PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R S Sauve

Publications and source records attributed to R S Sauve.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Scleral melanocytosis and oculodermal melanocytosis (nevus of Ota) in Chinese children.

Two thousand nine hundred fourteen Chinese children (1510 males and 1404 females) were examined for the presence of scleral melanocytosis (SM) and oculodermal melanocytosis in a cross-sectional prevalence survey. SM was found in 4.9% of boys and 4.1% of girls under the age of 1 year. The peak prevalence was at 6 years of age, when 44.6% of boys and 46.6% of girls were affected. At 18 years of age, only 11.1% of boys and 13.2% of girls had SM. The overall prevalence, regardless of age, was 27.6% in boys and 27. 1% in girls. The condition was bilateral in 78% of cases. The medial superior quadrant was the most frequently affected site, and the lateral inferior quadrant was the least frequently affected site. Oculodermal melanocytosis occurred only in one patient; the pigmentation affected the left side of the face and the ipsilateral sclera.

Adolescent↗

Parents' ratings of everyday cognitive abilities in very low birth weight children.

Parents' ratings of everyday cognitive functioning in very low birth weight (VLBW) children free of sensorineural impairments and normal birth weight (NBW) children were compared with the children's actual performance on psychometric measures of cognitive and motor skills. Subjects included 19 VLBW children identified at age 3 years as "suspect" for developmental problems, 19 VLBW children identified at age 3 years as "developing normally," and 30 NBW full-term peers. Results indicated that parents of the suspect VLBW group rated their children as having significant impairments in memory, language, cognitive, and motor skills, findings which were consistent with the results of concurrent psychometric assessments. When compared with psychometric test results, parents identified more children as displaying difficulties in memory, language, and cognitive skills, but fewer children with coordination difficulties. These findings suggest that the parents' ratings and the psychometric measures may be assessing somewhat different aspects of the children's functioning.

Adolescent↗

Long-term neuropsychological outcomes in very low birth weight children free of sensorineural impairments.

This study investigated the neuropsychological outcomes at school age of children with very low birth weight (VLBW) free of sensorineural impairments. Subjects included 19 children with VLBW identified at age 3 as 'suspect' for developmental problems, 19 children with VLBW identified at age 3 as developing normally, and 30 children of normal birth weight (NBW). Results indicated that children in the VLBW 'suspect' group performed significantly more poorly on all of the neuropsychological measures compared to children of NBW. These findings suggest that VLBW children identified as 'suspect' for developmental problems because of impairments in cognitive skills at age 3 continued to show deficits at school age on intellectual and neuropsychological measures.

Adolescent↗

Environmental tobacco smoke and middle ear disease in preschool-age children.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between environmental tobacco smoke and middle ear disease in pre-school age children. DESIGN: A population-based case-control study with verification of disease history and exposure reporting in a subsample. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Participants were identified through a population-base probability sample of 1320 first-grade students in 36 schools in Calgary, Alberta. The parents of 625 children meeting case (n = 227) or control (n = 398) definitions were interviewed by telephone for their children's exposure history. The adequacy of exposure and disease measures was assessed using hair continue measurements, home visits, and physician medical records for 92 children. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES AND RESULTS: A history of middle ear disease was found in 23.9% of the sample. Relationships were found between middle ear disease and 2 or more household smokers (crude odds ratio) [OR], 1.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-2.97), 10 or more cigarettes smoked by the mother per day (crude OR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.12-2.52), and 10 or more cigarettes smoked in total in the household per day (crude OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 0.98-2.00) during the first 3 years of life. In logistic regression modeling these effects persisted after adjusting for child care (type, age started, duration, and group size), infant feeding (type and duration), socioeconomic status, maternal education level, number of prenatal ultrasonographic examinations, and health services use. The mean current hair cotinine levels were higher for children living in homes with 1 or more smokers vs no smokers (0.51 vs 0.31 ng/mg, P = .01). There was fair agreement (75.3%) between physician medical records and parental report of disease history, but some misclassification bias toward the null hypothesis likely. CONCLUSION: Environmental tobacco smoke is an important risk factor for middle ear disease in urban preschool-age children, even in a relatively affluent population.

Case-Control Studies↗

Before viability: a geographically based outcome study of infants weighing 500 grams or less at birth.

