Extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) has been used in the literature and clinical practice to describe inadequate growth in preterm infants. Significant variability is seen in the criteria for EUGR, with no standard definition reached to date. Moreover, no consensus on the optimal timing for assessment or the ideal growth monitoring tool has been achieved, and an ongoing debate persists on the appropriate terminology to express poor postnatal growth. To ensure an adequate understanding of growth and early intervention in preterm infants at higher risk, it is critical to relate the diagnostic criteria of EUGR to the ability to predict adverse outcomes, such as neurodevelopmental outcomes. This narrative review was conducted to present evidence that evaluates neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants with EUGR, comparing separately the different definitions of this concept by weight (cross-sectional, longitudinal and “true” EUGR). In this article, we highlight the challenges of comparing various published studies on the subject, even when subclassifying by the definition of EUGR, due to the significant variability on the criteria used for each definition and for the evaluation of neurodevelopmental outcomes in different papers. This heterogeneity compromises the obtention of a single firm conclusion on the relation between different definitions of EUGR and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Infants might be exposed to pain during their admissions in the neonatal intensive care unit [NICU], both from their underlying conditions and several invasive procedures required during their stay. Considering the particularities of this population, recognition and adequate management of pain continues to be a challenge for neonatologists and investigators. Diverse therapies are available for treatment, including non-pharmacological pain management measures and pharmacological agents (sucrose, opioids, midazolam, acetaminophen, topical agents…) and research continues. In recent years one of the most promising drugs for analgesia has been dexmedetomidine, an alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist. It has shown a promising efficacy and safety profile as it produces anxiolysis, sedation and analgesia without respiratory depression. Moreover, studies have shown a neuroprotective role in animal models which could be beneficial to neonatal population, especially in preterm newborns. Side effects of this therapy are mainly cardiovascular, but in most studies published, those were not severe and did not require specific therapeutic measures for their resolution. The main objective of this article is to summarize the existing literature on neonatal pain management strategies available and review the efficacy of dexmedetomidine as a new therapy with increasing use in the NICU.

The prevalence of postnatal growth faltering (PGF) in preterm infants with very low birth weight (VLBW) (<1500 g) is a universal problem. Growth improvement is expected as neonatal care is optimized. Objectives: To determine if there has been a decrease in the prevalence of PGF and an improvement in height at 2 years in appropriate for gestational age VLBW children in the last two decades. Methods: Clinical descriptive retrospective analysis of neonatal somatometry at birth and at two-year corrected age in VLBW preterm infants. Small for gestational age were excluded. Two cohorts (2002–2006, n = 112; and 2013–2017, n = 92) were compared. Results. In the second five-year period, a decrease in prevalence of PGF was observed (36.6% vs. 22.8%, p = 0.033), an increase in growth rate in the first 28 days (5.22 (4.35–6.09) g/kg/day vs. 11.38 (10.61–12.15) g/kg/day, p < 0.0001) and an increase in height standard deviation (SD) at 2 years (−1.12 (−1.35–−0.91) vs. −0.74 (−0.99–−0.49) p = 0.023). Probability of short stature at 2 years was directly related to daily weight gain in the first 28 days. Conclusions: when comparing two five-year periods in the last two decades, growth in VLBW preterm infants has improved, both during neonatal period and at two years of age.

Background: Controversy between short-term neonatal growth of very low birth-weight preterm (VLBW) and neurodevelopment may be affected by criteria changes of extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR). Objective: to determine if new EUGR criteria imply modifications in the relationship between old criteria and results of neuropsychological tests in preterm children. Patients and methods: 87 VLBW at 5–7 years of age were studied. Neuropsychological assessment included RIST test (Reynolds Intellectual Sctreening Test) and NEPSY-II (NE neuro, PSY psycolgy assessment) tests. The relationships between these tests and the different growth parameters were analyzed. Results: RIST index was correlated with z-score Fenton’s weight (p = 0.004) and length (p = 0.003) and with z-score IGW-21’s (INTERGRWTH-21 Project) weight (p = 0.004) and length (p = 0.003) at neonatal discharge, but not with z-score difference between birth and neonatal discharge in weight, length, and HC for both. We did not find a statistically significant correlation between Fenton or IGW-21 z-scores and scalar data of NEPSY-II subtasks. Conclusion: In our series, neonatal growth influence on neuropsychological tests at the beginning of primary school does not seem robust, except for RIST test. New EUGR criteria do not improve the predictive ability of the old ones.

Background and objectives: Variable diagnostic criteria and growth charts have been used for extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR). The objective was to assess the prevalence and concordance of EUGR in extremely-low-birthweight (ELBW) infants with the most frequent diagnostic criteria and growth charts. Materials and methods: An observational, retrospective and multicenter study was conducted from 2011 to 2020 including ELBW infants from the Spanish SEN1500 Network. EUGR prevalence was calculated at discharge using different definitions: cross-sectional (anthropometry less than the 10th centile), longitudinal (decrease of more than 1 SD from birth to discharge), “true” cross-sectional and “true” longitudinal (using the criteria previously described, excluding infants small for gestational age at birth). Concordance among Fenton, Olsen and INTERGROWTH-21st was assessed with Fleiss’ Kappa coefficient. Results: The prevalence of EUGR was variable with the different definitions and growth references studied in the 7914 ELBW infants included. Overall, it was higher with Fenton for all the EUGR criteria studied by weight and length. The agreement among growth charts was substantial (κ > 0.6) for all the definitions except for longitudinal EUGR by weight (moderate, κ = 0.578). Conclusions: The prevalence of EUGR was variable in our cohort with the different diagnostic criteria and growth charts. The agreement among charts was good for all the definitions of EUGR except longitudinal EUGR by weight.