
The Incubator
A weekly discussion about new evidence in neonatal care and the fascinating individuals who make this progress possible. Hosted by Dr. Ben Courchia and Dr. Daphna Yasova Barbeau.
Latest episodes

Jul 21, 2024 • 16min
#228 - [Journal Club Shorts] - ❤️ -Vasopressin for refractory acute pulmonary hypertension
Send us a textVasopressin in newborns with refractory acute pulmonary hypertension.Ouellet S, Drolet C, Morissette G, Pellerin A, Hébert A.Pediatr Res. 2024 May;95(6):1572-1577. doi: 10.1038/s41390-023-02995-3. Epub 2024 Jan 11.PMID: 38212386As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below. Enjoy!

Jul 21, 2024 • 8min
#228 - [Journal Club Shorts] - ❤️ - Cardiopulmonary effects of diuretics on preemies w chronic pulmonary hypertension
Send us a textCardiopulmonary physiological effects of diuretic therapy in preterm infants with chronic pulmonary hypertension.Zhu F, Ibarra Rios D, Joye S, Baczynski M, Rios D, Giesinger RE, McNamara PJ, Jain A.J Perinatol. 2023 Oct;43(10):1288-1294. doi: 10.1038/s41372-023-01742-0. Epub 2023 Aug 7.PMID: 37550529As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below. Enjoy!

Jul 21, 2024 • 16min
#228 - [Journal Club Shorts] - ❤️ - PDA & BPD-Associated Pulmonary Hypertension: A Bayesian Meta-Analysis.
Send us a textPatent Ductus Arteriosus and Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia-Associated Pulmonary Hypertension: A Bayesian Meta-Analysis.Villamor E, van Westering-Kroon E, Gonzalez-Luis GE, Bartoš F, Abman SH, Huizing MJ.JAMA Netw Open. 2023 Nov 1;6(11):e2345299. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.45299.PMID: 38015504 Free PMC article.As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below. Enjoy!

Jul 17, 2024 • 45min
#227 - 🔬Decoding Lung Development (ft Dr. Erin Plosa)
Send us a textIn this episode of the Incubator: At the Bench, we talk with Dr. Erin Plosa who is a neonatologist and physician scientist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. We learn what inspired Dr. Plosa to pursue neonatology and learn about her background and career as a lung biologist. Dr. Plosa talks about the importance of collaboration in scientific research and highlights her work studying the role of integrins and the extracellular matrix during lung development. She discusses the role of the extracellular matrix in alveologenesis, fusion of the alveolar capillary barrier, and in directing communication between epithelial and endothelial cells. We also discuss Erin's experience with mentorship and career development, including her transition into becoming a mentor and winning mentoring awards. Erin shares her approach to mentoring and the importance of fostering intellectual curiosity. Join us as we learn more about what it takes to build a career as a neonatology physician-scientist and how the extracellular matrix directs lung development and response to injury. As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below. Enjoy!

Jul 14, 2024 • 53min
#226 - 🧠 Rethinking Newborn Brain Injury, a conversation with Dr. Terrie Inder
Send us a textIn this engaging episode of The Incubator podcast, Dr. Terrie Inder, a pioneer in neonatal neurology, shares her journey and insights into newborn brain development. Dr. Inder discusses the complexities of neonatal brain injury, emphasizing that it's not just about visible hemorrhages, but also about the brain's overall maturation process. She highlights the importance of understanding "brain dysmanturation" and how the NICU environment significantly impacts neurodevelopment.Dr. Inder challenges the neonatal community to rethink their approach to brain care, advocating for more family involvement, enriched environments, and tailored interventions for babies with brain injuries. She stresses the need for better hemodynamic management and a sociocultural shift in NICU care delivery.The conversation also touches on the controversial topic of routine MRI scans, with Dr. Inder arguing for their value in risk profiling and guiding care. She encourages neonatologists to embrace learning about brain imaging and improve their communication skills with families.Throughout the episode, Dr. Inder's passion for improving outcomes for NICU babies shines through, offering listeners valuable insights and a call to action for enhancing neonatal brain care. As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below. Enjoy!

