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Biomedical subjects

S R Daga

Publications and source records attributed to S R Daga.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Adequacy of solar energy to keep babies warm.

OBJECTIVE: Solar energy could be used as an alternate energy source for keeping neonates warm especially in tropical countries. The present study investigated the efficacy of solar powered room heating system. SETTING: Referral center for neonatal care. INTERVENTION: A fluid system heated by solar panels and circulated into a room was used to maintain room temperature. A servocontrolled heating device was used to regulate and maintain desired room temperature. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Neonatal rectal temperature and room temperature. RESULT: Infants between 1750-2250 g were observed to require a mean room temperature of 32.5 degrees C to maintain normothermia. In 85 infants less than 1500 g, of the 5050 infant temperature records, only 3% showed a record less than 36 degrees C. CONCLUSIONS: Solar powered room heating is effective in maintaining infant temperature and is cost-effective as compared to the existing warming devices.

Humans

Algorithm for managing a baby with dusky soles.

We have been using dusky colour of the sole in newborns as proxy to cyanosis. An algorithm for management of dusky soles was developed presupposing that a baby can have dusky soles due commonly to hypothermia, hypoxaemia, or hypotension in isolation or in combination. Fifty-one consecutive babies were managed according to a predetermined algorithm based largely on clinical signs. Forty babies were covered by these three broad groups and 37 of them could be managed successfully. Of the remaining babies two were found to have congenital malformations on autopsy and one died of hyperthermia. Algorithmic approach has simplified the management with low failure rate and can be useful when hi-tech neonatal care is unaffordable.

Algorithms

The value of neonatal autopsies.

Autopsy was performed on 221 of the 223 neonatal deaths that occurred over a period of 3 years (1989-1991). Clinically active problems at the time of death were identified in a combined clinicopathological approach. Prematurity associated conditions accounted for 51 per cent of deaths. Autopsy alone gave the diagnosis in 22 per cent of cases, confirmed the clinically suspected diagnosis in 68 per cent of cases and in 9 per cent of cases it was non-contributory; 69 per cent of deaths were considered non-preventable in our centre.

Autopsy

Tracheal suction in meconium stained infants: a randomized controlled study.

We performed a randomized controlled study of the mortality and morbidity of 49 babies born with thick meconium staining of amniotic fluid. These unasphyxiated babies were consecutively born and were admitted to the intensive care unit for observation as routine. The groups were comparable in regard to sex, birth weight, gestational age, maternal factors like anaemia, toxaemia, antepartum haemorrhage, prolonged rupture of membranes, presentation, and interventions including caesarian section. The control group, comprising 26 babies received only oropharyngeal suction, while the intervention group, comprising 23 babies, underwent oropharyngeal suction followed by tracheal suction. There was no significant difference in the mortality or morbidity in form of evidence of air leak or hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy.

Female

Epidemiology of perinatal loss in rural Maharashtra.

This study was carried out in a tribal block in Maharashtra in 1987. Socio-economic and obstetric factors commonly known to be associated with unfavourable perinatal outcome were assessed by studying odds ratio, attributable risk, and stepwise multiple regression. Preference for traditional health care, long distance from health post, teenage pregnancy, inadequate schooling, hard physical work, first or fifth and subsequent pregnancy, certain antenatal, intranatal, and postnatal factors emerged as important causes associated with perinatal loss.

Adolescent

Rural neonatal care: Dahanu experience.

The Rural Neonatal Care Project, started by the Government of Maharashtra in the Ganjad Primary Health Centre, Dahanu block in Maharashtra, had the TBA as the sheet anchor for delivery of neonatal care. Maintenance of "warm chain" and resuscitation of an asphyxiated baby were recognized as the most important interventions besides detection of a very low birth weight/preterm baby and safe transportation of such a baby. Foot length measurement from foot print was used as a surrogate to birth weight as an indicator for referral. Neonatal and perinatal mortality rates dropped appreciably over 3 years and the antenatal registration went up by 30%. The cost of this programme is affordable and the programme itself was acceptable to the community and the TBAs because of its simplicity.

Humans

Determinants of death among admissions to intensive care unit for newborns.

Determinants of death in newborns admitted to the Intensive Care Unit were studied taking into consideration antenatal history, intrapartum events, and clinical findings. Over 3 years (1984, 1985 and 1986) 1747 admissions were the subjects of this study. Of these, 424 deaths formed the study group and 1323 survivors form the control group. Odds ratio, attributable risk, univariate analysis, multiple stepwise regression, and analysis of variance were obtained. Clinical features associated with respiratory distress, birth asphyxia, admission to nursery after 6 hours of birth, and hypothermia on admission were found to be important factors related to death among nursery admissions.

Asphyxia Neonatorum

Quality of survivals on conservative neonatal care.

Quantity as well as quality of survivals determine the performance of a neonatal centre. Our centre has succeeded in improving survival with low cost technology without compromising the quality. Neurodevelopmental handicap was low on a 1-year follow-up. No baby had retinopathy of prematurity or hearing deficit. Dropout rate has been high although comprising of mainly full-term or near-term babies with mild perinatal asphyxia or mild respiratory distress or requiring instrumentation during delivery. Longer follow-up is desirable.

Follow-Up Studies