increased mortality and morbidity in neonates. Here, we compared the clinical findings and prognosis for neonatal pneumothorax induced by respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and pneumonia. Methods : Between January 2001 and December 2005, 80 patients with neonatal pneumothorax induced by RDS and pneumonia and admitted to the NICU of Dongsan Medical Center, Keimyung University, were enrolled. They were assigned to the RDS group (30 cases) or the pneumonia group (50 cases). Admission records for gestational age, onset day of life, rate of ventilatory care and thoracostomy, and prognosis were retrospectively reviewed and statistically analyzed for both groups. Results : The mean gestation age was significantly shorter in the RDS group (32.3 weeks) than in the pneumonia group (38.1 weeks) (P<0.001), and the mean onset day of life were later in the RDS group (4.6 days) than in the pneumonia group (1.8 days) (P<0.05). Rates of ventilatory care and thoracostomy were higher for the RDS group than for the pneumonia group (100% vs. 44%, and 66.7% vs. 48%, respectively). Total mortality rates and pneumothorax specific mortality rates were higher for the RDS group than for the pneumonia group (46.7% vs. 18%, P<0.01 and 33.3% vs. 16%, P<0.05, respectively). After logistic regression analysis, preterm significantly increased the mortality rate (OR 7.44, 95% CI: 1.99-27.86, P<0.005), but bilateral involvement (OR 1.17, 95% CI: 0.82-1.67, P>0.5) and the RDS group itself (OR 1.70, 95% CI: 0.52-5.54, P>0.3) did not increase mortality rates significantly. Conclusion : Our study suggests that neonatal pneumothorax in the RDS group tends to have a later onset, higher mortality rate, and needs a higher rate of thoracostomy than the pneumonia group. However, after logistic analysis, only preterm significantly and independently increased the mortality rate.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.7
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• pp.713-721
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• 2008

Purpose : This study aims to describe the clinical characteristics of severe meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) which required mechanical ventilation over 48 h and to delineate the progress of respiratory failure and radiographic findings in severe MAS. Methods : Twelve infants admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital diagnosed with severe MAS from January 2004 to July 2007 were analyzed retrospectively. Results : The presence of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is the only independently significant risk factor for a longer hospital stay and longer duration of mechanical ventilation. Surfactant replacement therapy (SRT) was not randomized but only performed in infants with radiographic findings for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). In the presence of radiographic findings for RDS, the duration of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation was significantly longer. PPHN developed in 8 infants (75%). The PPHN group had a significantly longer duration of mechanical ventilation. All infants who received SRT showed radiographic improvement within 12 h, but there was no significant change in the severity score during the same period. Infants without the PPHN complications showed significant decrease in the severity score within 12 h after SRT, whereas infants with PPHN complications did not. Conclusion : The clinical course of severe MAS differed significantly depending on the development of PPHN. SRT conferred radiographic improvement in infants who showed radiographic findings for RDS, but did not influence the clinical course of MAS significantly.