ali

Hello Everyone, I am intrigued to learn what your views are on determining whether reticulocyte counts have a bearing on your decision to transfuse or not, and whether or not you have a set guideline. Thanks Alistair

Hi from UK, our unit (Level 3), a number of our nurses cannulate and in doing so can take for cultures etc, there is also optional training for nurses who wish to draw arterial samples. As a nurse myself this can sometimes become a double edged sword as your commitments can be stretched across a bust unit at times. We also have a tier of Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioners trained for all access and airway procedures. Best wishes Alistair

Hi Stefan, Here in the UK I've been watching Wallander. Not the ponderous BBC version but the Swedish original. I think it is a fantastic series, the cast is strong and the landscape evocative. Is it received well in Sweden? Alistair

Many Happy Returns !! Fantastic Resource, Fantastic Forum

I also recommend the e neonatal reviews by john hopkins, extremely accessible on current topics (including podcasts)

Neonatal Pain - Suffering, Pain and Risk of Brain Damage in the Fetus and Newborn (ed Buonocore & Bellieni) 2008 This book offers up a wide ranging selection of topics, from intrauterine biochemical markers of stress, the experinces of fetal stress, through to an overview of the risk factors for brain damage. Each chapter in itself is relatively brief in the discussion matter, but in recognition of this the every chapter is underpinned by a wealth of references to current literature on the subject matter. This in turn reassure the reader that it is within their reach to widen their knowledge base if they so wish. The multi professional approach means that this is a book one is able to access from a given professional point of view. For myself as a neonatal nurse I naturally gravitated initially to a chapter on pain assessment and one on neonatal pain control. Clearly written and presented these chapters explored the recognised pharmacological and non-pharmacological adjuncts available to the neonatal team. Readers with an obstetric, midwifery or gynaecological interest would, I feel sure, access the book from those chapters within their professional remit, such as 'Gonadal Hormones and Pain Modulation' as well as 'Pain Control during Labour'. To the editors and authors credit every chapter carries the reader through the salient points with a clear logical progression. I commend any book that maintains the profile of fetal and neonatal pain and suffering, whilst gently challenging the reader to reflect upon personal current practices within their own discipline. As such this book would act as a good point of reference on both a neonatal unit or delivery suite.

Hi, In the coming months we are looking to replace the pneupac ventilators on our transport kits. I would welcome any opinions and thoughts on a replacement. Do any of you use the Fabian, and if so what are your experiences (we did have it on trial last year but not out on the road) Thanks everyone. Alistair

Hello Stefan, I would like to review the issue of pain and the neonate, there is a current publication on the subject by Buonocore and Bellieni available on Amazon. Best wishes Alistair

Hello colleagues, as part of a nursing review on a our Unit, we are examining the level of experience currently held on the Unit, as well as nursing numbers, compared with that that is perceived to underpin positive outcomes for our patients in mortality and morbidity. To that end I am writing to enquire if anyone has read any, or knows of any pieces of literature that would help inform our review. Best wishes Alistair

Hello all, We are a level three unit looking to reconfigure our neonatal transport trolley for road transfers. I am intrigued as to the various configurations that you must be using and anecdotally what you have found works with regard positioning of equipment on the trolley itself, if you are able to attach a picture of your kit even better. My email is alih.1@btinternet.com With thanks Ali

Hello Forum, I would be grateful for your thoughts and experiences on a recent acute episode of hemolysis that was neither incompatibillity nor sepsis, and was eventually attributed to the fact that the infant had been receiving a third generation cephalosporin. Ali

Hello to you all, I am intrigued as to your current approach to the neonate with a confirmed thrombosis. Thanks with anticipation

For a term infant we give once a day, which leads me to ask, when do you take levels (we routinely take prior to the third dose)

Hi, we use the portex tube with flange. A recurring debate is cutting a slightly longer tube and clipping the flange on the tube thus allowing the user to advance/pull the tube if it is found to be too short/long on CXR and so avoiding reintubation. Does it hold the tube adequately without reducing the internal diameter? Any other suggestions for ETT that you can alter the length in situ greatly appreciated. Regards Al