Neonatal Nutritional Stressors

Brain growth and development in preterm infants requires adequate nutrition.([FOOTNOTE=Kuenen K, van Elburg RM, van Bel F, Benders MJNL. Impact of nutrition on brain development and its neuroprotective implications following preterm birth. Pediatr Res. 2015;77(1):148-155.],[ANCHOR=],[LINK=]) Preterm infants are at increased risk of some nutrient deficiencies, and fetal malnutrition has been linked with long-term consequences such as cognitive impairments and learning disabilities.⁵

Premature babies have extreme central nervous system vulnerability and may be susceptible to the long-lasting changes in physical structure and operation of the brain associated with premature birth.^3,([FOOTNOTE=Salmaso N, Jablonska B, Scafidi J, Vaccarino FM, Gallo V. Neurobiology of premature brain injury. Nat Neurosci. 2014;17(3):341-346.],[ANCHOR=],[LINK=]) Optimizing protein and energy intake may have neuroprotective benefits for the preterm infant, although the evidence to date is limited and inconsistent.⁵ Nutritional therapies may help prevent infection and necrotizing enterocolitis.⁵ They may also decrease inflammation and help minimize injury to the brain’s white matter.⁵

• Ventilation - delivering synchronized breath, with both invasive and non-invasive ventilation, can have important benefits for neonates.([FOOTNOTE=Mahmoud RA, Proquitté H, Fawzy N, Bührer C, Schmalisch G. Tracheal tube airleak in clinical practice and impact on tidal volume measurement in ventilated neo¬nates. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2011;12(2):197-202],[ANCHOR=],[LINK=])
• Patient monitoring - providing continuous SpO₂, pulse rate, and respiration rate monitoring, so clinicians may detect respiratory complications earlier and intervene sooner.([FOOTNOTE=Joint Commission Sentinel Event Alert: Issue #49, pp1-4, August 8, 2012. (Available at www.jointcommission.org).],[ANCHOR=],[LINK=])^,([FOOTNOTE=ASA Standards for Basic Anesthetic Monitoring, Committee of Origin: Standards and Practice Parameters (Approved by the ASA House of Delegates on October 21, 1986, and last amended on October 20, 2010 with an effective date of July 1, 2011, excerpt from section 3.2.4.],[ANCHOR=],[LINK=])^,([FOOTNOTE=Essential Monitoring Strategies to Detect Clinically Significant Drug-Induced Respira¬tory Depression in the Postoperative Period. Prepared by Stoelting, R. and Overdyk, F. http://www.apsf.org/announcements.php?id=7.],[ANCHOR=],[LINK=])
• Procedural stress - reducing any associated pain, discomfort, or risk of infection may help.

Discover below which respiratory & monitoring products from Medtronic can help reducing stress of neonatal patients.