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to determine the likelihood of long-term survival and avoidance of disabilities in a geographically based population of infants born at 20 weeks gestation or more and weighing 500 g or less at birth. STUDY DESIGN: This was a 12-year historical cohort follow-up study of all infants born in this gestational age and birth weight category in the Province of Alberta, Canada, between 1983 and 1994. Data were collected from certificates of live births or stillbirths, death certificates, hospital records, and longitudinal multidisciplinary follow-up examinations. RESULTS: One thousand one hundred ninety-three infants were of 20 weeks gestation or more, weighed 500 g or less, and were born between 1983 and 1994. Eight hundred eleven (68.0%) were stillborn and 382 (32.0%) were born alive. Among the latter, neonatal intensive care was provided in 113 (29.6%) and withheld in 269 (70.4%). The infants receiving intensive care were of heavier birth weight, later gestational age, higher antenatal risk scores, were more likely to be born in a level III center, to have received antenatal steroids, and to have been delivered by cesarean section. Of the infants receiving intensive care, 95 (84. 1%) died and 18 (15.9%) were discharged alive, but 5 of these died after discharge because of respiratory complications. The infants discharged alive had later gestational age, were more likely to be small for gestational age, singletons, treated with antenatal steroids, and to have been delivered by cesarean section. Maternal indications were described in the majority of cesarean sections done for live-born infants. The 13 infants who were long-term survivors were followed at ages 12 and 36 months adjusted age. Four had no serious disabilities, 4 had one disability (cerebral palsy or mental retardation), and 5 had multiple disabilities (cerebral palsy plus mental retardation with blindness in 2 cases and deafness in 1 case). CONCLUSION: The majority of infants born at gestational age 20 weeks or more weighing <500 g were stillborn. Among live births, neonatal intensive care was withheld in 70% and initiated in 30%. Of the latter, 11% survived to 36 months of age, and of these, 4 infants (31%), most of whom are small for gestational age, female infants, avoided major disabilities but 9 (69%) had one or more major disabilities. Survivors are prone to rehospitalizations early in life, slow growth, feeding problems, and minor visual difficulties; rates of learning-related and behavioral problems at school age are not yet known. Implications. Parents and caregivers faced with the impending delivery of an infant in this gestational age/birth weight category should understand that survival without multiple major disabilities is possible but rare. They should be made aware of local population-based results and not just isolated reports.

Cerebral Palsy↗

Impact of intrauterine growth restriction on neurodevelopmental and growth outcomes in very low birthweight infants.

The impact of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) in very low birthweight preterm infants weighing < or = 1250 g was determined by comparing longitudinal growth and neurodevelopmental outcome to an adjusted age of 36 months in 52 intrauterine growth restricted children, with 55 birthweight-matched and 56 gestational age-matched children. None of these children had chromosomal anomalies, congenital infections, or major congenital malformations. Gestational ages of intrauterine growth restricted, birthweight- and gestational age-matched infants were 30 (+/-3), 26 (+/-2), 29 (+/-2) weeks: birthweights were 842 (+/-232), 872 (+/-201) and 1094 (+/-142) g, respectively. Intrauterine growth restricted children had fewer complications during initial hospitalization (p < 0.05), and had lower weights and head circumferences at follow-up (p < 0.05). No significant differences were present in major neurodevelopmental disabilities between the intrauterine growth restricted and two comparison groups. Persistence of microcephaly was associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcome.

Anthropometry↗

Neurodevelopmental outcome after neonatal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the neurodevelopmental outcome of neonates who underwent extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO group) and similarly critically ill newborns with a lower Oxygenation Index who underwent conventional treatment (comparison group), and to determine whether factors such as the underlying diagnosis and the distance transported from outlying areas affect outcome. DESIGN: Multicentre prospective longitudinal comparative outcome study. SETTING: An ECMO centre providing services to all of western Canada and four tertiary care neonatal follow-up clinics. SUBJECTS: All neonates who received treatment between February 1989 and January 1992 at the Western Canadian Regional ECMO Center and who were alive at 2 years of age; 38 (95%) of the 40 surviving ECMO-treated subjects and 26 (87%) of the 30 surviving comparison subjects were available for follow-up. INTERVENTIONS: ECMO or conventional therapy for respiratory failure. OUTCOME MEASURES: Neurodevelopmental disability (one or more of cerebral palsy, visual or hearing loss, seizures, severe cognitive disability), and mental and performance developmental indexes of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development. RESULTS: Six (16%) of the ECMO-treated children had neurodevelopmental disabilities at 2 years of age, as compared with 1 (4%) of the comparison subjects; the difference was not statistically significant. The mean mental developmental index (91.8 [standard deviation (SD) 19.5] v. 100.5 [SD 25.4]) and the mean performance developmental index (87.2 [SD 20.0] v. 96.4 [SD 20.9]) did not differ significantly between the ECMO group and the comparison group respectively. Among the ECMO-treated subjects those whose underlying diagnosis was sepsis had the lowest Bayley indexes, significantly lower than those whose underlying diagnosis was meconium aspiration syndrome. The distance transported did not affect outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Neurodevelopmental disability and delay occurred in both groups. The underlying diagnosis appears to affect outcome, whereas distance transported does not. These findings support early transfer for ECMO of critically ill neonates with respiratory failure who do not respond to conventional treatment. Larger multicentre studies involving long-term follow-up are needed to confirm these findings.

