KEY POINTS 1. Parents with a history of multiple previous fetal/neonatal losses may find it difficult to care for a critically ill newborn infant. The fear of losing yet another child can be heartrending and traumatic. 2. An individual’s fundamental…
KEY POINTS 1. Esophageal surgery in neonates includes the treatment of esophageal atresia, gastroesophageal reflux, congenital esophageal stenosis, esophageal duplication, and vascular rings. 2. Esophageal atresia, with or without tracheoesophageal atresia, is the most common congenital anomaly of the esophagus,…
KEY POINTS 1. Congenital anorectal malformations and Hirschsprung disease present in neonates with symptoms of distal intestinal obstruction and distal gastrointestinal tract dysmotility. 2. Anorectal malformations are a congenital group of disorders that occur when the hindgut fails to develop…
KEY POINTS 1. Neonatal respiratory disease that requires surgery can have devastating consequences. Care for patients with these conditions involves a multidisciplinary team including neonatologists, pediatric surgeons, nurses, and respiratory therapists. 2. These surgical respiratory defects include upper airway stenosis,…
KEY POINTS 1. The processes leading to duodenal atresia and distal atresia are unknown but reflect a general defect in intestinal development. In the past, duodenal atresia was thought to result from failure of recanalization of the duodenal lumen, but…
KEY POINTS 1. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a potentially life-saving technology for newborns with refractory cardiopulmonary failure of reversible etiology. 2. ECMO involves draining deoxygenated venous blood, extracorporeal oxygenation and removal of carbon dioxide from the blood, and returning…
KEY POINTS 1. Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a disease of premature infants that results in life-threatening intestinal ischemia and necrosis. 2. Suspect NEC presents in a stable, formula-fed premature neonate who suddenly develops feeding intolerance and abdominal distention. Infants with…
KEY POINTS 1. Chromosomal abnormalities can be numerical abnormalities (aneuploidy), structural anomalies such as copy number variants (microdeletions or duplications), inversions, translocations, and the formation of isochromosomes or ring chromosomes. 2. Sex chromosome abnormalities such as Turner syndrome, triple X…
KEY POINTS 1. Considering and making a genetic diagnosis early can help direct evaluation and management in the newborn, leading to better patient care. 2. Significant renal disease and subsequent pulmonary disease are common in autosomal recessive kidney disease, requiring…
KEY POINTS 1. Birth defects are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children and are present in 3% to 6% of births. 2. The most common birth defects, which account for nearly half of the birth defects…