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Biomedical subjects

W Ainsworth

Publications and source records attributed to W Ainsworth.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Prolonged use of pancuronium bromide and sensorineural hearing loss in childhood survivors of congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is a significant neurologic morbidity in survivors of neonatal congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), with a reported incidence of up to 60%. In a historical cohort study of 37 neonates with CDH, we investigated the use of pancuronium bromide (PB) and common ototoxic drugs during the neonatal period and their relationship to SNHL in childhood survivors. Survivors with SNHL (n = 23) had significantly higher cumulative dose of PB administered during the neonatal illness than survivors without SNHL (n = 14). The cumulative dose and duration of PB use significantly correlated (r = 0.66-0.81) and independently predicted (adjusted r (2) = 0.42-0.64) the greatest intensity (in decibels) and the widest band (lowest frequency in hertz) loss of SNHL. No differences were identified between survivors with and without SNHL regarding demographic and neonatal characteristics (including oxygenation and ventilation variables and the cumulative dose and duration of therapy with aminoglycosides, vancomycin, and furosemide), although survivors with SNHL had received a modestly higher cumulative dose of ethacrynic acid than survivors without SNHL. Although we show that prolonged administration of PB during the neonatal period is associated with SNHL in childhood survivors of CDH, further multicenter studies are required to investigate the possible etiologies of SNHL in this high-risk population.

Alberta↗
PubMed1998

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia: developing a protocolized approach.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the evolving outcome of newborns who have congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) using a protocolized approach to management, which includes extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and to present the details of such a management protocol. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted of the neonatal outcome of near-term (>34 weeks' gestation) newborns with CDH all referred to the Royal Alexandra Hospital either before or after delivery. A protocol was developed that included antenatal assessment, the use of antenatal steroids, planned delivery, use of prophylactic surfactant, pressure limited gentle ventilation, permissive hypercarbia and hypoxia, and venovenous ECMO, if indicated. RESULTS: Sixty-five infants with CDH were treated from February 1989 through August 1996. Twenty-three infants were inborn, 20 of whom were antenatal referrals. Overall, 51 of the 65 infants survived (78%). Thirteen of the 23 inborn infants survived with conservative management, and 10 required ECMO, of whom, eight were long-term survivors. Thirty-eight infants required ECMO, and 26 survived (68%), whereas there were only two deaths among the 27 conservatively treated infants. Eighteen of 20 inborn infants with an antenatal diagnosis survived, compared with 13 of 21 (62%) outborn infants. An antenatal diagnosis before 25 weeks' gestation was associated with a 60% survival rate. Sixty-three percent of infants whose best postductal PaO2 value before ECMO was less than 100 torr survived, and 7 of 11 infants with a best postductal PaO2 value of less than 50 torr before ECMO survived (64%). The average age at surgery progressively increased over time both for infants who did not require ECMO (1.3 days to 5.8 days; P = .01) and for infants who received ECMO (1.9 days to 8.2 days; P = .016). CONCLUSIONS: The use of a protocolized management for infants with CDH has been associated with improving outcome in a population at high risk. The components (either separately or combined) of these protocolized approaches need to be tested in prospective trials to determine their true benefit. In addition, there is a need to evaluate prospectively the outcomes of infants with CDH born in ECMO centers compared with those infants born in other tertiary care neonatal units to determine the most appropriate management of the fetus with CDH.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1998

The Edmonton experience with venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Despite the proven effectiveness of venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) in the treatment of neonates with severe respiratory failure, this technique is not widely used. The purpose of this study was to assess the authors' policy of preferred use of VV ECMO with a cephalad catheter and to compare the results with those of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) Registry. METHODS: Charts of neonatal ECMO candidates were reviewed retrospectively. Data were collected for gestational age, birth weight, and diagnosis. Severity of illness was assessed by oxygenation index, lactate levels, and inotropic requirements before cannulation. Patients were divided into three groups: venovenous (VV), venoarterial (VA), and VV to VA ECMO. A cephalad catheter was inserted in the distal part of the jugular vein. RESULTS: Sixty-five neonates were supported with ECMO. Cannulation with a double lumen venovenous (VVDL) catheter was attempted in 63 neonates and successfully accomplished in 57. A survival rate of 86% was observed in neonates initially placed on VV ECMO. Five neonates initially placed on VV ECMO underwent conversion to VA ECMO. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the authors' preferred policy of VV ECMO did not result in an increase in mortality rate based on a comparison with ELSO data. VV ECMO with a cephalad catheter provides adequate support for unstable neonates with respiratory failure.

