Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2025
Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats
Published on: November 20, 2015
Complications of Preterm Birth-The Importance of Care for the Outcome: A Narrative Review
Jelica Zivaljevic1, Miljana Z Jovandaric1, Sandra Babic2
1Department of Neonatology, Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Clinical Center of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
Insights
Premature infants face adaptation challenges due to immature systems. Minimally invasive care and parental presence significantly reduce negative developmental impacts for these vulnerable newborns.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Pediatric Intensive Care
Background:
- Preterm infants exhibit vulnerability in respiratory, cardiovascular, and cerebrovascular systems.
- The final trimester is critical for fetal brain development, characterized by rapid neuronal growth and synaptogenesis.
- Transitioning from the protected intrauterine environment to the NICU exposes preterm infants to overwhelming stimuli, risking neurodevelopmental harm.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the challenges faced by preterm infants during neonatal adaptation.
- To highlight the impact of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) environment on immature nervous systems.
- To identify interventions that mitigate adverse developmental outcomes in preterm neonates.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science.
- Inclusion of peer-reviewed articles published in English between 1990 and 2024.
- Analysis of selected studies focusing on preterm infant adaptation and neurodevelopmental consequences.
Main Results:
- The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) environment presents numerous stressors, including light, noise, and painful procedures.
- These external stimuli can overload the developing nervous system, potentially disrupting programmed neurodevelopment.
- Maternal absence and separation from the family contribute to stress in preterm infants.
Conclusions:
- Minimally invasive therapeutic approaches are crucial for reducing harm to preterm infants.
- Parental presence during hospitalization is a significant factor in mitigating the negative consequences of prematurity.
- Supporting parental involvement can positively influence the developmental trajectory of preterm neonates.
Abstract:
Preterm-born children are susceptible to problems of adaptation in the early neonatal period, as well as the emergence of consequences due to the immaturity of the respiratory, cardiovascular, and especially cerebrovascular systems. The authors searched PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science for articles that were available in their entirety and published in English between 1990 and 2024 in peer-reviewed journals using keywords relevant to the manuscript topic. Analyzing the requested studies and manuscripts, adequate articles describing the stated problem were used. The last trimester of pregnancy is the most important period in brain development. Brain growth is at its most intense, and nerve cells are created, multiply, and migrate, creating numerous connections between them and receptors. During this period, the baby is protected from the influence of external environmental factors. When a baby is born, it leaves its protected environment and very often requires intensive treatment to survive. In these circumstances, the immature nervous system, which is in a sensitive stage of development, is overloaded with numerous external stimuli, continuous light, noise, inappropriate positioning, and repeated painful reactions due to necessary diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and the unavoidable absence of the mother and the family, which cause stress that threatens proper programmed development. Minimally invasive therapeutic procedures and the presence of parents during hospitalization play a significant role in reducing the consequences for a premature child.
More Related Videos
14:43A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
Published on: January 12, 2018
11:50Clinical Practice Protocol of Creative Music Therapy for Preterm Infants and Their Parents in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Published on: January 7, 2020
Related Concept Videos
01:30Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment
01:21Planning Nursing Care I
01:11Guidelines for Writing Outcome
Patient outcomes reflect the patient's response to the goal rather than what the nurse aims to achieve. Terminology should be observable and measurable to avoid the reader's interpretation. The desired outcome should be realistic and achievable in the designated care timeframe. Expected outcomes should align with adjunctive therapies. The outcome should enhance care...
01:19Respiratory Assessment: Purpose and Indications
Objectives and Importance:
The primary goal of respiratory assessment is to evaluate patients at early risk of clinical deterioration. Since respiratory distress often precedes other signs of declining health, breathing patterns and sounds become a...
01:22Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
01:20Introduction to Documentation and Reporting
Nursing documentation records essential information and details regarding a patient's care and treatment in written or electronic form. It is a critical aspect of nursing practice that involves documenting assessments, interventions, outcomes, and other relevant details about a patient's health status.
Documentation maps the patient's health journey by creating a comprehensive...