The Incubator

Send us a textThis week, journal club covers a wide variety of topics including: A trial on using sildenafil for brain injury in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). The safety and feasibility of sildenafil as a restorative treatment are explored.The effectiveness of NIR-CIVIMAB for RSV prevention in infants. The focus is on reducing hospitalizations due to RSV-associated lower respiratory tract infections.The impact of antenatal corticosteroid treatment during late preterm periods on neonatal outcomes, especially in twin pregnancies.A study on energy drink intake before and during pregnancy and its association with adverse pregnancy outcomes.Jennifer Canvasser's meeting with the FDA regarding probiotic use in NICUs and the implications of recent FDA warnings.Research on early and exclusive enteral nutrition in preterm infants, the time taken to reach target cooling temperature in infants with HIE, and the potential role of blood transfusions in bronchopulmonary dysplasia.These topics are critically analyzed and discussed, providing insights into current neonatal care practices and research developments. 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!

Send us a textFeasibility and safety of sildenafil to repair brain injury secondary to birth asphyxia (SANE-01): A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase Ib clinical trial. Wintermark P, Lapointe A, Steinhorn R, Rampakakis E, Burhenne J, Meid AD, Bajraktari-Sylejmani G, Khairy M, Altit G, Adamo MT, Poccia A, Gilbert G, Saint-Martin C, Toffoli D, Vachon J, Hailu E, Colin P, Haefeli WE.J Pediatr. 2023 Dec 21:113879. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2023.113879. Online ahead of print.PMID: 38142044 Free 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!

Send us a textPositioning for lumbar puncture in newborn infants. Pessano S, Bruschettini M, Prescott MG, Romantsik O.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023 Dec 14;12(12):CD015592. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD015592.pub3.PMID: 38096386 Review.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!

Send us a textEarly and exclusive enteral nutrition in infants born very preterm.Razzaghy J, Shukla VV, Gunawan E, Reeves A, Nguyen K, Salas AA.Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2023 Dec 22:fetalneonatal-2023-325969. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2023-325969. Online ahead of print.PMID: 38135494As 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!

Send us a textLearn more about the work done by the NEC Society here: https://necsociety.org/2024/01/03/nec-society-fda-meeting-on-probiotics/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!

Send us a textHappy 2024! We kick off the new year with an exceptional episode. This week, we delve deep with Dr. Terri Major-Kincade, a neonatologist whose career is a testament to the power of empathy in medicine. Dr. Major-Kincade shares intricate details of her path, shaped by her sister's premature birth, leading to her life's mission in neonatology. She explores the complexities of providing hope in the NICU, the ethical dimensions of palliative care, and how personal experiences can enrich professional practice. The conversation also navigates the intricate balance of work and life in the demanding world of neonatal care. For specialists seeking to deepen their practice with empathy and evidence-based insight, this episode is a reservoir of wisdom and encouragement. 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!

Send us a textThis week, on Journal Club we wrap up 2023 with several interesting articles. From the POPART trial's insights into noninvasive surfactant delivery to the controversial use of saline boluses in preterm infants, this episode promises to give you things to think about during the holiday season. As we bid farewell to 2023, join us for a journey through the latest advancements that have challenged and enlightened us. We scrutinize the outcomes of administering oropharyngeal surfactant and examine the physiological effects of normal saline boluses on the tiniest patients. Each segment unveils critical takeaways, urging a reevaluation of established practices and spotlighting the synergy of interdisciplinary collaboration for enhancing neonatal health care.Looking ahead, we're excited to share a glimpse of the upcoming podcast series that will further our mission of education and support for both practitioners and families. From "At the Bench" with its focus on the nitty-gritty of basic science research to the NICU Family Podcast aimed at deciphering medical jargon for parents, we're expanding our network to bring diverse perspectives under one roof. Stay tuned as we recharge during our brief hiatus, and prepare to return with more episodes that promise to inspire, challenge, and evolve the world of neonatology. 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!

Send us a textIn this insightful episode of our special podcast series on managing respiratory distress, we welcome Andy Niccol, General Manager for Respiratory Humidification at Fisher & Paykel Healthcare. Andy brings his 18 years of product design experience in the medical device industry to the table, discussing the challenges and breakthroughs in designing respiratory care devices for neonatal, pediatric, and adult patients.Andy delves into the complex process of product development, emphasizing the need for deep understanding of clinical problems and patient needs. He shares how his team embeds itself in clinical environments to develop empathy with caregivers and patients, thereby creating innovative and valuable solutions. Andy gives concrete examples from his work, such as the development of the Optiflow Junior nasal high flow cannula and FlexiTrunk interface, demonstrating the intricate balance between patient safety, comfort, and effective therapy delivery.The conversation also touches on the critical aspect of user feedback in product design, especially when dealing with delicate patients like neonates. Andy candidly shares a story of a design failure that led to significant improvements in their approach to prototyping and testing.Lastly, the episode explores Fisher & Paykel's philosophy of 'care by design' – prioritizing patient outcomes in every design decision. Andy's passion for improving neonatal care shines through as he discusses future trends and the increasing shift towards non-invasive respiratory support. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of engineering, product design, and neonatal 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!

Send us a textWelcome back to another episode of the Incubator Podcast, where we continue exploring the management of respiratory distress in neonates. In this episode, we have the pleasure of welcoming back Dr. Lonnie Miner, who brings his wealth of knowledge in neonatal respiratory care to our ongoing discussion.Dr. Miner dives into the critical topic of weaning neonates from invasive ventilation, he discusses the need for standardized extubation guidelines, sharing insights into the criteria for successfully transitioning from high-frequency ventilation to conventional methods, and ultimately, to non-invasive supports. The conversation also covers the nuanced differences in managing various neonatal pathologies, highlighting the importance of individualized care. An interesting aspect of this episode is the exploration of different non-invasive ventilation modalities post-extubation, such as CPAP, nasal IMV, and NAVA. Dr. Miner provides a detailed analysis of each method, discussing their advantages, limitations, and appropriateness for specific clinical scenarios. He stresses the importance of understanding and being consistent with the chosen method, ensuring it meets the baby's physiological needs.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!

Send us a textJoin us in the third episode of our "Managing Respiratory Distress" series on The Incubator Podcast, featuring Dr. Lonnie Miner and Dr. Amy Miner. Our guests today unravel the intricacies of high-flow nasal cannula and CPAP in the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in neonates. Dr. Lonnie Miner, Assistant Professor in the Division of Neonatology at the University of Utah, School of Medicine, and Dr. Amy Miner, a Neonatology Fellow at Rutgers University, engage in a thorough discussion about the practical differences and physiological impacts of high-flow nasal cannula and CPAP. They emphasize the significance of understanding how much pressure is actually delivered to the neonates, exploring the challenges in measuring this accurately.The conversation covers a range of topics, including the evolution of high-flow nasal cannula, its application in different clinical settings, and the importance of humidification in respiratory support. Our speakers also delve into the nuances of airway resistance and lung compliance, highlighting how these factors influence the effectiveness of respiratory support modalities.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!