When an artificial intelligence-based model recommended prophylactic thromboprophylaxis for hospitalized children it had identified as high risk for blood clots, most clinicians did not follow the advice, a trial published in JAMA Network Open found. Shannon C. Walker, M.D., an assistant professor of pathology, microbiology and immunology and pediatrics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and her teammates were looking for a way to identify which pediatric patients were at highest risk for clot development when the study took place. “There are standard approaches to treat blood clots in c ..read more

The first step to better addressing lung injury and repair is to understand how the lung develops, says Jennifer Sucre, M.D., a neonatologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. “If we know how the lung forms, then that’s a playbook for how to reform it and regenerate it after injury.” “If we know how the lung forms, then that’s a playbook for how to reform it and regenerate it after injury,” Sucre said. “Those processes of development and regeneration are linked.” Sucre researches lung injury, a major cause of morbidity and mortality in neonates. Her work involves a deep dive into the ..read more

Improving rates of survival for infants born extremely preterm have resulted in greater demand for advanced respiratory therapies, along with a higher incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm babies. “Bronchopulmonary dysplasia is something that has been around since preterm babies were able to be successfully resuscitated,” said Dupree Hatch, M.D., medical director of the NICU at Monroe Carell. “Preterm babies are born at an immature place in their lung development, and many need respiratory support.” Because of the potential impact on long-term lung health, BPD is one of the ..read more

Several pasteurized breast milk options have emerged for preterm infants who are unable to adequately breastfeed, however, degradation of the nutritional components in these substitutes is a concern. Jörn-Hendrik Weitkamp, M.D., director of patient-oriented research in neonatology at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, along with Vanderbilt mucosal immunology researchers Danyvid Olivares-Villagómez, Ph.D. and Kathleen McClanahan, led a study of breast milk’s concentration of osteopontin, a bioactive component in whey, following different pasteurization and freezing processes ..read more

As the unrelenting influx of fentanyl and other illicit drugs continues across the nation, substance use disorder (SUD) is sweeping up increasing numbers of pregnant women – with an impact that is doubly tragic, placing an adult life and a fetus’ healthy development on the line. Neonatologist Stephen Patrick, M.D, M.P.H., began investigating the nature and extent of the barriers to care for pregnant women years ago, squaring off with the SUD behemoth and consulting with federal policymakers on holistic mitigation strategies. “Some of the problem may relate to stigma, but it is likely that pre ..read more

Predictive gene expression model finds that metabolic processes in utero may shape neonatal and long-term health ..read more

State campaign improves adherence to standard of care on optimal umbilical cord clamping ..read more

Clinicians from multiple specialties coalesce to identify and provide interventions for a heterogeneous population of affected children ..read more

Measurement study provides insight into roles and workload in the neonatal intensive care unit ..read more

A MOMS follow-up study finds bipedicle flap closure an effective option for open fetal meningocele repair ..read more