Objectives: To evaluate the clinical characteristics, complication rates, and predictors of adverse outcomes related to peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) in newborns over a seven-year period in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Materials and Methods: This retrospective observational study included all neonates who underwent their first PICC placement between January 2017 and January 2024 in a single tertiary NICU. Demographic, clinical, and procedural data were collected, including birth weight, gestational age, catheter type, insertion site, dwell time, and reason for removal. Primary outcomes were PICC-related complications and catheter dwell time. Statistical analyses included chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests, Student’s t-test or ANOVA, and multivariable logistic regression to identify independent predictors of complications. Results: A total of 610 PICCs were evaluated. The mean gestational age was 31.0 ± 4.7 weeks, and the mean birth weight was 1579 ± 870 g. The majority of catheters (96.1%) terminated at the central location, with a mean dwell time of 12.9 ± 9.0 days. The most common removal reason was completion of therapy (60.3%), followed by mechanical complications (36.7%) and suspected infection (14.6%). Overall complication rate was 34.9%. In multivariable analysis, birth weight > 1000 g was associated with a lower risk of complications compared to 2000 g: OR 0.44, 0.21–0.92). Midline (OR 4.16, 1.76–9.83) and peripheral (OR 3.51, 1.82–6.76) terminations carried higher risk compared to central terminations. Use of antimicrobial-impregnated catheters reduced complication risk (OR 0.44, 0.26–0.74), while temporal vein insertion increased it (OR 4.14, 1.23–13.86). Conclusions: Low birth weight (<1000 g) and non-central catheter tip location are significant predictors of PICC-related complications in neonates, while antimicrobial-impregnated catheters have a protective effect. Targeted preventive strategies, strict adherence to insertion and maintenance bundles, and careful patient selection are recommended to improve outcomes in NICU patients.

Intestinal malrotation is estimated to occur in approximately 1 in 500 live births, although symptomatic cases are considerably less common. Midgut volvulus is a potentially devastating complication of malrotation that requires urgent evaluation because it may rapidly progress to intestinal ischemia and bowel loss. However, plain radiographs may be misleading when proximal obstruction produces a double-bubble-like appearance. We report a term female neonate who developed bilious vomiting on the first postnatal day. Initial radiography suggested duodenal atresia. Clinical deterioration with leukocytosis, elevated C-reactive protein, and rising lactate prompted urgent laparotomy at 48 hours of life. Severe midgut volvulus with three complete turns and near-total small-bowel ischemia was identified. Detorsion and planned second-look laparotomy allowed bowel preservation and completion of the Ladd procedure. Persistent postoperative obstruction later revealed a 30-cm post-ischemic fibrotic stricture requiring resection. Approximately 80 cm of small bowel and the colon were preserved. Midgut volvulus should remain in the differential diagnosis of neonatal bilious vomiting, even when radiography suggests duodenal atresia.

It is essential to assess not only the hematologic outcomes but also the immunologic and inflammatory consequences of RBC transfusion in preterm infants. T

Aims: To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of viral lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in young infants admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study included 235 young infants hospitalized with viral LRTI between January 2018 and January 2024. Patients were categorized into pre-pandemic (n=54), during the pandemic (n=64), and post-pandemic (n=117) periods. Demographic characteristics, viral pathogen distribution, respiratory support requirements, length of stay, and clinical morbidities were compared. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify predictors of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV).Results: RSV was the most frequently identified pathogen (49.8%), followed by SARS-CoV-2 (8.5%), influenza (6.4%), and rhinovirus (3.0%); no pathogen was detected in 24.7% of cases. Viral distribution differed significantly across pandemic periods (χ² test, p=0.017; Cramer’s V=0.35). RSV proportion increased from 40.7% (pre-pandemic) to 53.0% (post-pandemic), while SARS-CoV-2 emerged during the pandemic (20.3%). Respiratory support requirements differed significantly (p=0.002; Cramer’s V=0.22), with invasive ventilation decreasing from 50.0% (pre-pandemic) to 20.5% (post-pandemic). Length of NICU stay did not differ significantly among periods (p=0.354). Clinical morbidities were comparable across periods (all p>0.05). In multivariate analysis, RSV-related infection independently predicted IMV (OR 4.36, 95% CI 2.15-8.84, p

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive effect of laboratory results and blood gas values on the selection of respiratory support models in infants diagnosed with transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN). Method: The study was designed as a single‐center, retrospective study. Infants born with gestational age ≥ 35 weeks diagnosed with TTN during a 2‐year period were included. Demographic characteristics, laboratory parameters, respiratory support models, and length of hospital stay were recorded. The relationship between the obtained parameters and the percentage and duration of oxygen requirement, nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP), nasal synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation (nSIMV), intubation, and hospitalization duration was evaluated. Results: The study was completed with 327 infants. A correlation was found between pH and pCO2 values in the first blood gas analysis and the duration of oxygen administration ( p : 0.019 and p : 0.001), and between serum calcium levels and peak sodium levels and the duration of nSIMV ( p : 0.04 and p : 0.023). Low serum calcium, phosphorus, and initial sodium levels were identified in infants requiring invasive ventilation ( p : 0.001, p : 0.006, and p : 0.012, respectively). In the ROC analysis used to predict intubation, the cutoff value for calcium was determined as < 8.11 mg/dL (AUC 0.771, [95% CI: 0.669–0.872], p : <0.001). For predicting the need for nCPAP, the cutoff value for pH in the first blood gas analysis was < 7.32 (AUC 0.705, [95% CI: 0.586–0.823], p : 0.003), and for predicting the need for nSIMV, the cutoff value for pH was < 7.28 (AUC 0.599, [95% CI: 0.535–0.663], p : 0.003). Conclusions: It was determined that the initial blood gas pH and pCO2 values, as well as serum sodium, calcium, and phosphorus levels, could be used to predict the treatment model in infants diagnosed with TTN. Low calcium, phosphorus, and sodium levels were found in TTN‐diagnosed infants requiring invasive mechanical ventilation.

Objective The COVID-19 pandemic was declared a pandemic and a global health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020. COVID-19 infection is the most common cause of life-threatening acute respiratory tract infection in adults and older people but more mildly in the childhood age group. While the pandemic continues, there is no clear information about the vertical transmission of COVID-19 infection from the mother to the baby. Methods In our study, we aimed to examine vertical virus transmission (breast milk, amniotic fluid, placenta) in pregnant women with COVID-19 infection and to examine the demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of these infants. Our prospective and observational study was conducted in our hospital between March 1, 2020 and July 31, 2021. Results During the study period, a total of 24 infants were included. All infants were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit for postnatal follow-up. The virus was not detected in breast milk or amniotic fluids by the SARS-COV-2 reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test, and no evidence of vertical transmission was found. Conclusion In our study, no life-threatening complication was found in the babies of mothers infected with COVID-19 at birth. Babies born to mothers with COVID-19 infection did not develop any system findings that required specific treatment.