TY - JOUR
T1 - Neurological Surveillance in Moderate-Late Preterm Infants—Results from a Dutch–Canadian Survey
AU - Krüse-Ruijter, Martine F.
AU - Boswinkel, Vivian
AU - Consoli, Anna
AU - Nijholt, Ingrid M.
AU - Boomsma, Martijn F.
AU - de Vries, Linda S.
AU - van Wezel-Meijler, Gerda
AU - Leijser, Lara M.
N1 - Funding Information:
Funding: This research was funded by Isala Science and Innovation Fund (Isala Hospital, Zwolle, The Netherlands). Leijser is supported by funding through the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, Calgary Health Foundation and Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
PY - 2022/6/8
Y1 - 2022/6/8
N2 - Preterm birth remains an important cause of abnormal neurodevelopment. While the majority of preterm infants are born moderate-late preterm (MLPT; 32–36 weeks), international and national recommendations on neurological surveillance in this population are lacking. We conducted an observational quantitative survey among Dutch and Canadian neonatal level I–III centres (June 2020–August 2021) to gain insight into local clinical practices on neurological surveillance in MLPT infants. All centres caring for MLPT infants designated one paediatrician/neonatologist to complete the survey. A total of 85 out of 174 (49%) qualifying neonatal centres completed the survey (60 level I–II and 25 level III centres). Admission of MLPT infants was based on infant-related criteria in 78/85 (92%) centres. Cranial ultrasonography to screen the infant’s brain for abnormalities was routinely performed in 16/85 (19%) centres, while only on indication in 39/85 (46%). In 57/85 (67%) centres, neurological examination was performed at least once during admission. Of 85 centres, 51 (60%) followed the infants’ development post-discharge, with follow-up duration ranging from 1–52 months of age. The survey showed a wide variety in neurological surveillance in MLPT infants among Dutch and Canadian neonatal centres. Given the risk for short-term morbidity and long-term neurodevelopmental disabilities, future studies are required to investigate best practices for in-hospital care and follow-up of MLPT infants.
AB - Preterm birth remains an important cause of abnormal neurodevelopment. While the majority of preterm infants are born moderate-late preterm (MLPT; 32–36 weeks), international and national recommendations on neurological surveillance in this population are lacking. We conducted an observational quantitative survey among Dutch and Canadian neonatal level I–III centres (June 2020–August 2021) to gain insight into local clinical practices on neurological surveillance in MLPT infants. All centres caring for MLPT infants designated one paediatrician/neonatologist to complete the survey. A total of 85 out of 174 (49%) qualifying neonatal centres completed the survey (60 level I–II and 25 level III centres). Admission of MLPT infants was based on infant-related criteria in 78/85 (92%) centres. Cranial ultrasonography to screen the infant’s brain for abnormalities was routinely performed in 16/85 (19%) centres, while only on indication in 39/85 (46%). In 57/85 (67%) centres, neurological examination was performed at least once during admission. Of 85 centres, 51 (60%) followed the infants’ development post-discharge, with follow-up duration ranging from 1–52 months of age. The survey showed a wide variety in neurological surveillance in MLPT infants among Dutch and Canadian neonatal centres. Given the risk for short-term morbidity and long-term neurodevelopmental disabilities, future studies are required to investigate best practices for in-hospital care and follow-up of MLPT infants.
KW - cranial ultrasound
KW - follow-up
KW - neuroimaging
KW - neurological surveillance
KW - preterm infants
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85132146334&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/children9060846
DO - 10.3390/children9060846
M3 - Article
C2 - 35740783
SN - 2227-9067
VL - 9
SP - 1
EP - 11
JO - Children (Basel, Switzerland)
JF - Children (Basel, Switzerland)
IS - 6
M1 - 846
ER -