Jul 10, 2024 • 1h 24min
#225 - 🌍 Low Tech High Impact. Caring for neonates in Arusha Tanzania (ft Dr. Stephen Swanson)
Send us a textIn this episode, Dr. Stephen Swanson shares his journey of establishing a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Arusha, Tanzania. He emphasizes the importance of addressing medical culture and involving nurses, doctors, and families in the care of critically ill and premature babies. Dr. Swanson highlights the success of a low-tech approach, including the use of blended, warmed, and humidified CPAP, and the importance of attention to detail, thermal regulation, respiratory support, nutrition, and infection prevention. He also discusses the challenges of relying on donated equipment and the need for innovative biomedical engineering solutions. Dr. Swanson also highlights the need for appropriate training and skill development for healthcare providers, as well as the importance of collaboration and sharing of best practices. He shares his experience in organizing the Tiny Feet Big Steps African Neonatology Conference, which aims to provide practical skills and knowledge to healthcare professionals in Africa. Dr. Swanson also discusses his vision for the Institute for Child Healthcare Africa, which aims to promote quality pediatric care and build a mother and child hospital in Tanzania. Resources mentioned in episode: Tiny Feet Big Steps conference: https://tinyfeetbigsteps.com/Institute for Child Healthcare (ICHA): https://www.tanzanianchildren.com/Every Breath Counts: Lessons Learned in developing a training NICU in Northern Tanzania: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2022.958628/full Contact: swan0027@umn.edu Episode Webpage Link: https://www.the-incubator.org/post/225-low-tech-high-impact-caring-for-neonates-in-arusha-tanzania-ft-dr-stephen-swanson As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below. Enjoy!

Jul 7, 2024 • 1h 28min
#224 - 📑 Journal Club - The complete episode (July 7 2024)
Send us a textIn this packed episode of Journal Club, Ben and Daphna review eleven recent papers covering a range of neonatology topics. They discuss a study on CRP use in early-onset sepsis evaluations, finding that high CRP use was associated with increased antibiotic administration. Another paper examined iron supplementation in healthy breastfed infants, showing no significant developmental benefits at 12-36 months.They review a JAMA Network Open study on the long term outcomes of infants enrolled in the umbilical cord milking study MINVI. They also cover a paper on cannabis use in pregnancy, noting a significantly increased risk of fetal death associated with maternal cannabis use.Other topics include antibiotic exposure and BPD risk in very preterm infants, comparisons of different BPD definitions, and the effects of phototherapy on plasma metabolites in preterm infants with hyperbilirubinemia.The episode features a special segment with Dr. James Sotiropoulos discussing his recent paper on initial oxygen concentrations for resuscitating extremely preterm infants. The study found a potential mortality benefit with higher initial FiO2, though more research is needed.Ben and Daphna also review papers on improving NICU communication and antenatal consultation practices. They close by welcoming new trainees starting in July and reminding listeners about The Incubator's board review resources for neonatology fellows.Overall, this comprehensive episode provides an excellent overview of recent impactful research across multiple areas of neonatology and perinatal medicine. As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below. Enjoy!

Jul 7, 2024 • 15min
#224 - [Journal Club Shorts] - 📌 Initial FiO2 for resuscitation of babies born <32 weeks
Send us a textInitial Oxygen Concentration for the Resuscitation of Infants Born at Less Than 32 Weeks' Gestation: A Systematic Review and Individual Participant Data Network Meta-Analysis.Sotiropoulos JX, Oei JL, Schmölzer GM, Libesman S, Hunter KE, Williams JG, Webster AC, Vento M, Kapadia V, Rabi Y, Dekker J, Vermeulen MJ, Sundaram V, Kumar P, Kaban RK, Rohsiswatmo R, Saugstad OD, Seidler AL.JAMA Pediatr. 2024 Jun 24:e241848. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.1848. Online ahead of print.PMID: 38913382As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below. Enjoy!

Jul 7, 2024 • 8min
#224 - [Journal Club Shorts] - 📌 Antenatal Consultation Through the Lens of Decision Science
Send us a textAntenatal Consultation Research and Practices Through the Lens of Decision Science. Haward MF, Lorenz JM, Fischhoff B.J Pediatr. 2024 Jun 26:114173. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2024.114173. Online ahead of print.PMID: 38942356 No abstract available.As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below. Enjoy!

Jul 7, 2024 • 6min
#224 - [Journal Club Shorts] - 📌 Early antibiotics and Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Send us a textEarly Antibiotic Exposure and Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in Very Preterm Infants at Low Risk of Early-Onset Sepsis.Shi W, Chen Z, Shi L, Jiang S, Zhou J, Gu X, Lei X, Xiao T, Zhu Y, Qian A, Zhou W, Lee SK, Du L, Yang J, Ma X, Hu L; Chinese Neonatal Network.JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Jun 3;7(6):e2418831. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.18831.PMID: 38935376 Free PMC article. As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below. Enjoy!