Preterm infants born at 30 weeks or earlier are at higher risk for developing intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), which is associated with long-term neurocognitive deficits. The risk is also higher for infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), those undergoing ECMO therapy, or those with seizures, metabolic disorders or stroke. Now, a new initiative in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Division of Neonatology called NeuroNICU B.R.A.I.N. (Brain Rescue and Avoidance of Injury in Neonates) aims to prevent or reduce that risk.
The core of the initiative is a multidisciplinary team of professionals who work to provide neurodevelopmental care for infants at risk for developing brain injury and cognitive deficits. The team includes a pediatric neurologist, pediatric rehabilitation medicine specialist, pediatric neuro-radiologist, neonatal nurse practitioners, nurse manager, physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist, respiratory therapist and nurse champions. The program also makes parents an integral part of the team.
“We all come together every week and discuss every baby on the unit,” said Allison Black, M.D., NICU associate medical director at Children’s of Alabama. “Before the NeuroNICU program, we would consult individually on an as-needed basis.”
Even though an infant may not need every aspect of care, she said, “everyone working together to integrate the different expertise we have in our field will result in better care for the babies.” The program also uses a standardized bundle of care designed to stabilize the infant and carefully monitor for clinical signs that can increase the risk of IVH.
“The process for the brain injury prevention program starts at birth and continues throughout the entire hospital stay,” said Maran Ramani, M.D., who directs the NeuroNICU program. The protocols call for preventing hypothermia, hypoglycemia and extreme variations in the blood pressure and carbon dioxide levels, and for maintaining fluid intake, all with minimal stimulation. Once discharged, all infants are followed long-term and continually assessed for developmental milestones, he said.
In addition to multidisciplinary care, the program provides near infrared spectroscopy monitoring for preterm and term infants to assess the oxygen saturations in the brain. It also uses transcutaneous CO2 monitoring for preterm infants to assess variations in serum CO2 levels, which plays a critical role in the development of IVH. Term and preterm infants also receive a head ultrasound in to screen for IVH, while preterm infants with grade III and IV IVH undergo conventional electroencephalogram to detect subclinical seizures. Finally, infants with HIE have an MRI with spectroscopy to assess any damage.
Despite the multifactorial etiology of IVH, Ramani said, standardizing the neuroprotective care is reducing the overall rate of IVH in preterm infants (Figure 1).
Figure 1 Rate of IVH Before and After NeuroNICU B.R.A.I.N. Program
Arrow indicates NeuroNICU roll out
Managing Neurologic Disorders
Visit www.uab.edu/medicine/peds/patient-care/neuro-related-programs-centers to learn about the Division of Pediatric Neurology’s subspecialty clinics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
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