Potential medium- and long-term neurodevelopmental sequelae of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection during pregnancy have not been ruled out. We aimed to systematically review and summarize the evidence regarding the effects of intrauterine exposure to SARS-CoV-2 on infant development and behavior. Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, and PsycNet databases were searched for studies published up to February 6, 2023, investigating the effects of gestational SARS-CoV-2 on infant development and behavior. We performed narrative synthesis according to updated protocols. Studies using comparison groups and with the Ages and Stages Questionnaires-Third Edition (ASQ-3) scores available were included in a meta-analysis performed according to Cochrane protocols. We used the Newcastle–Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale to analyze the risk of bias. Heterogeneity was calculated using the I² statistic. The search identified 2,782 studies. After removing duplicates and applying the eligibility criteria, we performed a narrative synthesis of 10 included studies and a meta-analysis of three. There was no evidence of higher developmental delay rates in infants exposed to SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy compared to non-exposed infants. However, the exposed infants scored lower than either the non-exposed children or pre-pandemic cohorts in some domains. Pooled results from the random-effects model indicated that SARS-CoV-2-exposed infants had lower scores on fine motor (mean difference [MD] = -4.70, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -8.76; -0.63), and problem-solving (MD = -3.05, 95% CI: -5.88; -0.22) domains than non-exposed infants (heterogeneity: I² = 69% and 88%, respectively). There was no difference between the exposed and non-exposed infants in the communication, gross motor, and personal-social ASQ-3 domains.   Conclusion: We did not find evidence confirming the association between SARS-CoV-2 gestational exposure and neurodevelopmental delays. However, the meta-analysis indicated that gestational exposure negatively affected fine motor and problem-solving skills. Robust evidence on this topic is still incipient, and the available studies present methodological inconsistencies that limit the drawing of clear-cut conclusions.   PROSPERO registration: #CRD42022308002; March 14, 2022. What is Known: • COVID-19 is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes potentially linked to neurodevelopmental delays. • SARS-CoV-2 vertical transmission is rare; however, infections during pregnancy can be deleterious to the fetus, possibly mediated by maternal immune activation and other inflammatory mechanisms. What is New: • No evidence of increased developmental delay rates among SARS-CoV-2 gestational-exposed infants was found. However, a meta-analysis of three studies showed lower scores in fine motor and personal social ASQ-3 domains among exposed infants. • SARS-CoV-2 gestational exposure and the pandemic can affect child development via many mechanisms. Potential neurodevelopmental sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 exposure during gestation have not been ruled out.

Resumo Objetivo Descrever o início, duração, local e quem realiza o contato pele a pele em unidades neonatais brasileiras. Métodos Estudo multicêntrico descritivo, longitudinal, realizado de maio de 2018 a março de 2020, em cinco unidades neonatais referência para o Método Canguru no Brasil, que incluiu recém-nascidos com peso até 1800g. As características maternas e dos recém-nascidos foram coletadas em prontuários e entrevistas. A prática do contato pele a pele era registrada em cartões anexados ao leito, preenchidos pela equipe [...] Resumo Objetivo Descrever o início, duração, local e quem realiza o contato pele a pele em unidades neonatais brasileiras. Métodos Estudo multicêntrico descritivo, longitudinal, realizado de maio de 2018 a março de 2020, em cinco unidades neonatais referência para o Método Canguru no Brasil, que incluiu recém-nascidos com peso até 1800g. As características maternas e dos recém-nascidos foram coletadas em prontuários e entrevistas. A prática do contato pele a pele era registrada em cartões anexados ao leito, preenchidos pela equipe

