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Unlabelled: Lung ultrasound (LUS) scores may predict surfactant need early and the progression of the respiratory course in preterm infants. The objective of this study is to report the diagnostic value of LUS scores performed by operators of varying levels of experience to predict the need for surfactant in preterm infants. A prospective observational study was conducted across 3 UK-based neonatal intensive care units. Preterm infants ≤ 34 weeks on non-invasive respiratory support within 3 h of birth were included. Ten lung zones were scored serially, first within the first 3 h of life, then at 12-24-h intervals (a total of four scans). All scans were performed by the local team members with formal training on LUS and varying levels of expertise. All the LUS videos were scored by an expert investigator who was blinded to clinical details. Written retrospective parental consents were obtained. We recruited 83 preterm infants ≤ 34 weeks (May 2023 to June 2024). A total of 325 LUS scans were performed by 27 clinical staff. The median birth gestational age and birth weight were 31 weeks and 1515 g, respectively. Twenty-eight (34%) babies received surfactants. The first LUS using a 6-zone method within 3 h of life predicted surfactant need and bronchopulmonary dysplasia with an AUC of 0.80 for both outcomes, offering sensitivity (79% and 73%) and specificity (75% and 76%), respectively.
Conclusions: LUS performed by operators of varying levels of experience within the first 3 h of life is a reliable tool for predicting surfactant need in preterm infants ≤ 34 weeks.
Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/ ): NCT05782569.
What Is Known: • There are considerable variations in the selection criteria of preterm infants for surfactant administration. • Lung ultrasound score has been shown to predict the need for surfactant early and the progression of respiratory course in preterm infants.
What Is New: • LUS performed within 3 h of life by operators of varying levels of experience and interpreted by expert predicted the need for surfactant deficiency in preterm infants. • Our research with a structured training programme enabled novice operators to perform LUS and achieve reasonable competency.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00431-025-06185-7 | DOI Listing |
BMC Pediatr
September 2025
Department of Neonatology, Zhangzhou Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Zhangzhou, Fujian, China.
Background: Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is a common intervention for anemia in preterm infants; however, its association with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains debated. While biological mechanisms suggest potential harm, the clinical impact of transfusion frequency on BPD incidence and severity remains unclear.
Objective: To investigate whether RBC transfusion frequency is independently associated with the risk and severity of BPD in preterm infants born before 32 weeks of gestation.
Turk J Pediatr
September 2025
Department of Anesthesiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, India.
Background: Umbilical arterial catheterisation is a common intervention performed in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) especially in extremely preterm and extremely low birth weight neonates. Rarely catheter fracture or breakage can occur, leaving behind part of the catheter in the aorta. A handful of cases have been reported in the literature, with the majority being managed surgically.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Proteome Res
September 2025
Department of Pediatrics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Wielicka 265 Street, 30-663 Krakow, Poland.
Premature infants are at high risk for brain injuries such as intraventricular hemorrhage and periventricular white matter injury. This study applies omics technology to analyze urinary protein expression, aiming to clarify preterm brain injury mechanisms and identify therapeutic targets. Urine samples were collected from 29 very preterm infants (VPI) without brain injury and 11 with moderate/severe injury at eight time points: Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 28, and term-equivalent age (TEA).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJAMA Netw Open
September 2025
Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Importance: Exposure to inflammation from chorioamnionitis places the fetus at higher risk of premature birth and may increase the risk of neurodevelopmental impairments, though the evidence for the latter is mixed.
Objective: To evaluate whether moderate to severe histologic chorioamnionitis (HCA) is directly associated with adverse motor performance, independent of the indirect mediating effects of premature birth.
Design, Setting, And Participants: This prospective, population-based cohort study recruited participants between September 16, 2016, and November 19, 2019, from referral and nonreferral neonatal intensive care units of 5 southwestern Ohio hospitals.
Arch Gynecol Obstet
September 2025
The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No. 899 Pinghai Street, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
Objective: The study utilized non-invasive myocardial work indices to investigate myocardial injury in infants born to mothers with severe preeclampsia (SPE) and to explore the duration of this myocardial damage during the neonatal period.
Methods: This prospective study included 34 preterm infants born to mothers with SPE and 28 preterm infants born to mothers without severe pregnancy complications (termed "controls"). Echocardiography was performed in infants within 24 h of birth, then again at 48-72 h and 14-28 days, to obtain echocardiographic parameters.