A full-term female baby, a product of non-consanguineous marriage, was born at 37 weeks of gestation with a birth weight of 2.08 kg. Antenatal scan at 31 weeks revealed complex congenital heart disease with a hypoplastic right ventricle, pulmonary atresia and an intact septum. Immediately after birth, the infant was shifted to the nursery and was started on intravenous fluids and infusion prostaglandin E1 (Alprostidil). On examination, she had microcephaly, periorbital puffiness, a long philtrum, a broad nasal bridge and retrognathia, up slanting palpebral fissures, widely spaced nipples, a sacral dimple and right upper limb postaxial polydactyly. Postnatal echocardiography confirmed a large ostium secundum atrial septal defect with left to right shunt, right ventricle hypoplasia, pulmonary atresia with an intact septum and a large vertical patent ductus arteriosus. Ophthalmological examination showed a bilateral chorioretinal coloboma sparing disc and fovea. Karyotyping showed an extra small marker chromosome suggestive of the Cat eye syndrome.

Objective To compare the level of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) delivered by three different CPAP delivery interfaces (RAM cannula system, Hudson prongs, and nasal mask) in preterm neonates with respiratory distress. Methods Preterm neonates with gestation between 28 weeks and 34 weeks and birth weight more than or equal to 1000 g and requiring nasal CPAP for respiratory distress were eligible for the study. During the study period, consecutive infants requiring CPAP were started on Hudson prongs or RAM cannula or nasal mask in that order. We measured the mean oropharyngeal pressure, which approximates the applied CPAP level. Oropharyngeal pressures in the recruited neonates were measured between 24 and 48 hours of postnatal age, when stable and in sleep or quiet awake state. Comparison of the delivered oropharyngeal pressures when on three different nasal interfaces at the same set flow rate and at set CPAP of 5 cm or 6 cm of H2O was the primary outcome. Results Data was analyzed from 30 neonates in each group. We found that measured oropharyngeal pressures were less than set CPAP level in all three studied interfaces. Maximum drop in oropharyngeal pressure was observed with use of RAM cannula with measured oropharyngeal pressures being 1.1 and 1.2 cm H2O less than set CPAP of 5 and 6 cm H2O respectively. Pharyngeal pressure best correlated to set CPAP level with the use of nasal mask. Conclusion None of the nasal interfaces delivered oropharyngeal pressure equivalent to the set CPAP. However, nasal mask delivered oropharyngeal pressure best matched to the set CPAP.

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A preterm male infant (35 weeks), appropriate for gestational age with birth weight of 2.20 kg was born to a 28-year G2 P0 mother. The mother's blood group was A positive and the father's was B positive. Her first pregnancy was an intrauterine fetal death due to immune hydrops. The mother's blood was positive for indirect Coomb's test with 1:32 dilution and anti-M antibodies. This pregnancy was induced at 35 weeks of gestation. Investigations from the cord blood revealed A positive blood group, positive direct Coomb's test, haematocrit of 41.4%, cord reticulocyte count of 5.3% and total serum bilirubin (TSB) of 2.7 mg/dL. Phototherapy was started at 27 h of life for visible jaundice. In view of progressive pallor and a sudden rise of bilirubin, the infant was subjected to exchange transfusion on day 5 of life. The transfusion was given with O negative and anti-M antibodies negative donor blood. Total serum bilirubin (TSB) prior to exchange transfusion was 28 mg/dL and packed cell volume (PCV) was 21%. Phototherapy was continued for a total duration of 8 days.