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Surg Pathol Clin 2020 Dec;13(4):657-682

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Phoenix Children's Hospital, 1919 East Thomas Road, Phoenix, AZ 85016, USA. Electronic address:

Neonatal lung biopsy guides important medical decisions when the diagnosis is not clear from prior clinical assessment, imaging, or genetic testing. Common scenarios that lead to biopsy include severe acute respiratory distress in a term neonate, pulmonary hypertension disproportionate to that expected for gestational age or known cardiac anomalies, and assessment of suspected genetic disorder based on clinical features or genetic variant of unknown significance. The differential diagnosis includes genetic developmental disorders, genetic surfactant disorders, vascular disorders, acquired infection, and meconium aspiration. Read More

Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2021 May 22;153(2):287-293. Epub 2020 Dec 22.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medeniyet University Göztepe Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.

Objective: To investigate the role of abnormal cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) in predicting adverse fetal outcome in pregnancies with induction of labor.

Methods: This prospective observational study conducted at Medeniyet University Göztepe Training and Research Hospital between December 1, 2018 and October 31, 2019 enrolled women with scheduled induction of labor at or beyond 37 weeks of pregnancy. Women with singleton non-anomalous fetuses with cephalic presentation and who had Bishop scores of 5 or less in pelvic examination were included in the study. Read More

Front Pediatr 2020 11;8:506. Epub 2020 Sep 11.

Weill Cornell Medicine, Doha, Qatar.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a complex life-saving support for acute cardio-respiratory failure, unresponsive to medical treatment. Starting a new ECMO program requires synergizing different aspects of organizational infrastructures and appropriate extensive training of core team members to deliver the care successfully and safely. To describe the process of establishing a new neonatal ECMO program and to evaluate the program by benchmarking the ECMO respiratory outcomes and mechanical complications to the well-established Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) registry data. Read More

J Clin Ultrasound 2021 May 11;49(4):405-407. Epub 2020 Sep 11.

Division of Paediatrics and Neonatal Critical Care, Medical Center "A. Béclère", Paris Saclay University Hospitals, APHP, Paris, France.

We present a case of life-threatening airway obstruction caused by meconium aspiration, a condition with significant neonatal mortality and morbidity. Lung ultrasound detected the obstruction and helped in the clinical management allowing to perform a quick and selective bronchoalveolar lavage with diluted surfactant. Read More

Braz J Med Biol Res 2020 26;53(8):e9469. Epub 2020 Jun 26.

Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.

This is a retrospective, single-center observational study to explore the predictors of chest drainage for neonatal pneumothorax. A total of 183 neonates (age ≤28 days) who presented to the Children's Hospital of Soochow University between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2018 for pneumothorax or developed pneumothorax during a hospital stay were included. Demographic data, clinical presentation, and imaging characteristics of neonatal pneumothorax were collected and analyzed. Read More

Eur J Pediatr 2020 Aug 5;179(8):1279-1285. Epub 2020 Jun 5.

Pediatrics Department, Virgen de la Salud Hospital, Toledo, Spain.

Since March 2020, the world is involved in the COVID-19 pandemic, a disease caused by a novel virus called SARS-CoV-2. Some authors have described the ultrasonographic findings of COVID-19 pneumonia in adults and children, but data on neonates are lacking. Our objective was to describe the ultrasonographic lung pattern on newborns with SARS-CoV-2 infection during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read More

Arch Pediatr 2019 Nov 17;26(8):459-465. Epub 2019 Oct 17.

Service d'imagerie médicale, hôpital Nord, AP-HM, 13015 Marseille, France.

Thoracic ultrasound (TUS) is increasingly studied in neonatal respiratory distress but chest x-ray (CXR) remains the first-line exam. We aimed to evaluate its diagnostic performance for the investigation of unselected causes of neonatal respiratory distress in daily practice. We conducted a descriptive, prospective, and single-center diagnostic accuracy study in a tertiary hospital, including term and preterm newborns who needed a CXR because of respiratory conditions occurring at birth or during the first 24h of life. Read More

Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol 2019 12;31(6):410-417

Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.

Purpose Of Review: To review literature about risk factors of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).

Recent Findings: Search in PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Clinicaltrials.gov and reference lists from 1999 to 2018. Read More

BMC Pediatr 2019 08 1;19(1):265. Epub 2019 Aug 1.

Pacific Pediatric Cardiology Medical Group, Inc., Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.

Background: Streptococcus pasteurianus is a rare cause of neonatal infection, with only 3 cases reported in the USA and 18 cases reported in other countries within the past decade. Neonatal S. pasteurianus infection typically presents as meningitis. Read More

J Neonatal Perinatal Med 2018 ;11(3):281-287

Departments of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.

Background: Transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) is one of the most common causes of neonatal respiratory distress (RD). However, distinguishing TTN from other causes of RD may be difficult during the first 12:24 h after birth. Lung ultrasonography (LUS) has been successfully utilized in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of neonatal RD. Read More

JAMA Pediatr 2018 02;172(2):161-165

Princess Durru Shehvar Children's and General Hospital, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.