Developmental Disabilities↗

Province-based study of neurologic disability of children weighing 500 through 1249 grams at birth in relation to neonatal cerebral ultrasound findings.

BACKGROUND: Adverse neurodevelopmental outcome in premature infants is more common in the presence of certain ultrasonographically detectable intracranial lesions. Present nomenclature and classifications of parenchymal changes in preterm infants of varying gestations have led to some confusion. Descriptive definitions may be clinically useful. Regionalized perinatal and neonatal care enables population-based studies of these lesions and subsequent outcomes. METHODS: Two- to 3-year outcomes of neonates weighing 500 through 1249 g born in Alberta to Alberta residents during 1987 through 1990 were reviewed in relation to neonatal cerebral ultrasound lesions. Odds ratios and confidence limits for disability were calculated. RESULTS: Of 960 live births in this weight group, 669 (70%) survived to 1 year adjusted age; 646 (96.6%) were assessed at follow-up, and 80 (12.4%) of these were disabled: cerebral palsy, 8.7%; vision loss, 2.9%; hearing loss, 1.3%; epilepsy, 0.6%; mental retardation, 4.8%; more than one disability per child, 3.6%; and projected dependent disability, 1.4%. Lesions considered to be predictive of disability on ultrasound (excluding germinal layer hemorrhage) were found in 79 (11.8%), parenchymal lesions in 63 (9.4%) of 1-year survivors: intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) (n = 59), persistent or transient cerebral ventriculomegaly (n = 50), persistent or transient intraparenchymal periventricular echodensity (n = 29), and cystic periventricular leukomalacia (n = 7). All lesions except isolated IVH were associated with adverse outcome; 37% of disabled children, 61% of multiply disabled children, and all children projected to become dependently disabled had parenchymal lesions with or without IVH. Triple lesions of IVH, cerebral ventriculomegaly, and intraparenchymal periventricular echodensity gave an odds ratio for disability of 50. Transient lesions had significant risk. CONCLUSIONS: This province-based study provides a descriptive scheme of serial neonatal cerebral ultrasound lesions and outcome considered useful for clinicians caring for newborns of lowest gestational ages. The overall incidence of parenchymal lesions was lower than frequently reported. Combinations of lesions were linked to increased incidence, complexity, and severity of childhood disability.

Brain Diseases↗

Evaluation of a caregiver education program: home oxygen therapy for infants.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a structured education program for increasing caregiver knowledge of infants discharged on home oxygen therapy. DESIGN: The study used a one-group pretest-posttest design with recruitment of subjects between May 1988 and May 1989. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: All subjects were primary caregivers of infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia who were discharged from a tertiary-care center. Eighteen caregivers of 10 infants entered and completed the study. INTERVENTIONS: The education program included a booklet, videotape, and practical session. A pretest was administered immediately before the caregiver entered the program, and a posttest was administered immediately after caregiver completion of the program. A delayed posttest was administered 6 weeks after the infant's discharge from the hospital. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The difference between the mean scores on the pretest and posttest. RESULTS: Posttest scores were significantly higher than pretest scores (t = 4.22; p < .01). CONCLUSION: The significant difference between the pretest and posttest scores was due to the education program. The effects of history and maturation on posttest scores were minimal.

Adult↗

Province-based study of neurologic disability among survivors weighing 500 through 1249 grams at birth.

BACKGROUND: As the mortality of children weighing 500 through 1249 g at birth decreases, the published rates of neurologic disability among survivors have caused concern. Outcome information from a province-based study in which perinatal/neonatal regional care is well developed and includes high-risk identification, early referral, organized transport, and outreach education, provides data from a Canadian source for comparison with epidemiologic reports. METHODS: Neurologic disability rates among 2- to 3-year-old survivors weighing 500 through 1249 g at birth is provided based on all live births/neonatal survivors/1-year survivors born in Alberta, Canada to Alberta residents in 1990. RESULTS: Corrected survival to 1-year was 163 of 229 or 71% of live births of the total group weighing 500 through 1249 g. Of 168 live births, 143 or 85% weighing 750 through 1249 g, free from lethal anomalies, survived. Based on 1-year survival, disability rates were: cerebral palsy, 67/1000; vision loss (acuity in the best seeing eye after correction, < 20/60), 12/1000; neurosensory hearing loss (loss of > or = 30 dB binaurally), 12/1000; and trainable/profound mental retardation, 18/1000. No survivor had a convulsive disorder. No vision loss or mental retardation as defined by this study occurred in survivors of > or = 750 g. All children with cerebral palsy were or were projected to become ambulatory. CONCLUSIONS: Neurologic disability among small preterm surviving infants can occur less frequently than suggested by published reports. We believe this provincial study supports the value of well developed regional perinatal programs.

