Advances in Neonatal Care 

About: Advances in Neonatal Care is an academic journal published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Intensive care & Medicine. It has an ISSN identifier of 1536-0903. Over the lifetime, 1233 publications have been published receiving 20316 citations.

Necrotizing enterocolitis: have we made any progress in reducing the risk?

Abstract: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a disease affecting premature infants with potentially devastating complications in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Inadequate knowledge regarding the underlying pathophysiology of this disease has contributed to the minimal progress made in decreasing the incidence and severity of NEC. Because of an improved survival rate of the most immature infants, the number of diagnosed cases of NEC is anticipated to increase. Unfortunately, decades of research have failed to reduce the risk or improve the prognosis of NEC, magnifying the need for risk-reduction strategies for decreasing significant NEC-related morbidity and mortality. Advancements in our understanding of this disease process have facilitated the development of several strategies that have been investigated in the risk reduction of NEC. This article discusses the pathophysiology and causes of NEC and presents strategies investigated regarding risk reduction of this devastating disease.

A systematic integrative review of infant pain assessment tools.

Abstract: PURPOSETo examine the issue of pain assessment in infants by acquiring all available published pain assessment tools and evaluating their reported reliability, validity, clinical utility, and feasibility.DESIGN AND METHODSA systematic integrative review of the literature was conducted using

A review of the literature examining the benefits and challenges, incidence and duration, and barriers to breastfeeding in preterm infants.

Abstract: Breastfeeding benefits preterm infants from a nutritional, gastrointestinal, immunological, developmental, and psychological perspective. Despite the benefits, the incidence and duration of breastfeeding preterm infants continues to be less than that of full-term infants. The lower incidence is probably related to breastfeeding challenges that preterm infants and parents face, including establishing and maintaining a milk supply and transitioning from gavage feeding to breastfeeding. In order to increase the incidence and duration of breastfeeding preterm infants, researchers must examine breastfeeding experiences longitudinally. This way, researchers and clinicians can begin to understand the barriers to breastfeeding at various time periods in the breastfeeding experience and begin implementing strategies to remove these barriers.

Necrotizing enterocolitis risk: state of the science.

Abstract: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common cause of gastrointestinal-related morbidity and mortality in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Its onset is sudden and the smallest, most premature infants are the most vulnerable. Necrotizing enterocolitis is a costly disease, accounting for nearly 20% of NICU costs annually. Necrotizing enterocolitis survivors requiring surgery often stay in the NICU more than 90 days and are among those most likely to stay more than 6 months. Significant variations exist in the incidence across regions and units. Although the only consistent independent predictors for NEC remain prematurity and formula feeding, others exist that could increase risk when combined. Awareness of NEC risk factors and adopting practices to reduce NEC risk, including human milk feeding, the use of feeding guidelines, and probiotics, have been shown to reduce the incidence of NEC. The purpose of this review is to examine the state of the science on NEC risk factors and make recommendations for practice and research.