Alberta↗
PubMed1996

Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: the effects of proximal internal jugular cannulation.

Venovenous (VV) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) using a double lumen catheter has become an accepted method of providing ECMO support for critically ill newborn infants. In addition, use of the cephalic jugular catheter can provide augmented venous blood flow, potentially prevent increased cerebral venous pressure, maintain cerebral venous blood flow, and increase ECMO oxygen delivery. The authors compared their experience using VV double-lumen (VVDL) ECMO with a cephalic jugular catheter with their previous experience using venoarterial (VA) ECMO. They compared 15 infants who had meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) and 12 who had congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) treated with VVDL ECMO with a cephalic jugular catheter with the same number of infants with each condition treated with VA ECMO (historical controls). There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to birth weights, oxygen indexes before ECMO, of ECMO flows at 4 and 24 hours. For infants with MAS treated with VVDL ECMO, the overall duration of ECMO support was significantly shorter (63 hours VVDLv 118 hours VA; P = .001), and the average cephalic flow was 33 mL/kg for infants treated with VVDL support. For infants with CDH, there were no differences in any of the variables evaluated, including total duration (100 hours VVDLv 128 hours VA; P = .06 [NS]), and the average cephalic flow was 39 mL/kg for infants treated with VVDL support. The venous oxygen content was significantly lower in infants with MAS treated with VVDL ECMO than for historical controls treated with VA ECMO at 4 hours of ECMO support (15.8 v 16.7; P < or = .05). No other significant differences were noted for any of the calculated oxygen transport variables comparing VVDL with VA ECMO infants with CDH treated with VVDL ECMO were extubated sooner than those treated with VA ECMO (10.3 days VVDL v 15.4 days VA; P = 048). In addition, there was no significant difference in the overall incidence of complications or death. This experience suggests that VVDL ECMO using a cephalic jugular catheter results in shorter ECMO runs and provides support that is comparable to VA ECMO for infants with CDH and MAS while avoiding carotid artery cannulation and ligation.

Cardiac Catheterization↗
PubMed1995

Radiological decompression of bowel gas and return of mediastinal shift in congenital diaphragmatic hernia: a signal for surgical repair?

The objective of this study was to document the pattern of bowel gas decompression and mediastinal shift in infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) before delayed surgical correction. The setting was the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Edmonton. The design was a retrospective review of radiographs and charts of all infants with CDH between January 1990 and December 1993. Bowel gas in the upper and middle one third of the hemithorax was classified as grade III and grade II, respectively. Bowel gas in the lower one third of the hemithorax or absent bowel gas was classified as grade I. All the infants showed partial return of the contralateral shift in the mediastinum toward the midline when comparing the admission chest radiographs with the immediate preoperative films. Complete return of the mediastinum to normal (using the first postoperative radiograph as the gold standard) occurred in all but 1 of the 10 infants on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) (90%) and 7 of 13 (54%) of conventionally treated infants (P = .12). At the time of the first radiograph, a similar proportion of non-ECMO and ECMO infants (61% versus 70%, respectively) had either grade II or III bowel gas patterns. By 72 hours none of the non-ECMO-treated infants (who were paralyzed with muscle relaxants) had bowel gas in the middle and upper one third of the hemithorax. In contrast, 66% of infants on ECMO still had a grade II bowel gas pattern at 72 hours (P < .05), with 4 infants showing an actual increase in bowel gas after discontinuation of muscle relaxation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Case-Control Studies↗