Alberta↗

Early indicators of learning problems in high-risk children.

The study examined the association between transient neurologic abnormalities and later learning problems in children who experienced perinatal difficulties. Follow-up assessments at school age were made of children from a Perinatal Follow-up Program who had birth weights less than 1500 g, or required assisted ventilation, or experienced seizures in the neonatal period. Eighteen children who had shown abnormalities on Amiel-Tison Neurologic Exam between 4 and 18 months of age, but assessed as developing normally on neuromotor and cognitive assessments by 24-48 months, were identified as cases. These cases were compared with 29 controls who had been assessed as normally developing throughout. No significant group differences were found on school-age cognitive, language, visual-motor, school performance, or behavior measures. Significant correlations between perinatal and demographic variables and school-age measures were found. A sizable number of these high-risk children were shown to have signs of school-related problems.

Child↗

Nutrition and growth analysis of very low birth weight infants.

The growth and nutrition of 220 very low birth weight infants were reviewed after comprehensive data on all infants in the hospital were entered into the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Audit Data Base for 2 years prospectively. Fluid and energy (parenteral and oral) intakes were compared in four birth weight categories (1, less than or equal to 750 g; 2, 751 to 1000 g; 3, 1001 to 1250 g; 4, 1251 to 1500 g). Parenteral nutrition was the major source of first nutrition for the small infants, but seldom did it alone provide adequate nutrition for very low birth weight infants. The age of the first nutrition (parenteral and/or oral nutrition other than dextrose) decreased with increasing birth weight. The age of the first oral feedings was later for the infants of the lower birth weights but enteral feeding became the major nutrition for all weight categories by the second week of life. During the first 50 days the infants accumulated a deficit of 3780 to 5460 kJ relative to their estimated need of 504 kJ/kg per day, with the smaller infants accumulating a significantly larger deficit. The growth of infants appropriate for gestational age and of infants small for gestational age differed from each other and from the commonly used graph of Dancis et al (J Pediatr. 1948;33:570-572).

Alberta↗

Home oxygen therapy. Outcome of infants discharged from NICU on continuous treatment.

Forty-four oxygen-dependent infants were discharged home in oxygen from an NICU during an 8-year period. Survivors were followed for 3 years. The infants' discharge diagnoses were bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) (39), sleep apnea (2), and congenital cardiac defects (3). The five infants who had diagnoses other than BPD all died, but 34 of 39 infants with BPD survived. Supplemental oxygen was discontinued at a mean age of 13.4 months. The infants with BPD experienced health, growth, nutritional, neurodevelopmental and sensory problems that necessitated frequent rehospitalizations and utilization of a variety of medical and support services.

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia↗

Breastfeeding and breast milk jaundice.

Two Types of jaundice associated with breast-feeding are recognized. The first type is early onset breastfeeding jaundice which may result from caloric deprivation and/or insufficient frequency of feeding. This type of jaundice can be prevented or treated by encouraging mothers to nurse as frequently as possible, particularly if the bilirubin level is rising. The second type is later onset, prolonged jaundice, known as the breast milk jaundice syndrome which is associated with one or more abnormalities in the maternal milk itself. Breast milk jaundice syndrome generally needs no therapy if serum bilirubin concentrations remain below 270 mumol/l in healthy full-term infants. When the serum bilirubin concentration is above 270 mumol/l and rising, temporary interruption of breastfeeding may be indicated.

Bilirubin↗

The role of the dietician in the follow-up of high risk infants.

Infants who are seen in follow-up programs for high-risk neonates are at risk for growth disturbances and feeding difficulties. Since dietitians often are not included on follow-up teams, the role of a dietitian on a multi-disciplinary team at the Alberta Children's Hospital Perinatal Follow-Up Program is described. The dietitian contributes through clinical, teaching, and research activities. During 1986, the dietitian evaluated 298 infants; of these 14.5% required intensive dietary intervention while 28.9% received informal advice or written materials. Growth problems were most frequent in infants in the lowest birth-weight category (500-1000 g). Infants 8-12 months old experienced most feeding difficulties. The overall outcomes of the infants assessed by the multidisciplinary team are presented. The dietitian can make important contributions in all areas of follow-up team function.

Alberta↗