Importance: Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) as a primary respiratory therapy in meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) has not been studied extensively. Nasal continuous positive airway pressure, when applied in newborns with MAS, may resolve atelectasis by sufficiently expanding partially obstructed small airways and stabilizing the collapsing terminal airways to enhance oxygen exchange.

Objective: To compare NCPAP vs standard care in neonates with moderate to severe respiratory failure due to MAS in reducing the need for invasive ventilation. Read More

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2018 Dec 21;31(23):3108-3114. Epub 2017 Aug 21.

a Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics , College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea , Seoul , Republic of Korea.

Aim: Neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) patients are at times accompanied by persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN), which is by itself another risk factor of adverse outcomes. We aimed to assess the outcome of therapeutic hypothermia (TH) in these patients whom we managed to reverse the shunt flow, as they are expected to be at much higher risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcome.

Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 116 HIE infants (13 with PPHN and 103 without PPHN) who underwent TH between 2012 and 2016. Read More

Rev Neurol 2017 Jul;65(2):57-62

Universidad Camilo Jose Cela, Instituto de Investigacion Hospital 12 de Octubre., Madrid, Espana.

Introduction: There is a huge disparity in the description of the prevalence and risk factors of periventricular leukomalacia in preterm infants.

Aims: To describe and compare, through a systematic review of the literature, the prevalence of periventricular leukomalacia in preterm infants, as well as to determine the main risk factors associated with its presentation.

Subjects And Methods: A systematic review was conducted consulting multiple databases of the last 20 years. Read More

Ultrasound 2017 May 29;25(2):80-91. Epub 2017 Jan 29.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, St James's University Hospital, UK.

Background And Aim: Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome is a leading cause of morbidity in preterm new-born babies (<37 weeks gestation age). The current diagnostic reference standard includes clinical testing and chest radiography with associated exposure to ionising radiation. The aim of this review was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of lung ultrasound against the reference standard in symptomatic neonates of ≤42 weeks gestation age. Read More

Indian J Pediatr 2017 Apr 21;84(4):267-270. Epub 2017 Jan 21.

Department of Radiology, MNJ Institute of Oncology and Regional Cancer, Hyderabad, India.

Objectives: To determine the diagnostic test performance of Point of care ultrasonography (PoC-USG) for identifying the etiology of respiratory distress (RD) in neonates when combination of radiological and clinical criteria is considered as the gold standard.

Methods: A neonate was included in the study if he/she had RD and underwent x-ray chest and ultrasound within 4 h of admission and the age was less than 24 h. The neonates admitted with non-respiratory illness were chosen as controls. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2017 Jan;96(2):e5826

aDepartment of Neonatology and NICU of Bayi Children's Hospital,the Army General Hospital of the Chinese PLA affiliated to Southern Medical University, Beijing bDepartment of Pediatrics, Shenzhen Baoan Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Shenzhen, China.

The aim of this study was to study the features of lung ultrasonography (LUS) in lung disease and to evaluate the usefulness of LUS in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).All of 3405 neonates included in this study underwent an LUS examination. Diagnoses were based on medical history, clinical manifestation, laboratory examination, and signs on chest radiography (CR) and/or computed tomography (CT). Read More

J Int Med Res 2016 Dec 2;44(6):1534-1542. Epub 2016 Nov 2.

1 Department of Neonatology and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Bayi Children's Hospital, the Army General Hospital of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Beijing, China.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of lung ultrasonography for neonatal meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS). Methods This prospective observational study enrolled patients diagnosed with MAS based on medical history, clinical manifestations and chest X-ray and control newborns without MAS. During ultrasonography, each lung was divided into three regions (front, lateral, and back), using anterior and posterior axillary lines as the boundary. Read More

Neonatology 2016 25;110(3):198-203. Epub 2016 May 25.

Neonatology Department, ICGON, BCNatal, Hospital Clínic - Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.

Background: The prognosis of neonatal respiratory distress may be difficult to estimate at admission. Lung ultrasound is a useful diagnostic tool that is quick, requires little training, and is radiation free.

Objective: This study aims to analyze whether early lung ultrasound can predict respiratory failure. Read More

Arch Pediatr 2016 Mar 12;23(3):317-21. Epub 2016 Feb 12.

Service de réanimation néonatale, hôpital Antoine-Béclère, hôpitaux universitaires Paris-Sud, AP-HP, 157, rue de la Porte-de-Trivaux, 92140 Clamart, France; Service de réanimation pédiatrique et néonatale, hôpital Bicêtre, hôpitaux universitaires Paris-Sud, AP-HP, 78, rue du Général-Leclerc, 94270 Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France. Electronic address:

Lung ultrasound (LU) is becoming a bedside point-of-care technique in critical care and emergency medicine as it is performed and immediately interpreted by the clinician. LU is quick, easy, relatively inexpensive, and provides accurate diagnostic information when compared with conventional lung imaging methods, such as CT scans and chest radiographs, with the additional advantage of being non-irradiating, adapted to bedside use, and easily repeatable with no side effects for the patient. LU is easy to learn, does not require sophisticated ultrasound machines or settings, and shows low intra- and interobserver variability when a standardized approach is used. Read More

Neonatology 2016 12;109(4):265-73. Epub 2016 Feb 12.

Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, N.Y., USA.

Background: The Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) recommends close monitoring of oxygenation during the resuscitation of newborns using a pulse oximeter. However, there are no guidelines for monitoring carbon dioxide (CO2) to assess ventilation. Considering that cerebral blood flow (CBF) correlates directly with PaCO2, continuous capnography monitoring of end-tidal CO2 (ETCO2) may limit fluctuations in PaCO2 and, therefore, CBF during resuscitation of asphyxiated infants. Read More

Chest 2016 05 11;149(5):1269-75. Epub 2016 Jan 11.

Department of Neonatology and NICU of Bayi Children's Hospital, the Army General Hospital of the Chinese PLA, Beijing, China.

Background: This study explored the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound for diagnosing transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN).

Methods: Ultrasound was performed by one export. Patients were placed in a supine, lateral recumbent, or prone position. Read More

BMC Res Notes 2016 Jan 19;9:31. Epub 2016 Jan 19.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Princess Marina Hospital, P.O. Box 258, Gaborone, Botswana.

Background: Despite advances in diagnostic imaging and focused antenatal care, cases of undiagnosed abdominal pregnancies at term are still reported in obstetric practice. It is atypical and very rare for a patient to be asymptomatic late in pregnancy and for the pregnancy to result in a live birth with no evidence of intrauterine growth restriction despite the unfavourable implantation site. This late term asymptomatic presentation despite routine antenatal care demonstrates a diagnostic challenge. Read More

Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2015 Dec 13;94(12):1373-9. Epub 2015 Oct 13.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Falu Hospital, Falun, Sweden.

Introduction: Post-term pregnancies are associated with greater risks for mother and child. Accurate determination of gestational age is necessary for safe care. Female fetuses have been shown to be smaller than males at the time of second-trimester ultrasound (US) examination, leading to underestimation of their age and, potentially, greater impacts of perinatal complications in post-term girls than in post-term boys. Read More

Kardiochir Torakochirurgia Pol 2015 Mar 31;12(1):83-6. Epub 2015 Mar 31.

Department of Diagnostic Imaging, SPSK1, Zabrze, Poland.

The aim of the study was to analyze major radiological signs on chest X-ray images of neonates with respiratory disorders. The analyzed group consisted of 84 neonates; 56 were born prematurely. In total, 386 X-ray photographs of the neonates were taken; of these, 301 were chest radiographs. Read More

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2016 30;29(11):1844-52. Epub 2015 Jul 30.

b Department of Electronics and Instrumentation , Kumaraguru College of Technology , Coimbatore , Tamil Nadu , India.

The classification of abnormalities in ultrasound images is the monitoring tool of fluid to air passage in the lung. In this study, the adaptive median filtering technique is employed for the preprocessing step. The preprocessed image is then extracted the features by the convoluted local tetra pattern, histogram of oriented gradient, Haralick feature extraction and the complete local binary pattern. Read More

Semin Ultrasound CT MR 2015 Apr 3;36(2):138-45. Epub 2015 Feb 3.

Department of Radiology, Arkansas Children׳s Hospital, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR.

Respiratory distress is a common symptom in the newborn. Surfactant deficiency in the preterm infant and meconium aspiration and transient tachypnea in the term newborn are among the most common causes of respiratory distress, but primary airway abnormalities can also present with respiratory distress in the newborn. Delay in diagnosis of airway abnormality can be life threatening. Read More

N Engl J Med 2015 Apr;372(16):1550-62

Pediatr Clin North Am 2015 Apr;62(2):453-69

LSU Health, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, LA 71130, USA.

Respiratory disorders are the most frequent cause of admission to the special care nursery both in term and preterm infants. Pediatricians and primary care providers may encounter newborn infants with respiratory distress in their office, emergency room, delivery room, or during physical assessment in the newborn nursery. The authors have proposed a practical approach to diagnose and manage such infants with suggestions for consulting a neonatologist at a regional center. Read More

Pediatr Int 2015 Aug 25;57(4):734-8. Epub 2015 Mar 25.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shiga University of Medical Science Hospital, Otsu, Shiga, Japan.

Neonatal transient eosinophilic colitis (NTEC) is a new disease concept within eosinophilic gastroenteritis, which was proposed by Ohtsuka et al. It causes hematochezia as a result of eosinophilia, in neonates who have not yet started to receive enteral nutrition, although the whole-body status of the infant is in fact relatively good. To date, there have been no reports of this disease in which abnormalities were noted during gestation, and the clinical phenomena surrounding it, along with any complications, are not yet clear. Read More

Paediatr Respir Rev 2015 Jun 10;16(3):157-61. Epub 2015 Feb 10.

Division of Asthma, Allergy and Lung Biology, MRC Centre for Allergic Mechanisms in Asthma, King's College London. Electronic address:

Persistent pulmonary hypertension of new born (PPHN) is associated with mortality and morbidity; it may be idiopathic or secondary to a number of conditions. The mainstay of diagnosis and to exclude structural abnormalities is echocardiography. Brain type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels are elevated in PPHN, but are insufficiently sensitive to contribute to routine diagnosis. Read More