Claire Buss
Prof Doreen Johnson
ENGL 1117-73
14 Dec 2015
E3 Final Draft
Premature Infants and the Risk of Retinopathy
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is one of the leading causes of childhood blindness and occurs in approximately 16% of all preterm births; this percentage increases to 50% occurrence rate when the infant is less than 1,700 grams (Conditions and Support Agencies 2011). Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) accounts for a significant portion of blindness in children from developed countries and usually occurs in premature infants born at 28 weeks gestation or less. The retina is not completely vacularized and is very susceptible to injury and stress. When the infant experiences stress or injury, the vascularization of the retina
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It is a simple sugar, or a monosaccharide, and in the premature infant it is produced by the hepatic system. The production of glucose is essential for transition from uterine to extrauterine life (Rozance 2011). Because it serves the neonate in such a unique way, the regulation of hepatic glucose cannot be regulated or suppressed by intravenous insulin infusions or glucose administration. In a neonate, hyperglycemia is defined as a blood glucose level of greater than 240 mg/ dL and consistent blood glucose readings of 160 mg/dL (Rozance …show more content…
The American Academy of Pediatrics has suggested oxygen saturation levels that include maintaining the infants PaO2 of 45 – 80 mmHg with an oxygen saturation level of 85 – 95% for preterm infants of greater than 32 weeks gestation; and even lower saturations of 85 – 93% for infants less than 32 weeks. The previously mentioned guidelines are important for nursing staff to be aware of because they are the population providing bedside care, including monitoring oxygen use and oxygen saturation levels. Providers do not want the infant’s oxygen levels to be higher than these suggested guidelines because it can lead to oxygen toxicity in the preterm infant. In intrauterine life the oxygen saturation is around 50 or 60% and the oxygen tension during that time is around 22 – 24 mmHg (Filho, J. et al 2011). When the infants’ oxygen saturations are higher, the rate of vascularization of the retina is increased and thus is a contributing factor to
According to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2016), preterm birth are the birth that happened before 37 ended weeks of pregnancy and is one of the number reason of newborn deaths and the second prominent cause of deaths in children below five. The preterm babies have chances of an amplified risk of illness, disability and death. In the first weeks, the complications of premature birth may include: breathing problems, heart problems, brain problems, temperature control problems, gastrointestinal problems, blood problems, metabolism problems, immune system problems. Long-term complications includes cerebral palsy, impaired cognitive skills, vision problem, hearing problems, dental problems, behavioral and psychological problems, chronic health issues.
Gestational diabetes is a disorder characterized by impaired ability to metabolize carbohydrates, usually caused by a deficiency of insulin resistance, occurring in
To understand whether the actions carried out was rational or whether it did more harm or good, it is necessary to review the development of RDS in a preterm baby.
Premature babies sometimes have apnea. It may happen together with a slow heart rate. Respiratory distress syndrome or RDS is a breathing problem most common in babies born before 34 weeks of pregnancy.” Babies with RDS don’t have a protein called surfactant that keeps small air sacs in the lungs from collapsing. “Intraventricular hemorrhage or IVH is bleeding in the brain. It usually happens near the ventricles in the center of the brain. A ventricles is a space in the brain that’s filled with fluid. Patent ductus ateriosus or PDA is a heart problem that happens in the connection between two major blood vessels near the heart. If the ductus do not close properly after birth, a baby can have breathing problems or heart failure. Heart failure is when enough blood can’t get pumped into the heart causing it to shut down. Necrotizing enter colitis (NEC) is a problem with a baby’s intestines. It causes feeding problems, a swollen belly and diarrhea. It sometimes happens 2 to 3 weeks after a premature bay has been born. Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is an abnormal growth of blood vessels in the eye. ROP can lead to vision loss. Jaundice is when a baby's eyes and skin look yellow. A baby has jaundice when his liver isn't fully developed or isn't working well. Anemia is when a baby doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to the rest of the body. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a lung condition that can develop in premature babies as well as babies who have treatment with a breathing machine. Babies with BPD sometimes develop fluid in the lungs, scarring and lung damage. Premature babies often have trouble fighting off germs because their immune systems are not fully formed. Infections that may affect a premature baby include pneumonia, a lung infection; sepsis, a blood infection; and meningitis, an infection in the fluid around the brain and
Purpose: The purpose of this outline is to act as a guide and accompaniment to the Fetal Fibronectin Power Point as well as an aid for the Case Study learning activity.
retinopathy from over oxygenation. In 1950 and the mid 60’s many babies were blinded due
How do we know infants can see at birth? They can’t tell us. For this we depend on clues such as eye movement, light sensitivity and the appearance of the eye. Though an infant 's vision is present at birth the strength of their vision is far from mature. However, vision develops rapidly in infants, going from only being able to focus on images 4 to 30 inches away to a rapid ability to see details and shape (Berger, 2014). By 3 months these same infants with immature ability can see patterns color and motion. Surveys and medical research are regularly used to develop a better understanding of infant development.