Resumo Esta revisão integrativa da literatura teve como objetivo verificar se o Método Canguru, conforme instituído no Brasil, desde a primeira etapa até o acompanhamento ambulatorial, tem influência sobre o aleitamento materno. Foram incluídas pesquisas realizadas no Brasil, publicadas em periódicos nacionais e internacionais, nas principais bases de dados, em português, inglês ou espanhol, nos anos de 2000 a 2017, disponíveis na íntegra e com a temática relacionada com o objetivo deste estudo. Foram encontrados 1328 artigos sendo excluídos artigos não realizados no Brasil, artigos de revisão da literatura e de temáticas não relacionadas com o Método Canguru, sendo então selecionados 21 estudos. As pesquisas encontradas apontaram para uma influência positiva do Método Canguru sobre o aleitamento materno e estabelecimento de vínculo entre mãe-filho. No entanto, a terceira etapa ou acompanhamento ambulatorial, não se mostrou eficaz na manutenção do aleitamento materno. Faz-se necessário maior participação da atenção básica nos cuidados domiciliares prestados ao recém-nascido pré-termo, com vistas à promoção do aleitamento materno exclusivo até os seis meses de idade e complementado até os dois anos.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe practices for weaning from mechanical ventilation (MV), in terms of the use of protocols, methods, and criteria, in pediatric ICUs (PICUs), neonatal ICUs (NICUs), and mixed neonatal/pediatric ICUs (NPICUs) in Brazil. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey carried out by sending an electronic questionnaire to a total of 298 NICUs, PICUs, and NPICUs throughout Brazil. Results: Completed questionnaires were assessed for 146 hospitals, NICUs accounting for 49.3% of the questionnaires received, whereas PICUs and NPICUs accounted for 35.6% and 15.1%, respectively. Weaning protocols were applied in 57.5% of the units. In the NICUs and NPICUs that used weaning protocols, the method of MV weaning most commonly employed (in 60.5% and 50.0%, respectively) was standardized gradual withdrawal from ventilatory support, whereas that employed in most (53.0%) of the PICUs was spontaneous breathing trial (SBT). During the SBTs, the most common ventilation mode, in all ICUs, was pressure-support ventilation (10.03 +/- 3.15 cmH(2)O) with positive end-expiratory pressure. The mean SBT duration was 35.76 +/- 29.03 min in the NICUs, compared with 76.42 +/- 41.09 min in the PICUs. The SBT parameters, weaning ventilation modes, and time frame considered for extubation failure were not found to be dependent on the age profile of the ICU population. The findings of the clinical evaluation and arterial blood gas analysis are frequently used as criteria to assess readiness for extubation, regardless of the age group served by the ICU. Conclusions: In Brazil, the clinical practices for weaning from MV and extubation appear to vary depending on the age group served by the ICU. It seems that weaning protocols and SBTs are used mainly in PICUs, whereas gradual withdrawal from ventilatory support is more widely used in NICUs and NPICUs.

To evaluate the impact of invasive mechanical ventilation associated with two serum inflammatory cytokines and clinical indicators, on the second day of life, as predictors of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in very low birth weight preterm infants. It was hypothesized that the use of invasive mechanical ventilation in the first hours of life is associated with biomarkers that may predict the chances of preterm infants to develop bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Prospective cohort of 40 preterm infants with gestational age <34 weeks and birth weight <1500 g. The following were analyzed: clinical variables; types of ventilator support used (there is a higher occurrence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia when oxygen supplementation is performed by long periods of invasive mechanical ventilation); hospitalization time; quantification of two cytokines (granulocyte and macrophage colony stimulating factor [GM-CSF] and eotaxin) in blood between 36 and 48 h of life. The preterm infants were divided in two groups: with and without bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The GM-CSF levels presented a significantly higher value in the bronchopulmonary dysplasia group (p = 0.002), while eotaxin presented higher levels in the group without bronchopulmonary dysplasia (p = 0.02). The use of continuous invasive mechanical ventilation was associated with increased ratios between GM-CSF and eotaxin (100% sensitivity and 80% specificity; receiver operating characteristic area = 0.9013, CI = 0.7791-1.024, p < 0.0001). The duration of invasive mechanical ventilation performed in the first 48 h of life in the very low birth weight infants is a significant clinical predictor of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The use of continuous invasive mechanical ventilation was associated with increased ratios between GM-CSF and eotaxin, suggesting increased lung injury and consequent progression of the disease.