Cardiopulmonary Management of the Preterm Neonate

The cardiopulmonary transition that must occur from fetal to neonatal life is amazing and fraught with complexities in the preterm neonate who has not fully structurally and functionally matured. In this cardiopulmonary management bundle, the presentations include:

  • Prevention of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia: BPD or Chronic Lung Disease is one of the most common morbidities experienced by the preterm neonate and it can have devastating consequences. This complex morbidity remains elusive to widespread reduction across NICUs. QI efforts have proven successful in BPD reduction and there are several randomized control trials and meta-analysis to direct our practices.
  • Mechanical Ventilatory Modalities: Various modes of ventilation have been utilized in the preterm neonatal population for decades. Although the mechanism of action may differ, the primary goals are similar: provide effective gas exchange and minimize lung injury. The various modes of invasive ventilation will be presented with evidence and clinical application strategies for each.
  • Respiratory Strategies to Prevent Retinopathy of Prematurity: ROP is multi factorial in pathogenesis and has significant long term impact. One significant risk factor for the development of ROP is the administration of oxygen. Key processes in oxygen management and strategies to reduce severe ROP are presented.
  • Apnea of Prematurity: Apnea of Prematurity (AOP) is one of the most common diagnoses for the preterm neonate in the NICU. This presentation includes definitions, pathogenesis, and evidence-based treatment strategies for the treatment of AOP.
  • Patent Ductus Arteriosus: A Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) is a very common challenge in the management of a preterm neonate. The recommendations for treatment include a range from monitoring and watchful waiting to medical or surgical therapies. There is no clear-cut path for management of the PDA for every neonate, although a consistent NICU approach is encouraged. This presentation will discuss the clinical signs and symptoms of a PDA and review the current state of the evidence for therapies including a discussion on catheter closure.

Objectives:

1. Identify three contributors to the cause of BPD in the premature infant.

2.Name two evidence-based or best practice strategies to prevent BPD.

3. Describe one impact of oxygen saturation targeting on the reduction of severe ROP.

4. Discuss two ways to improve compliance with oxygen targeting in the NICU.

5. Compare and Contrast the different modes of invasive conventional mechanical ventilation for infants.

6. Discuss the differences between conventional and high frequency ventilation.

7. Describe in which disease process high frequency ventilation could potentially be of most benefit.

8. Define Apnea of Prematurity.

9. Identify two strategies to treat Apnea of Prematurity.

10. Discuss signs and symptoms of PDA, their potential significance and physiologic closure in the premature infant.

11. Compare and contrast medical and surgical PDA interventions and their associated risks.

Total CE: 5.7

NCC Code NNP 2 or 7

NCC Code NIC 1, 2 or 7

NCC Code LRN 3 or 7

Rx = 1

*These presentations were included in the Small Baby Care Specialist® Program

Last updated: December 2021


Your Instructor


Drs. Cleary, Goldsmith, Morchi, Morris, & Soliman
Drs. Cleary, Goldsmith, Morchi, Morris, & Soliman

The presenters for the Cardiopulmonary Management Bundle include four physicians and a neonatal nurse practitioner.


Dr. John Patrick Cleary specializes in all aspects of neonatal intensive care at CHOC Children’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Dr. Cleary serves as the NICU Extracorporeal Life Support Program (ECLS) director at CHOC Children’s and is co-creator of an international conference NeoHeart, cardiovascular management of the neonate and is a founding board member of the Neonatal Heart Society.

Dr. Jay P. Goldsmith has been actively involved in perinatal education and has special interests in the areas of neonatal resuscitation, ventilation of newborns, performance improvement and neonatal ethics. Dr. Goldsmith’s publications include over 100 scientific articles, 25 book chapters and 6 editions of the textbook Assisted Ventilation of the Neonate. He has been foundational in the Neonatal Resuscitation Program development and updates. He continues to actively practice as a full professor and clinical neonatologist at Tulane University.

Dr. Morchi attended medical school at Dartmouth Medical School, completed residency training in pediatrics at Brown University School of Medicine, and conducted her pediatric cardiology and interventional fellowship in Denver, Colorado at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. With board certification in pediatrics and pediatric cardiology, Dr. Morchi specializes in interventional cardiology.

Mindy Morris, DNP, NNP-BC, CNS, C-ELBW is an Advanced Practice neonatal clinician with an aptitude for application of evidence into practice. She co-partnered in creating a Small Baby Unit dedicated to the interdisciplinary team care of the ELBW neonate. She has a passion for neuro-promotional, and family partnered care and strongly supports an interdisciplinary team-based approach to care.

Dr. Antoine Soliman is a neonatologist who is passionate about the care of extremely low birth weight premature infants. Dr. Soliman helped develop The Small Baby Unit, an exciting, recognized work that helped improve the outcomes of these fragile newborns. He is currently the Medical Director of Neonatal Intensive Care at Miller Children's and Women's Hospital in Long Beach, California.

Course Curriculum


  Instructions & Handouts
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  Two-Person CPAP Care Demonstration
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  Respiratory Strategies for the Prevention of Retinopathy of Prematurity
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  Cardio Respiratory QI Considerations & Suggested Reading
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  Evaluation
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Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
The course starts as soon as you enroll. You will have access to this course (videos) for two months. Please be sure to download lecture handouts for ongoing access to the content presented. You must complete and submit the Evaluation at the end of the course to receive CE.
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