According to the World Health Organisation [WHO] (2014) pre-term babies are at increased risk of illness, disability and death. It also states that globally 15 million babies are born pre-term and the figures are rising. In England and Wales during 2012 7.3% of live births were pre-term under 37 weeks nearly 85% of all babies born prematurely will have a very low birth weight (Office for National Statistics, 2012). Pre-term birth is associated with respiratory complications and lung disease, long-tern neurological damage and problems with bowel function (Henderson & Macdonald, 2011). Neonatal services provide care to babies who are born prematurely or are ill and require specialist care. It is seen that sixty per cent of infant deaths occur in the neonatal period (DH,
Before Dr. Wiesel’s and Dr. Hubel’s research, physicians removed cataracts from infants between ages 6 months and 24 months with poor results.
Now, medical advances make it possible for even the most severe premature babies to survive. Preterm babies as young as 22 to 23 weeks gestation can survive, but the costs associated with them is high (Kornhauser & Schneiderman, 2010). The higher cost is attributed to the extended hospital stay of micro preemies in Level 3 NICU (Bird, 2014). Level 3 NICU offers a wide range of neonatal services that include special imaging techniques, advanced ventilation
There have been many changes throughout the years in healthcare. One of the many changes that affect us every day is oxygen toxicity in premature babies and the effects on their eyes. There is a fine line to walk when protecting the function of the brain and preserving vision. The risks have been a concern for healthcare providers for decades. Some people were born at 26 weeks in the early 60’s and suffers from severe retinopathy from over oxygenation. Between 1950 and the mid-1960’s many babies were blinded due to over oxygenation (Millenson, 2015).
Now, medical advances make it possible for even the most severe premature babies to survive. As in case of Preterm babies as young as 22 to 23 weeks ( Micro preemies), level 3 NICU offers a wide range of neonatal services including special imaging techniques, advanced ventilation procedures, and special surgeries (Bird, 2014). Advanced technology has helped to increase the survival rate for even the most severe preterm babies, but the costs associated with them is high (Kornhauser & Schneiderman, 2010). The average cost for treating the micro preemie has been estimated to be more than $ 2 million (Kornhauser & Schneiderman, 2010). Nevertheless, this projected cost is excluding the cost of treating long term outcomes in the micro preemies. The
Gestational diabetes is a disease that affects pregnant women it’s a glucose intolerance that is started or diagnosed during pregnancy. Based on recently announced diagnostic criteria for gestational diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association, it is estimated that gestational diabetes affects 18% of pregnancies. Pregnancy hormones can block insulin therefore causing the glucose levels to increase in a pregnant woman’s blood. Gestational diabetes starts when your body is not able to make and use all the insulin it needs for pregnancy (American Diabetes Association). Without enough insulin, glucose cannot leave the blood and be changed to
New born infants have poor visual acuity as opposed to adults. Visual acuity measures to what extent an individual can detect visual detail. Their lack of visual acuity means they see the world a more ill-defined manner. Adult visual acuity is thirty times the visual acuity of a new born (Van Hof-van Duin & Mohn 1985). Atkinson & Bradrick (1981), supported this and found that new born infants could only detect the separation of lines if they are 30 times wider than the minimum width adults can detect. There is at least a five-fold improvement by 6 months of age in acuity, though it takes several years for it to reach adult level, Brown & Yamamoto 1986. New born infants also have poor visual accommodation, needed to make sharp retinal images at different distances.
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is an intolerance of glucose documented for the first time during pregnancy. It is usually a short-term type of diabetes and the most common health problem with pregnant women. GBM is caused by the way the hormones in pregnancy affect the mother. GDM accounts for 5-7% of all pregnancies (American Diabetes Association, 2010). During pregnancy the placenta develops and becomes the main bond between the mother and the baby. It is used to make sure the baby has and gets enough nutrients. The placenta makes several hormones which make it hard for insulin to control blood glucose and block the action of the mother’s insulin in her body (American Diabetes Association, 2010). Hormonal changes during the