1.
Osteopathic manipulative treatment for the treatment of hospitalized premature infants with nipple feeding dysfunction.
Lund, GC, Edwards, G, Medlin, B, Keller, D, Beck, B, Carreiro, JE
The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. 2011;(1):44-8
Abstract
Premature newborns and infants are usually required to successfully transition from gavage to nipple feeding using breast or bottle before discharge from the hospital. This transition is frequently the last discharge skill attained. Delayed acquisition of this skill may substantially prolong hospital length of stay. The authors describe a case of hospitalized premature twins who had considerable delays in attaining nipple-feeding skills. Because of their inability to take all feedings by nipple, preparation for surgical placement of gastrostomy tubes was initiated. Before the surgeries were scheduled, the inpatient osteopathic manipulative medicine service was consulted, and the twins received a series of evaluations and osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) sessions. During the OMT course, the twins' nipple feeding skills progressed to full oral feeding, which allowed them to be discharged to home without placement of gastrostomy tubes. The authors also review the literature and discuss the development of nipple feeding in premature newborns and infants and the use of OMT in the management of nipple feeding dysfunction.
2.
Paracetamol overdose in a preterm neonate.
Isbister, GK, Bucens, IK, Whyte, IM
Archives of disease in childhood. Fetal and neonatal edition. 2001;(1):F70-2
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Abstract
The first oral overdose of paracetamol in a neonate is reported. A 55 day old neonate, born 29 weeks premature, was accidentally given 136 mg/kg paracetamol. Treatment was with activated charcoal, supportive care, and N-acetylcysteine. There was no biochemical evidence of hepatotoxicity, and no long term sequelae. After modelling of the data, the following pharmacokinetic variables were calculated: absorption half life (t(abs)), 0.51 hours; volume of distribution (V/F(oral)), 0.80 litres/kg; clearance (CL/F(oral)), 0.22 litres/h; they were consistent with population pharmacokinetic studies. The increased plasma half life (Tbeta) of 5.69 hours thus reflected normal slower metabolism in infants, rather than toxicity. The toxicity of paracetamol in neonates is unclear, but appears to be low because of slow oxidative metabolism and rapid glutathione synthesis. In an overdose, estimates of toxicity can be made from dose and Tbeta in neonates, or from maternal toxicity in transplacental poisoning. Treatment includes N-acetylcysteine and supportive care, with activated charcoal for oral poisoning.